President Biden’s First 100 Days

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Andrew Lawson, Editor

The first 100 days of any presidency are among the most important and Joe Biden’s are no different. These days are widely viewed as one of the best times for a new president to enact an agenda because they have greater influence and a so-called “100-day honeymoon” with Congress. President Biden has put forth a very ambitious first 100 days involving plans on Covid-19 focused on the environment, the economy, immigration, criminal justice/equality, and gun control.

Biden has promised to pass a COVID-19 relief package that totals 1.9 trillion and to have 100 million doses of the vaccines administered. He has also signed executive orders that include a federal mask mandate, an extension of restrictions on home evictions, rejoining the World Health Organization, and continuing the pause on student loan payments.

On environmental policy, Biden has signed executive orders on rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and formulating a plan to put the US on a path to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. He has also promised to organize a climate summit to discuss how to act on climate change and make the US a leader on climate change.

Focusing on the economy, President Biden has signed an executive order aimed at strengthening the “Buy American” provisions. He is also planning to put forth bills that raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour as well as provide an economic recovery plan.

Joe Biden has ambitious goals on immigration as well including a proposed bill aimed at providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States. Biden also signed executive orders aimed at reversing the “Muslim ban” and ending funding for building the border wall. He also signed executive orders strengthening DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and creating a task force to reunite separated children at the border. He also promised to change asylum rules, refugee rules, and how ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is operated.

On equality, Biden has signed executive orders to reverse the transgender ban in the military and restore transgender rights to use the bathroom and play in the sports that they identify with. He has also pledged to pass an equality act that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. On criminal justice and equity, Biden has promised to extend the voting rights act, increase police reform, and enact comprehensive criminal justice reform.

Finally, on gun control, Biden has promised to close “loopholes” in gun background checks, reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, and repeal liability protection for gun manufacturers or allow them to be sued by victims of a gun violence.