Biden’s next steps
Several issues face US as Biden preps to take office
COVID-19, economy, racial injustice among issues president-elect faces.
WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden faced a grueling battle on his road to the White House.
But his challenges aren’t over.
Biden will inherit a nation still facing down the coronavirus pandemic, economic turmoil as a result of the virus, nationwide unrest because of racial injustice, and growing concerns about climate change. And he’ll be dealing with all of them with Republicans likely still holding control of the Senate.
Here are some of the issues that Biden will face going into the presidency:
COVID-19
Record numbers of COVID-19 infections are being tallied across the country. More than 231,000 people in the United States have died from the virus, and more than 9 million Americans have contracted it.
Throughout the campaign, Biden said he would contact governors to help implement a mask mandate.
Biden also said he would launch a national plan to expand testing for the virus, implement national guidelines for states to reopen at the guidance of scientists and make the coronavirus vaccine free once it’s available.
Economy
Biden also will need to address the nation’s economic recovery after it was plunged into a recession as a result of the pandemic.
During a speech about his COVID-19 response last month, Biden said that if he were elected, he would give Congress one month to get a bill on his desk that included funding to address the public health and economic aspects of combating the virus. “I’ll reach out to every governor in every state, red and blue, as well as mayors and local officials, during the transition to find out what support they need and how much of it they need,” Biden said in an October speech.
Racial injustice
Biden’s road to the White House was paved by Black voters, in the primary and in the last days of the election. But protests continue in the streets nationwide against police-involved shootings and racial injustice.
Biden has released a plan that includes an array of policies to address systemic racism, which includes investing in Black-owned small businesses and in historically Black colleges and universities.
Climate change
Biden promised that on day one of his presidency, he would rejoin the Paris climate agreement, a plan signed under the Obama administration to combat climate change.
Activists will likely want to see more than just signing back on to the Paris agreement from the the president-elect once he’s in office.