DeLauro Statement on President Biden’s Day One Executive Actions

DeLauro: "We have lost more than 400,000 lives to this pandemic… These efforts will save lives."

WASHINGTON – House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement on President Biden's Day One executive actions:

"With more than a dozen executive actions today, President Biden is living up to his commitment to Build Back Better with policies necessary to crush the coronavirus and provide financial relief to struggling families, meet the challenge of the climate crisis, and advance equity for underserved communities.

"We have lost more than 400,000 lives to this pandemic. With the ‘100 Days Masking Challenge' and a long overdue, coordinated national response to this crisis, we will reduce coronavirus cases, help communities more effectively deliver vaccines, bolster testing and treatment, and enable more schools and businesses to safely reopen. These efforts will save lives.

"With the pandemic causing poverty and hardship to surge across the country, President Biden is taking a critical step to provide economic relief by extending eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. Rejoining the World Health Organization will ensure all nations can beat this scourge, preventing untold suffering.

"Acting on the climate crisis requires multilateral action, and President Biden's rejoining of the Paris Agreement is a welcome first step. Rolling back Trump Administration environmental policies will enable the federal government to protect public health, implement science-based policies, and advance environmental justice.

"Charting a future after the pandemic requires an unrelenting focus on advancing racial equity, and I am pleased to see President Biden including underserved communities in his whole of government response to the pandemic. Giving the Census time to complete an accurate enumeration will further ensure that every American counts.

"As we restore our country's promise, strengthening the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will bring hope to our Dreamers and reversing discriminatory immigration bans will close a dark chapter in our history. Of particular importance to me and the Appropriations Committee, ending the national emergency declaration and stopping border wall construction will terminate an egregious diversion of taxpayer money that upended the Constitution's separation of powers.

"Most of these executive actions will require prompt and more comprehensive Congressional follow through. As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I look forward to working with the Biden Administration to build on these actions with bold legislation that will move our nation forward."