Michael Edward Duggan, Jennifer Rene Psaki, and Francis Xavier Suarez

“ And we’re very anxious, as I told the President today, to get up to 25,000 a week, because that’s going to be the key.
But when we solve the health issues, there will still be other issues facing us. And this is where America’s Rescue Plan makes such a difference. The people who were working in Detroit a year ago — a lot of them, right now, are unemployed because businesses are shut down. They’re sheltering in their houses. And they are worried that, as the landlord-tenant courts open up, they may be facing eviction and have no place else to go. They’re looking for help. ”

“ For example, does the administration still consider the Saudis and the Israelis important allies? MS. PSAKI: Well, you know, again, I think we — there are ongoing processes and internal interagency processes — one that we, I think, confirmed an interagency meeting just last week — to discuss a range of issues in the Middle East. We’re — we’ve only been here three and a half weeks, and I think I’m going to let those policy processes see themselves through before we give, kind of, a complete laydown of what our national security approaches will be to a range of issues. ”

“ It really depends on how effective the effort is — not just from here, but locally and in partnership with local public health officials and through the massive public campaign we’re going to run — is on ensuring we’re making — making sure the American people know it’s safe, it’s effective, and where they can get their vaccine. ”

“ Well, certainly we’ve seen attempts by other countries — China and Russia — to use vaccines as a means of making progress diplomatically.You know, the President is engaged with a range of leaders around the world, conveying how he wants to return the United States to have a central seat on the world stage, and we’re working to do that through a range of actions. But we are — we watch those actions with concern. I can see if there’s more to report from our national security team. ”

“ Q Could you talk to us about the variants in Florida, and specifically in Miami? Miami has been so open, but we’ve seen more and more cases of the variants. Is there — what’s the plan to prevent a surge with the variants popping up? MAYOR SUAREZ: Well, you know, I’ve been a big proponent of masks in public rule in the city, and there is a pretty broad acceptance of that rule, whether it’s been able to be mandated or not. We have seen a decline — a significant decline, both in case — in cases, in percent positivity, and also in hospitalizations. ”

“ Fauci and others have referred to, is our awareness that a vaccine is not the same as a vaccination. As we know and you all have reported on, there are high percentages of vaccine hesitancy in certain communities across the country. We are — have our eyes wide open about the challenge of addressing that and ensuring that as we get to the point of — we’re focused on — we are focused now on reaching these communities, but it doesn’t mean that just because we have the vaccines, everybody will be vaccinated.So I can’t give you a prediction of when everybody will be vaccinated. ”

“ There hasn’t been a final policy decision to actually ship the masks, but those are some of the pieces that are being discussed. And obviously there’s a cost to everything, as you all know, and so that certainly is a consideration.But, you know, you’re right in ensuring that the American people know that wearing masks, even when you’re vaccinated — right? — is going to be an important part of keeping people safe, keeping your neighbors safe, keeping communities and workplaces safe. ”

“ That’s another step in the administration’s process to reform our nation’s immigration system. Beginning on February 19th, the Department of Homeland Security will take steps to begin processing individuals who, under the previous administration, had been forced to remain in Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocol. I will note this news should not be interpreted as an opening for people to migrate regularly to the United States; only eligible individuals will be allowed to enter through designated ports of entry at designated times. ”

“ So, in — in Detroit, we have seen the first two cases of the B117, the British variant, and we’ve been just very honest with our residents. The evidence is that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine are effective against it, and we’ve used it to encourage folks. We have a very low infection rate in Detroit right now, so we’re taking it seriously. Now, when the other variants get there, it’s going to be a different issue, but I think it has actually encouraged an increase in vaccine rate. ”

“ The governor — Governor Cuomo is, of course, the governor of one of the largest states in the country, one of the places where the pandemic hit hardest, the earliest; where there are still many Americans who are continuing to struggle to get vaccinated, to make ends meet. ”

“ I’m the mayor of Detroit. And it was a special experience to sit in the Oval Office with four Republican governors and mayors, four Democratic governors and mayors, talking and sometimes debating with the President and the Vice President. Everybody just focused on how to solve the problem. ”

“ Fauci and others speak to a timeline for herd immunity. I think we will have enough vaccines to provide — to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer. We obviously announced yesterday that we moved that capacity up a month earlier, which is certainly a positive development.But again, part of this goes to Kaitlan’s question earlier about vaccine hesitancy and our effectiveness and our ability to convey to many communities that this is safe, this is effective, this is how they can get their vaccine. ”

“ He also recognizes this is a global problem and requires a global solution, and he wants to work, on a multilateral basis, to achieve reform that will strengthen the U.S. economy and benefit U.S. workers. So it’s something, obviously, he remains committed to, but in terms of the next steps forward, obviously that will include a policy process internally, but also working with counterparts around the world. ”

“ Sure, there are times when there are subpopulations in particular areas where acceptance of the vaccine is an issue, and we try to message that. I think what’s interesting is as the vaccine has taken hold more and more, and we start to see some of the cases start to drop, I think people are starting to realize that it works and that there’s a correlation between getting — vaccinating and potentially getting back to some sense of normalcy. ”

“ So we tried to put that money to good use to the most needy in our community — feeding people; helping them with mortgage assistance, with rental assistance, small-business loans and grants. And obviously the people of our city and of America are still hurting. I mean, we need this assistance to get through until the vaccine has gained wide acceptance.
So that’s what the conversation was based on. The President was extremely thoughtful; listened to every single one of the elected officials — both governors and mayors from both parties ”

“ We’re in this global race for supply. And this was from a Canadian reporter who asked this. And Canada is struggling to procure a vaccine because they have no domestic capacity; the U.S. does. And I’m wondering whether President Biden has faced any pushback from world leaders about essentially hogging the global supply. ”

“ Because I know an EUA is, you know, likely to come at any moment. MS. PSAKI: You mean what a federal order would be of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? Or — Q Yeah, because we’re in that window — MS. PSAKI: — if it’s — if it goes through the full approval? Q Correct. Because, you know, we’re in that window of three weeks. So I know, previously, the administration wanted to give those figures out to states so they could plan ahead. MS. PSAKI: That is certainly our objective. Remember that we have, though, enough of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine to vaccinate every American by the summer. ”

“ You know, again, I think that what the President is focused on and what he’s very mindful of, having raised many children — “many” — that makes it sound like he has 10 — (laughter) — several children himself, being a very engaged and active grandparent himself, being the husband of a teacher who knows how valuable it is to be in person, is to return how schools were before the pandemic.But we are also going to be guided by science. ”

“ Prime Minister Netanyahu is someone the President has known for some time. Obviously, we have a long and important relationship with Israel, and the President has known him and has been working on a range of issues that there’s a mutual commitment to for some time. ”

“ Even hospitals in urban areas, the folks who have access — the electronic health records — have been predominantly upscale individuals. And so, in Detroit, literally, we took the convention structure, and we are just moving thousands of folks through.Jeff Zients was good enough to get us from 5,000 a week to 15,000 a week. I had to appeal directly to him to get to that. We really ought to be at 25,000 a week, and I raised that with the President today. And I think they are doing everything they possibly can. ”

“ They can take the role they have — they can take respons- — their responsibility seriously. They are all jurors there. They’re — he said a number of times that, of course, the Senate will make the decision; the jurors in the Senate will make the decision. There has been several days of compelling testimony.But he has been very clear — and he would have been this morning too, but that wasn’t a part of the conversation — that his role is to be President. He’s no longer in the Senate. They are the ones who will vote. ”

“ Finally, in our venture to get you all a “week ahead” as detailed as possible, next week, the President will continue his engagement with both parties and with people across the country about the need to pass the American Rescue Plan and get relief to working families and more vaccines into arms faster. ”

“ Well, obviously, there’s a review of our policy as it relates to Saudi Arabia. There’s not a call planned that I’m aware of, but I can speak with our team if there’s something more significant than that to report. Q Jen, just to follow up — MS. PSAKI: Go ahead. Q Does he also plan to talk to the Palestinian leadership, to more rebalance that relationship? MS. PSAKI: To get involved in a Middle East peace process, perhaps? Q Yes. MS. PSAKI: You know, I don’t have any calls to predict for you or read out. These are all excellent questions. ”

“ Q What are your — your criteria, the White House’s criteria for what counts as a school being open? MS. PSAKI: The President’s goal is to have schools open five days a week, kids in school learning, teachers in school, and to do it safely. And the CDC guidelines that will be released this afternoon — I’m eager to learn more about them as well — those will be an important next step.And then, his Secretary of Education — future Secretary, I should say — Miguel Cardona — this will be his top priority, as he has said. ”

“ Well, I think a primary step here, as the President noted, is if Iran comes back into full compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA, the United States would do the same and then use that as a platform to build a longer and stronger agreement and also address areas of concern.This is also a topic that is discussed in his conversations with key European partners and allies as well, given their important role in the P5+1. ”

“ And we’re expecting, right now, we’re getting those CDC guidelines for schools. You know, we’re expecting that it’ll include the recommendation that if a school wants to stay open five days a week, there’s really regular testing. When do we think that that’ll be available for teachers and students? Is that part of the goal for the first 100 days, to have regular testing available to all schools? ”

“ You said that the administration is looking with concern at vaccine policy being done by China and Russia. MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm. Q But do you find the idea that there are countries who are able to help developing nations access vaccines — do you look at that with concern as well, or are you separating the actual (inaudible) ? MS. PSAKI: I’m separating them. Q But, I mean, how can you separate it? I mean, this is — MS. PSAKI: Well, you’re familiar with global — with issues around the global stage. ”

“ This campaign will focus most on increasing awareness among the uninsured that there’s a Special Enrollment Period — that’s always been part of the challenge, making sure people understood how they can do it and when they can do it — available now and raise awareness about affordable options for coverage and the availability of assistance to pay for premiums. ”

“ I’m not going to set a new goal today. What I will convey to you is that, when Secretary Cardona is confirmed, you know, this will be his top priority. And we will leave it to him and his team at the Department of Education, working in close partnership with the CDC and others, to determine how quickly and efficiently it can be done. Q Is there a reason that, you know, the White House’s goal for schools doesn’t include high schools? MS. PSAKI: I would defer — I would ask — I would suggest you ask the CDC about whether there are differences between the schools. ”

“ Those businesses that opened up their storefronts with such optimism are now very afraid, if they don’t get help, that plywood is going back up and we’re going to have boarded commercial districts, as we did seven or eight years ago. ”

“ In the world? Q Yes, in the world. Does he want to bring back the troops? Like, the previous administration kept insisting — President Trump kept insisting on, “I want to bring back the troops.” Does President Biden want to do the same? MS. PSAKI: Look, I think the President looks at our engagement in the world through each circumstance, and certainly there are troops serving around the world in different capacities. ”

“ So we work to address those issues as quickly as possible, and certainly it’s concerning when we hear about doses that are wasted.
Q Thanks, Jen. Just two quick ones, sorry. MS. PSAKI: Sure, go ahead. Q I’ll pick up on that question about Canadian vaccine distribution. Russia and China have developed homegrown vaccines that they have distributed globally. What steps is the President taking to ensure that the U.S. position on the geopolitical stage is not diminished by its refusal to share some of these vaccines abroad right now? ”