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White House Holds Briefing Ahead Of Biden's State Department Visit; White House: Biden Supports Canceling $10K School Debt Per Person; Biden Administration Will Support For Saudi-Led Campaign In Yemen; White House Briefing As House Readies Vote n Greene's Committee Roles; White House: Biden "Firm" That $1,400 Aid Checks Should Stay In Bill. Aired 12-12.30p ET

Aired February 04, 2021 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Moody's Analytics found it would get us to full employment faster. Brookings predicts it would get us back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year and over 90 percent of economist surveyed by Reuters found it would drive substantial growth.

The second question we often get, another good question is when we will see bipartisan support for this bill? The reality is we see it every single day. A new survey from navigator research out this morning shows 72 percent of Americans support the rescue plan including 53 percent of Republicans.

A Quinnipiac Poll yesterday found that 68 percent of Americans back the rescue plan. A Yahoo YouGov Survey on Monday showed that over two- thirds support the package. So I just wanted to highlight a couple of those pieces. Those are excellent questions we get in here, but we did a little thinking about your questions.

Last thing I just wanted to do at the top, Kristen who is back today again asked a great question about the Artemis Program which I dug into and I'm very excited about it now to tell my daughter all about it.

So for those of you who have not been following it as closely through the Artemis Program, the United States government will work with industry and international partners to send astronauts to the service of the moon, another man and a woman to the moon which is very exciting.

Conduct new and exciting science, prepare for future missions to Mars and demonstrate America's values. Today only 12 humans have walked on the moon, that half a century ago. The Artemis Program a way point to Mars provides exactly the opportunity to add numbers to that of course.

Lunar exploration has brought and by - put in Congress most recently detailed in the FY 2021 omnibus spending bill and certainly we support this effort and endeavor. Why don't we go to you first, Darlene?

DARLENE SUPERVILLE, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Thank you. Can you update us on the president's thinking on the issue of forgiving student loan debt? There are some groups that are pushing for the president to forgive all student loan debt. Where does he stand on that?

PSAKI: Sure. The president has and continues to support cancelling $10,000 of federal student loan debt per person as a response to the COVID crisis. He's calling on Congress to draft a proposal. And if it is passed and sent to his desk, he will look forward to signing it.

Debt relief is of course an important priority for the president. On day one, the first day of his administration, he directed the Department of Education to extend the existing pause on student loan payments and interest from millions of Americans with federal student loans.

That was a step he took through executive action. But he certainly supports efforts by members in Congress to take additional steps and he would look forward to signing it.

SUPERVILLE: So he would do that through legislation and not an EO, not an executive order?

PSAKI: Well I think he took the step - already took a step through an executive action on the first day and he would look to Congress to take the next steps.

SUPERVILLE: Second question. There have been some discrepancies in the numbers of these FEMA supported vaccination centers that the president wanted to created. He called for 100, do you have an update on how many have actually been set up as of today? And what have you been set up before the president took office?

PSAKI: Well, this is a priority to the president in setting up those vaccination sites and through partnership with FEMA is something that he feels and our health and medical experts feel is a way to get more vaccines in the arms of Americans.

In terms of the specific numbers that have been set up to date, there are new updates every single day. I know that - I'm sure the team can provide an update on how many have been set up when they do their briefing tomorrow. I will say that there were some really interesting updates that I received this morning about efforts to set up large- scale sites in Texas.

Obviously there are some that are being set up in California. They're looking for space where they can have great capacity to bring people in and vaccinate as many people as possible. But it's ongoing and I'm sure the health team will be able to provide an update on the specific numbers. Go ahead. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. I just wanted to ask if President

Biden will sign the refugee executive order today and then a follow-up on that.

PSAKI: The president is certainly committed to looking for ways to ensure more refugees are welcomed into the United States. It's a priority to him personally, but I don't expect him to sign a specific executive order today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you expect him to announce his intent to raise the cap for the fiscal year for refugees to a prorated annual 125,000 which would be around I guess, 80,000 for the year? I think "New York Times" reported that.

PSAKI: I expect him to talk about his commitment to refugees, but I'm not going to get ahead of any other specific announcements he'll make in the speech. You guess a lot of - there's been good reporting as Jake confirmed a lot of pieces. Go ahead, Mario.

MARIO PARKER, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, BLOOMBERG NEWS: Has the president been briefed yet from Secretary Yellen's meeting this morning with financial regulators over market volatility like GameStop and is he expecting her to deliver potential options to address that?

[12:05:00]

PSAKI: I would send you to the Department of Treasury. Obviously they oversaw the meeting. I'm not even sure what time it took place. I would defer to them on that and any specific details they want to read out from it. Go ahead Jeremy.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: One of the biggest criticisms of President Trump's approach to handling the Coronavirus was that the administration didn't provide clear guidance to states about when they should shut down, when they should reopen?

Dr. Vivek Murthy back in November talked about a national alert system that would be needed. Is that something that the administration is planning to implement some kind of color-coded system to tell states when - by which criteria they should reopen or shut down? Is that something you guys were considering or planning to implement?

PSAKI: I am happy to talk to our health team and you will have another briefing with them tomorrow. Obviously a number of options are under consideration to both make sure Americans are safer and that we're doing everything necessary to communicate with them.

Act really how to keep themselves and their families safe but also how to better communicate with Governors and Mayors? Some of that is reopening the line of communication which was somewhat shut at times according to Governors during the last administration and ensuring which is one of the things that Governors have requested.

They have a better heads up on how many vaccines they will have access to so they can do better planning. Also working with them and tapping into FEMA, a question that came up earlier utilizing their resources to be able to kind of mass vaccinate people in a larger location.

So those are a lot of the ways that we're implementing it to date. There are a range of options on the table but I don't have any updates on an alert system.

DIAMOND: --planning for a national alert system?

PSAKI: I don't have any update on it. But again you'll have an opportunity to talk to our health team tomorrow and that's a good question to ask them.

DIAMOND: Secondly American Airlines and United Airlines are planning to furlough about 27,000 employees by the end of next month as their federal pay roll aid runs out. Does President Biden support giving those airlines more financial aid and does he support including that in this Coronavirus relief package?

PSAKI: I think the president's priorities are already in the package. And they are focused on ensuring there's funding to get vaccines in the arms of Americans, funding to reopen schools, ensuring that the 1 in 7 Americans who fed families, who can't put food on the table, he's worried about that is able to do that.

As you know there is a process that will be ongoing on Capitol Hill over the course of the next days and through the course of next week where there will be amendments put forward to work on committees. But I think the priorities of the president are already in the bill.

DIAMOND: And just a foreign policy question. Avril Haines made clear that she would be absolutely comply with the law of acquiring the intelligence community to provide Congress with a declassified report on who was responsible for the death of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi? When can we expect to see that and is President Biden considering sanctioning Saudi Arabia for that murder of Jamal Khashoggi?

PSAKI: Well as you noted that review would come out of the intelligence community and they will be released on the timeline of when it's completed. And we would certainly never take a step to expedite or change the timeline that works best for them.

And then as Jake also noted, there is an ongoing review of a range of our foreign policy, our national security policies, certainly including in terms of our relationship with Saudi Arabia. But, I don't have anything to preview for you at this point in time. Go ahead, Peter.

PETER MARVIN ALEXANDER, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, NBC NEWS: As it relates to COVID relief, you said the president wants to take care of people that need the help the most. Obviously a lot of Americans right now say that they need help. So how do you determine who needs help and who doesn't? Where do you draw that line?

PSAKI: Well again, Peter, I think what we're hoping to do through the package is provide assistance to Americans who are struggling to make ends meet at this moment in time. And you're right there is a large swath of Americans who are struggling through this moment in time because they fear about their health, the health of their grandparents, of their cousins, of their parents.

And also people who worry about their kids going back to school and their desire to get their kids back in school and continue learning. The package itself again is of course a priority of the president. It is not the end of our work or the end of his efforts to help bring relief to the American public.

It is a first step as he noted I should say. He's also going to talk about his build back better agenda in the coming months and that's something that will certainly build on this as well.

ALEXANDER: So I guess how soon for the Americans who are listening to every word that's here? How soon should they expect that relief to come? And can you guarantee that it's going to be there before the March 14th deadline when unemployment insurance for example expires?

PSAKI: You're right. And that's something that we're every mindful of here, the president's mindful of, the vice president's mindful of. Our economic team is certainly mindful of Peter. And that's one of the reasons why the president has been so firm in his insistence that the $1,400 checks remain intact and that they go out to the American people.

There is a process underway in Congress. Next week the committees will be doing the work that they should be doing that they do through the budget reconciliation process.

[12:10:00]

PSAKI: We have been very clear about our own view of the urgency here and we're hopeful that and we're confident that Congress shares our view of that.

ALEXANDER: The president talks about bipartisanship. He's met with Senate Republicans, then Senate Democrats that spoke to House Democrats. What is he going to meet with or speak to House Republicans?

PSAKI: Every single day he seems to be - he is meeting with members of both parties engaging with members of both parties. That work is not done but I don't have a meeting to announce for you here today.

ALEXANDER: Has he spoken or has he met with Kevin McCarthy yet, the leader of the --?

PSAKI: I don't have any calls to read out for you. Our team remains in touch again with Democrats and Republicans, members of our economic team, members of our political teams. We are certainly engaged with all offices that have an interest in engaging with us.

ALEXANDER: Last question if I can. Hunter Biden has a memoir to be published in April. I guess my question is, is that book subject to the clearance process, to a clearance review? PSAKI: Well, for those of you who have not seen the news, it was

announced I believe by Simon & Shuster this morning. I do have a statement from Joe and Jill Biden and their personal capacity as his parents.

We admire our son Hunter strength and courage to talk openly about his addiction, so that other might see them in his journey and find hope. This is a personal book about his own personal journey and I will leave it at that. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks. Jen, can you give us a sense of the scope and scale of U.S. commitment to Covax? Beyond the $4 billion that has been approved by Congress for GAVI the vaccine alliance in December I believe. Will there be additional funding for Covax?

PSAKI: We have reiterated our commitment to Covax. I don't have any additional funding now to announce today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. Can you also just comment on the administration position on the vaccine, the policy that's being employed by China as well as India?

PSAKI: Tell me a little bit more what you're looking for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So there's a lot of administration position on countries like China and India who is essentially using vaccine to buy influence to improve the dramatic ties with other countries. What's the administration's position on that?

PSAKI: Well, our position is that we're focused on ensuring that the American people are vaccinated that we are getting as many shots in the arms of Americans as possible. We rejoined the World Health Organization so that the United States can have a seat at the global table in order to play a constructive role in getting safe and effective vaccines in the arms of Americans. I'll leave it at that. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you have a comment on the Burmese diplomat - who is seeking asylum and I quote, I cannot accept the legitimate people that are powered by the military.

PSAKI: I'll have to talk to our national security team about that. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks, Jen. Some Republicans and some centrist Democrats have said that a minimum wage increase does not prolong in a COVID relief bill. So is President Biden willing to drop the $15 minimum wage and in order to get bipartisan support for that package?

PSAKI: Well, the president feels strongly that we need to raise the minimum wage. And many economists agree with him and look forward to working with Congress to do it. Whether it can be done through the reconciliation process will be determined according to the House and Senate. But I am not going to negotiate for that from here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does he believe though that the $15 minimum wage needs to be in this package in this deal?

PSAKI: I heard your question. I think what I am saying is he's committed to raising the minimum wage. He thinks it's an important step for American workers and for American families. There is obviously a process that's ongoing the reconciliation process that will make some determinations about what can and cannot be in the bill based on rules.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I could follow up really quickly.

PSAKI: Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The question about DHS before. My question is about whether or not President Biden believes or plans to in any way make for that detention centers for undocumented immigrants that those are no longer contracted with private companies. It's not a question about DHS, it's a question about what President Biden's beliefs are and what he plans to do?

PSAKI: Well, I think what the president did was signed an executive order to put the power in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Mayorkas to conduct a review and determine what the path for it is?

He has spoken about his concern about these facilities in the past that remains the case. But it is under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security to make recommendations to the President of the United States, so that was what Jake was conveying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, he had used the previous executive order though to direct the Department of Justice not to renew contracts in private prisons. So what I'm asking is why he did not also direct the Department of Homeland Security to do the same?

PSAKI: There is a new Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. I will hopefully - he'll come to this briefing room and talk a more about these very important issues. But we're not going to get ahead of his decision-making process.

The president himself has personally spoken about this issue as you've noted and others have noted. But we'll have more, will defer to the Secretary of Homeland Security for more specifics about the path forward. Go ahead, Kristin.

KRISTIN FISHER, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, FOX NEWS: Thank you, Jen and thank you for getting back to me about Artemis. I know the folks at NASA appreciate it as well.

PSAKI: Absolutely.

[12:15:00]

FISHER: Yesterday, the Head of the CDC as you know said that it was safe to reopen schools without vaccinating teachers. You said that the White House was still waiting for the official guidance before making a final determination. Why isn't what the Director of the CDC says, why isn't that enough?

PSAKI: Well, first, the Director of the CDC also had said they haven't issued their final guidance. And we of course wait for that process to complete and see its way through. As she would say as well, I believe she did an interview last night where she spoke to this issue again.

The president let me be crystal clear wants schools to open, he wants them to stay open and he wants to do that safely. And he wants health and medical experts to be the guides for how we should do exactly that? So we're just not - Dr. Walensky spoke to this in her personal capacity.

Obviously she's the Head of the CDC, but we're going to wait for the final guidance to come out so we can use that as a guide for schools around the country.

FISHER: And so, if this final guidance comes out and it says that it is fine for schools to reopen without vaccinating teachers, can you say now that that is what President Biden will support?

PSAKI: Well, I am happy I will come back. Whenever the guidance comes out, the president has prioritized, believes it should be a priority for teachers to be vaccinated. He also though believes that even with vaccinations for teachers or for any American that there are a number of other mitigation steps that are important to take mask.

And I'm sure this will be in the guidance when it comes out or they'll speak to it I should say. The wearing of masks, social distancing, ventilation these are all factors that are important for Americans and also for the reopening of schools. That's one of the reasons that we need funding in order to be able to effectively ensure that public schools across the country are able to do that.

FISHER: One more question on this point. Michael Bloomberg said yesterday that it's time for President Biden to stand up and say that the kids are the most important thing and stand up to the teachers' unions.

If it comes down to a binary choice and there is no indication that the teacher's union in Chicago or San Francisco are willing to budge at this point. If it comes down to a binary choice, who would the president choose, the kids or the teachers?

PSAKI: I think that's a little bit unfair how you posed that question? But I will say the president believes schools should be open, teachers want schools to be open, families want schools to be open, but we want to do it safely.

And I am not sure that any parent in this country would disagree with wanting their kids to go to school in a safe environment, where there's ventilation, where proper precautions are taken, whether it's masks or social distancing and that's his priority.

But there should be no confusion. The President of the United States wants schools to open, he wants them to stay open. And that is key too. He doesn't want them to be open for a month. That's disruptive for teachers, for students, for families, so he wants the proper steps to be taken so that they can reopen and stay open. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One quick one on China. A State Department spokesman said on Wednesday that the United States was deeply disturbed by reports of systematic rape and sexual abuse against women and intermits camps for ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xingjian region and that there must be serious consequences for atrocities committed there.

And I wondered if you could say anything about what serious consequences are currently under consideration?

PSAKI: I don't think I can get ahead of the president or frankly the secretary of state. We certainly of course agree with that those comments and statements from the State Department. But I don't have anything to preview for you in terms of specific actions. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has the president used the Defense Production Act to the description of vaccines or vaccine equipment and if not yet why not?

PSAKI: So we talked about this a little bit yesterday but I know it's a popular and good question. So DPA ratings which you're probably familiar with, but everybody may not be which kind of give an assessment of what stock and supply is available. It's something that we use as a guide and they're in place to give us a sense of relative items available.

The president invoked the Defense Production Act because he wanted to have the capacity or wanted his team to have the capacity to address shortfalls when needed and we are constantly monitoring that.

So all options are on the table in terms of how we would use the Defense Production Act and what we would use it to help produce in terms of relevant equipment or resources. I expect we'll have more of an update maybe even as soon as tomorrow on how specifically we're planning to use that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So obviously you are tracking where the shortfalls are? You haven't seen the need to formally push forward with it yet at this point?

PSAKI: Well, I think I would say that one, there are ongoing conversations with companies and manufacturers about capacity and what steps could be taken. And I mentioned the ratings because we assess when there are needs, right? When we access when there are needs to produce syringes or masks or things along those lines and then we can act very quickly.

[12:20:00]

PSAKI: But again there is an update from our - there's a briefing from our COVID team tomorrow and hopefully they'll have more to say on exactly this topic. Go ahead in the back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi Jen, I just wanted to clarify some questions on energy sector. PSAKI: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do the cancelation of the keystone pipeline? Just wonder what the fate are of other proposed projects including if the president supports Governor Whitmer's calls to describe pipeline that comes through Michigan, powers of the great lakes and into Ontario, does he support for calls to cancel that?

PSAKI: I have not talked to our climate team about specifically that pipeline. Of course, I think we've noted that a number under review, but I will see if there is an update on that particular pipeline.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From also our approved - oil from the Canadian territories into Alaska. It is not under review or --?

PSAKI: I think again all of these pipelines are part of what our climate team is looking at and accessing. I haven't seen another update from them on an additional step, but I'll see if there are any updates to report back to you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Finally, on his call with the President and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requested Canada would be exempt from buy American provisions. Has the president made a decision on whether Canada would be exceptive?

PSAKI: I don't think we have any update on that particular question. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jen, today's - I mean, that's a question for--

PSAKI: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: --myself and then I have my colleague who can be here - restrictions.

PSAKI: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clearly on LGBTQ issue, the president is very good on his promises over the course of the campaign with the two executive orders he signed in the first days of office relating to nondiscrimination and the transgender military ban. And just moments ago we had Jake Sullivan say the president is going to sign a memorandum for LGBTQ human rights worldwide.

However the cornerstone of the president's promise to the LGBTQ community was the Equality Act which will be legislation to expand the prohibition on anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The president said he would sign the legislation within 100 days in office as he stand by that?

PSAKI: All right. He stands by it. I would say that there is some actions that need to be taken by Congress of course as you know. And we are only on day, where do we on now 15, OK so 16, 17? All right, I'll ride around there. So we have 85 days to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do we know about the president himself begun this legislation? PSAKI: I think the president has been speaking out about a range of

issues he's committed to including many on LGBTQ rights over the course of the last two weeks of his presidency. And he will continue to be, but I don't have any scheduling updates for you at this point in time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my--

PSAKI: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Success is expected to quit transparent Medicaid program imminently after a federal appeals court rule that could do so. Is the Biden Administration find a step then to take action as is done on one of the Obama Administration to prevent states from coming Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers for Medicare programs?

PSAKI: Well, the president's views are clear and constant on this issue just last week in an executive order. He reissued guidance specifying that states cannot refuse Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers.

HHS would certainly have more specific details. But they say they're committed to protecting and strengthening the Medicaid program as is the president consistent with the executive order we released last week. Go ahead, Kate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks, Jen. I know you said that you will not talk about Marjorie Taylor Greene in the briefing room, but I want to try this question in another way.

PSAKI: Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why does the president stands on a majority party potentially establishing a precedent that would result in stripping of commitment assignment for Republican defense?

PSAKI: Look, I would say that it's not role of the president or the role of the White House Press Secretary to analysis on the fissures in the Republican Party and the actions that may be taken in Congress as a result.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And another one, what is the president's view on the bill that Senator Romney is expected to introduce today? It would include up to $4200 per child of families but would eliminate existing welfare programs and tax credits. Is that compromise or will that be on progress?

PSAKI: I know that reporting just came out I believe right before I came out here. So I haven't spoken with the economic team about it. Certainly efforts to provide additional funding for, I believe you said a child tax credit?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It would actually eliminate existing - programs and some existing tax credit.

PSAKI: Again the reporting just came out right as I was walking out here so I haven't talked to our economic team about it. We certainly welcome efforts or offers from our Republican friends for discussion and how we can improve the American recovery plan? But I haven't done any - they haven't done any analysis I think quite yet on Senator Romney's proposal. Go ahead Peter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jen, we saw some new figures today. More than 2 million guns were sold in January that was 80 percent jump and the second highest monthly total record. A lot of this of course had to do amid all the coverage related in the Capitol riots.

The president promised to act on day one on this issue. Of course there is only so much he can do by executive action on it. Where does this fall on his list of legislative priorities? There is only so much capital that you have in this first one in the first few days.

[12:25:00]

PSAKI: You're right. And he has an ambitious plan on a lot of areas and on a lot of issues. I will say as vice president and even before that, the president took on the NRA twice and won. This is an issue he is personally committed to.

Many in this building are personally committed to. And I think he would love to see action on additional gun safety measures to protect families and children and knows that there is support across the American public for that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, I guess that's up to him though for there to be action, so when would he take action and put some proposal before Congress?

PSAKI: Well, I think we have a couple of proposals currently before Congress, but again this is an issue he is personally committed to. He has personal - has worked on it many times in the past, but I don't have a date for you on when there would be a proposal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to ask you if there is an NBC news video that went viral of the grocery store in Naples, Florida. You may or may not have seen this. If you have and I'll describe it to, when you have--

PSAKI: Give us a play by play.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you pan the grocery store you see that almost everybody in there is not wearing a mask, even though it's in a county I believe where masks are mandated. The question is beyond urging Americans to wear masks, what specifically is this White House doing to combat that resistance especially given the concerns about the Coronavirus mutations and others right now?

PSAKI: Well, one we are trying to communicate about it as frequently as possible. Obviously as you see I wear a mask out here. I take it off when I come to the podium based on the recommendations and advise of our health and medical experts.

You all are wearing masks right now. And the president has taken steps that are possible through his federal authorities including mandating them on public lens, on airplanes. But part of what we are also trying to do is make our health and medical expert available to ensure people understand and I'll reiterate it here today, it's not just a vaccine.

It's obviously an incredible medical breakthrough and we want every American to have one. But even after you're vaccinated, social distancing, wearing masks are going to be essential. We'll need to continue communicating about that through health and medical experts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what do you say to those folks? What do you say to the folks like those that we saw in this video? I believe one of the folks who owns or runs that store is that he doesn't believe that 450,000 Americans have died of Coronavirus. At the end of the day we need everybody on board to beat this virus. What do you tell them?

PSAKI: We try to fight the misinformation with facts Peter and fight it with health and medical experts including at a national level and a local level to convey to people that wearing a mask is something that not only can save the lives of their neighbors but of their family members.

It's steps they're taking to protect themselves. We know statistically or from our health experts I should say, that if Americans wear masks for 100 days, 50,000 lives would be saved. We know it's not going to overnight, but we are going to communicate about it in a non-political way and a factual way so that Americans can take steps to save them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where does the White House proposal on sending a mask to every Americans stand and how much would that cost if you follow through?

PSAKI: Well, there are a range of options on the table to help protect more Americans from the Coronavirus and encouraged people to mask up. And as I said that's vital to us because it's not just about the vaccine, it's also about social distancing, ventilation and certainly wearing masks.

But no decision has been made to do that so I don't have a cost assessment. Obviously it would depend on how many people would be sent a mask.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Jen.

PSAKI: Thank you everyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KING, CNN HOST, INSIDE POLITICS: The White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki finishing a lengthy briefing at the White House. She was taking questions largely not exclusively with largely on domestic issues including President Biden's COVID relief plan, saying the president is adamant that $1400 checks to struggling Americans be included in the final package now obviously being debated up in Congress.

Also a lot of foreign policy news. Jake Sullivan, the president's National Security Adviser took questions before Jen Psaki came to the podium in the briefing room. That because President Biden next hour will deliver a speech at the State Department.

In that speech, Jake Sullivan telling us the president will announce the United States will no longer support offensive military operations in Yemen. That has been done throughout the Trump Administration by U.S. weapons being sold to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, those weapons used as part of the Yemen's bloody civil war. So a big shifts there.

Also tough words from Jake Sullivan when it comes to Russia's behavior, Vladimir Putin's behavior, whether we're looking back at meddling and interference in the U.S. elections or just now the jailing of Alexey Navalny, the key Putin critic who was poisoned of course.

And the U.S. officials and other governments blame the Putin government for that poisoning now put in prison. Jake Sullivan saying there would be cost and consequences, but he says the United States will announce them at a time in a manner of its choosing.

Here to discuss what we just heard in the Biden agenda looking ahead, Catherine Lucey of "The Wall Street Journal," CNN's Kylie Atwood and CNN's Nia-Malika Henderson. Kylie let me start with you on the foreign policy news.