Biden signs the American Bailout Act and gives a hopeful speech

Joe Biden on Thursday signed the US stimulus plan to bring the country back from the health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The package had previously been unveiled by the president-elect before he took office and details were revealed in mid-January.

For the recovery, Biden has earmarked $1.9 trillion despite opposition from Republicans, who denounce extravagant and misdirected spending. Democrats praised a historic victory for Americans and Biden signed the text from the Oval Office on Thursday. He will travel to Pennsylvania on Tuesday and Atlanta on Friday, and planned to increase the number of trips to defend the plan.

The signing of the plan came just hours before he was due to give a speech on hope for the vaccination campaign. He gave the prime-time remarks from the prestigious 'East Room' of the White House.

In the speech, alluding to the large amount of money invested in the American Rescue Plan, he said that "if it fails, I will acknowledge that it failed, but it won't". He was confident that the Bailout Act would work. Earlier this year he mentioned that the bill will allocate some four trillion in economic assistance to fight the pandemic, including the $900 billion that President Trump signed into law in December.

Billions included in the package will also go to improve vaccine distribution and tens of millions will be invested in schools, as well as forbearance on sales and small business assistance. Special attention will be given to low-income communities.

He began with remarks that did not mention Donald Trump by name, but alluded to the former president and mentioned that "a year ago, we were struck by a virus that met silence and spread without colour" and added that "denials for days, weeks and then months" led to more deaths. He said that "we know what we have to do to beat this virus: tell the truth, follow the science and work together" in a nod to the former president. He denied the existence of the "Chinese virus" as he disparagingly called it. "Nothing less than the truth is owed to him," he said at another point.

Addressing citizens, he said he needed them, "I need all Americans to do their part. That's not hyperbole, I need you." He added that "if we do our part, if we do it together, by the 4th of July, there's a good chance that you, your family and friends can gather in your backyard" referring to the much-celebrated Independence Day. 

"After this long, hard year, that will make this Independence Day truly special, where we not only mark our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus," he added. "After a long, dark year, there is hope, light and better days ahead," he said.

Biden also denounced the growing hatred and racist aggression towards the Asian/American population "many of them are fellow Americans, they are on the front lines of this pandemic trying to save lives, and yet they are forced to live in fear for their lives just walking the streets of America".

He also took the opportunity to deliver a message to Republicans and independents who distrust the government, reminding them that "the government is not a foreign force in a distant capitol; it's us, all of us, the people," he said. 

Midway through his first 100 days as president, the president wants to capture the growing opinion of the 77% of Americans who think and feel that the worst of the pandemic is behind him. Cases of COVID-19 have apparently stalled, yet around 1,500 people die every day in the United States.

Near the end of the speech, the president pronounced that "there is hope, light and better days ahead". He emphasised the hope he had for a future in which the virus is defeated.

Biden's speech came exactly one year after the WHO officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic