By Mon Austin
On Thursday afternoon, after a morning meeting with Democratic lawmakers at the Capitol, Pres. Biden headed to Rome accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden for the G20 and Glasgow for COP26 conference. .In the White House East Room before departing, the POTUS said of the Build Back Better negotiations that no one, including himself, is getting everything they want but they did arrive at a compromised "framework."
He continued to urge Democratic lawmakers to vote for his signature Double-sided legislation. The president left as the nation awaits the dramatic decision on the sweeping bill. One part covers a range of finacial improvements from paid early childhood education to lowering seniors healthcare costs. Thge other part addresses issues line transportation infrastructure and clean crinking water. Lawmakers have been in talks about the pending legislation for months, recently reducing the plan in cost and substance. As of now, the free community college Biden promised has been cut along with Yet, the big vision is being compared to FDR's "New Deal" in terms of long term scope and impact.
The negotiations ultimately are ongoing and the work won't be done on this measure until there is a vote.
This is Pres. Biden's second international trip since taking office. He will visit the Vatican for a fourth time while in Rome. In He will also meet with the French President for the first time since making a major defense deal with Australia that the Frecn were not happy with. Biden's goal will be to establish the U.S. as a global leader on energy and climate change and to give the U.S. credit on the gloabl stage for coming ot he rescue on Coronavirus among other things.
He would also like to be able to show strong leadership while on the road -- if House Speaker Nancy Peloso can galvanize the caucus for a vote -- that he can deliver on some of his campaign primises from a distance..Biden admiits that scoring a win on BBB would also benefit Democrat candidates in mid-tern elections.
The U.S.: Traveling on Air Force One to Rome, Italy with the President and the First Lady:
Secretary of State Tony Blinken
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Advisor to the First Lady
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Ryan Montoya, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Mala Adiga, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Policy & Projects for the First Lady
Daleep Singh, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy National Security Advisor/Deputy NEC Director
Yohannes Abraham, Deputy Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary, NSC
Karine Jean-Pierre, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Stephen Goepfert, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Amanda Sloat, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Europe
Carlyn Reichel, Special Assistant to the President & & Senior Director for Speechwriting & Strategic Initiatives, NSC
Thomas Winslow, Special Assistant to the President & & Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff
Michael LaRosa, Special Assistant to the President & Press Secretary for the First Lady
Asel Roberts, Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States
Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, the President and the First Lady will be greeted by:
Col. William (Chris) McDonald, 89th Airlift Wing Vice Commander
Mrs. Sarb Edmund, 89th Airlift Wing Senior/Training Protocol Specialist