President Biden’s Busy Wednesday credit: getty President Biden made two policy decisions of note on Wednesday. In the first, he revoked the Trump administration’s immigration restrictions that blocked immigrant workers and family reunification immigrants. The President did not revoke work visas such as the H-1B skilled worker visa that is heavily relied upon by tech companies. That ban will expire on its own on March 31 and the administration is unlikely to renew it. Progressive Plan Progressives are asking the President to go further in immigration reform. They have proposed the Roadmap to Freedom resolution introducing protection for migrant workers and ending the military policing at the border. The White House has not committed to this but the push will continue, led by Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Progressive Caucus. President Biden also signed an executive order asking for a review of supply chains for critical materials in four industries: semiconductors, large-capacity batteries used in electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals and rare-earth elements. The administration wants to be sure that production can continue in these key areas to ensure the economy remains on a recovery track. That has not seemed likely as manufacturers are reporting supply chain shortages. Much of these materials come from China and relations with China are still shaky. The administration wants to study ways to reduce foreign dependence through this study. What does President Trump think of all of this undoing of his policies? We’ll know soon enough. The former President hasn’t had much to say since leaving office and being booted from Twitter but he is scheduled to speak at CPAC this Sunday. Organizers have given him as much time as he wants and you can bet he’s got a lot to say. |