In-Town Pool Reports of March 5, 2021

In town pool report #1

Good morning and happy Friday! It is a sunny but cold day at the White House. I will be your pooler for today.

No changes to the schedule so far- the press briefing is scheduled for 12:30. At 2:15, the President and the Vice President will have an economic briefing with the Treasury Secretary and at 3:15 the President will participate in a roundtable about the American Rescue Plan in the State Dining Room. I will send information as I get it. There is also a briefing by the COVID response team at 11.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

In town pool report #2 - Lunch lid until 12:15

Hi all,
Lunch lid until 12:15.

In town pool report #3 - Background on economic briefing

Hi all,
Sending background from a White House official on today's economic briefing at 2:15.

Reportable on background:

This afternoon, the President and the Vice President will participate in their weekly economic briefing. Their economic advisors will provide an update on the jobs numbers released today, along with an update on unemployment by race and women's labor force participation.

Economic team in attendance:

• Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury
• Cecilia Rouse, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
• Brian Deese, Director of the National Economic Council
• Michael Pyle, Chief Economic Adviser to the Vice President

In Town Pool Report #4 - Briefing pushed back to 12:45

[APP Note: No additional text]

In Town Pool Report #5: 2 minute warning

Hi all,
2 minute warning until briefing. Thanks!

In town pool report #6: Pool gathering

Pool is walking to Roosevelt room for economic briefing.

In town pool report #7: economic briefing

Pool was escorted into Roosevelt room at 2:25. Flanked by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and VP Harris. Rouse is next to Yellen. Giving remarks now about importance of economic recovery. Says rescue plan is "essential" for turning economy around. Doesn't take questions.

In town pool #8: Biden remarks

Remarks clocked in at a little under 2 minutes. Here are highlights. Check against tape please!

"Today's jobs report shows that the American Rescue plan is urgently needed."

Says we have 9.5 million fewer jobs than we had this time last year. "At that rate it would take 2 years to get us back on track."

Also says we have 1 million fewer educators and 400,000 small businesses. "All those empty storefronts are not just shattered dreams, they are warning lights going off in state and local budgets."

Says that any improvements in the job report was likely due to the December relief package but without a rescue plan "these gains are going to slow." "We can't go one step forward and two steps backward"

"The rescue plan is absolutely essential to turning this around, getting kids back to school safely, giving a lifeline to small businesses and getting the upper hand in COVID 19"

We were then ushered out. No response to shouted q's.

In town pool report #9: pool gathering

We are gathering for the American Rescue Plan roundtable in the State dining room.

In town pool report #10: background on round table

Heading to state dining room now. background on round table below per a White House official

The President will participate in a roundtable with individuals who will benefit from receiving relief checks thanks to the American Rescue Plan. They will discuss how these relief checks will help relieve some of the hardship they have experienced due to COVID. The roundtable will be moderated by Cedric Richmond.

Participants

Alma Williams (50) is a Washington Metro Access Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Access driver from Greenbelt, Maryland offering paratransit to disabled individuals, and serves as a union representative for ATU Local 1764. She’s a single mother of 4.

George Kerr (54) served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1993, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Yeoman Second Class. Two years ago, George lost his home to a house fire and has faced housing instability. He is currently renting a room in Southwest Washington DC. George is self-employed, working as an advocate and consultant to reduce health and harm related issues, such as helping people with substance abuse disorders.

Lyda Vanegas (55) is Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Mary’s Center, which provides health care, education, and social services, to over 60,000 people in the DC metro area. Lyda joined Mary’s Center in 2002. She oversees the marketing and communication initiatives of the Center and is responsible for fostering internal and external communications and for increasing awareness of the work done by the organization to support thousands of families throughout the DC metropolitan region.
The President will participate in a roundtable with individuals who will benefit from receiving relief checks thanks to the American Rescue Plan. They will discuss how these relief checks will help relieve some of the hardship they have experienced due to COVID. The roundtable will be moderated by Cedric Richmond.

Participants

Alma Williams (50) is a Washington Metro Access Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro Access driver from Greenbelt, Maryland offering paratransit to disabled individuals, and serves as a union representative for ATU Local 1764. She’s a single mother of 4.

George Kerr (54) served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1993, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Yeoman Second Class. Two years ago, George lost his home to a house fire and has faced housing instability. He is currently renting a room in Southwest Washington DC. George is self-employed, working as an advocate and consultant to reduce health and harm related issues, such as helping people with substance abuse disorders.

Lyda Vanegas (55) is Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Mary’s Center, which provides health care, education, and social services, to over 60,000 people in the DC metro area. Lyda joined Mary’s Center in 2002. She oversees the marketing and communication initiatives of the Center and is responsible for fostering internal and external communications and for increasing awareness of the work done by the organization to support thousands of families throughout the DC metropolitan region.

In town pool report #11: event is being live-streamed

Just a reminder the event is being live-streamed now on the White House website.

In town pool report 12; ushered out of round table

We were ushered out at 3:37. You should have been able to see the rest on the livestream. The fireplace was turned on.

In town pool report #13: Travel/photo lid + update on economic briefing attendees

Hi all,
We have a travel/photo lid. Also see below from a White House official on economic briefing:

Michael Pyle, Chief Economic Adviser to the Vice President, joined the 2:15 economic briefing with the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of the Treasury via phone.

Have a good weekend!