Pool Reports by Hunter Walker, Yahoo! News
| Sent: | Reports: |
| March 31, 2021 14:47 |
Travel Pool Report #1 - Andrews Greetings from a very wet tarmac at Andrews Air Force base! President Biden's motorcade rolled up at about 2:23 pm. He disembarked about a minute later and boarded the plane after speaking briefly with one of the greeters. Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is scheduled to gaggle en route. That's going to be piped in at the WH so your in town pooler will send out a report if he's back in time. The White Hohse sent along this list if greeters; Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, the President will be greeted by:
Traveling with the President to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
The White House also passed along the following background memo on the president's trip today. BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM TO: Out-of-Town Travel Pool FROM: White House Press Office DATE: March 31, 2021 RE: Background for the President's Visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Need for Action in Pennsylvania The pandemic and the associated economic crisis have had a severe impact on Pennsylvania: Since the pandemic began, more than 1,015,268 people have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 25,015 people have died. The unemployment rate is 7.3%, up from 5.0% before the pandemic. Since February 2020, approximately 337,081 fewer people are employed. 701,000 adults – 9% of all adults in the Commonwealth – report not having enough food to eat. This includes 381,000 adults living with children, or 14% of all adults living with children, who report that the children in their household do not have enough to eat. An estimated 489,000 renters, or 20% of renters, are not caught up on rent. An estimated 2,747,000 adults, or 30% of all adults statewide, report having difficulty covering normal household expenses. The Effect of the American Rescue Plan on Pennsylvania The American Rescue Plan will provide Pennsylvania with: $7.4 billion in state fiscal relief. $4.9 billion in local fiscal relief. More than $5.1 billion in relief for K-12 schools. Economic impact payments of up to $1,400 per person (in addition to the $600 per person provided in December) for more than 8.1 million adults and 2.8 million children. This is 86% of all adults in the Commonwealth and 84% of all children in the Commonwealth. Additional relief of up to $1,600 per child through the Child Tax Credit to the families of 2,368,000 children, lifting 140,000 children out of poverty. Additional relief of up to nearly $1,000 through the Earned Income Tax Credit to 700,000 childless workers, including many in frontline jobs. Marketplace health insurance premiums that are $1,402 lower per month for a 60-year-old couple earning $75,000 per year. Pennsylvania Vaccinations Update Pennsylvania residents with at least one dose: 4,003,172 people (31.3% of the total population). Pennsylvania residents fully vaccinated: 2,084,919 people (16.3% of the total population). Federal Support for Pennsylvania Vaccinations Pharmacies: As of March 29, the Biden-Harris Administration's program has made vaccines available in over 800 stores, with more than 650 receiving deliveries in the past week. Participating pharmacies are primarily Rite Aid, Topco, CVS, and Walmart locations but also include five other partners. Community Health Centers: The Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with 29 Health Centers to provide them with direct vaccine allocations. Four were onboarded in the first phase of the program, in Philadelphia and Williamsport, and 25 are being onboarded over this second six-week phase, in Allentown, Bethlehem, Chester, Erie, Fredericktown, Greensboro, Harrisburg, Lancaster, New Holland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Pottstown, Reading, Scranton, and York. Combined, they have sites at over 175 different locations across the Commonwealth. Federal Funding: As of March 26, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided over $198 million to the Commonwealth to support vaccination operations. There are 37 federally-supported community vaccination centers currently operational in the Commonwealth and over 300 federal personnel in the field supporting vaccinations. Additionally, over 300 federally-funded National Guard members are supporting the Commonwealth's COVID-19 response. |
| March 31, 2021 14:36 |
Travel Pool #2 - Wheels Up The gaggle is set to take place 10-15 minutes into the flight. Air Force One began rolling at 2:31 pm. We were wheels up and en route to Pittsburgh International Airport at about 2:35 pm. |
| March 31, 2021 15:18 |
Travel Pool Report #3 - Arrival Air Force One landed at Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:16 pm. The gaggle with Karine Jean-Pierre, which was streamed on the White House site, wrapped up after a bumpy moment during the landing. |
| March 31, 2021 15:35 |
Travel Pool Report #4 - Motorcade President Biden disembarked Air Force One at about 3:31 pm. He briefly spoke with an aiman at the base of the steps before getting onto the motorcade a minute later. Fun fact: The plane steps bore the insignia of the 171st Air Refueling Wing, which bears a strong resemblance to the Pittsburgh Steelers logo. The motorcade began rolling at 3:33pm. |
| March 31, 2021 15:42 |
Travel Pool Report #5 - A brief stop The press vans are currently stopped on the tarmac. President Biden is visiting with someone here. Your pooler has asked for further details about the stop. The White House passed along the following information about POTUS' arrival: Upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport, the President was greeted by: |
| March 31, 2021 15:54 |
In Town Pool Report #6 - Hangar We are still holding outside the hangar. The White House sent some details about what POTUS is up to in there: In the hangar, the President was greeted by: Governor Tom Wolf The President then participated in a photo line with: Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman |
| March 31, 2021 15:56 |
In Town Pool Report #7 - Rolling The motorcade got moving again at 3:55 pm. -- |
| March 31, 2021 16:18 |
TRAVEL Pool Report #8a - addendum Your pooler just realized I accidentally labeled the last couple reports as "in town." I am not sure how I did that and deeply regret the error. -- |
| March 31, 2021 16:35 |
Travel Pool Report #9 - Two minute warning We just received a two minute warning for the president's speech at about 4:32 pm. It will be streamed online. Please refer to the broadcast for quotes. In response to questions from reporters, Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre provided the following statement about Major Biden, the dog. "Major is still adjusting to his new surroundings and he nipped someone while on a walk. Out of an abundance of caution the individual was seen by WHMU and returned to work without injury." Your pooler would really like to know what's happening with the White House cat. |
| March 31, 2021 16:39 |
Travel Pool report #10 - speech President Biden stepped up to the lectern at about 4:38 pm. The guests in the room applauded. The White House passed along the following information about today's event: Introducing the President: Mike Fiore, IBEW Local 29 Member and Senior Line Worker for Duquesne Light In the audience for the President's remarks: Governor Tom Wolf |
| March 31, 2021 17:12 |
Travel Pool Report #11 - Speech Over President Biden finished speaking at about 5:10 pm. He walked to the back of the room past a large pile of wood boards. -- |
| March 31, 2021 17:18 |
In Town Pool Report #12 - ESPN Interview We are still here at the Carpenters Training Center. The White House passed along this info about what POTUS is up to backstage: The President is doing a taped interview with Sage Steele of ESPN. The interview will air tonight at 11 PM ET. |
| March 31, 2021 18:12 |
Travel Pool Report #13 The pool moved out from the Carpenters Training Center and onto the vans at about 6:10pm. After his interview, POTUS participated in a photo line. Here are details from the White House. The President is participating in a photo line with: Darrin Kelly, President, Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
| March 31, 2021 18:23 |
Travel Pool Report #14- Leaving the training center The motorcade got rolling at 6:22 pm. -- |
| March 31, 2021 18:38 |
Travel Pool Report #15 - Back at the airport The motorcade arrived at the airport at about 6:36 pm. Along the way we passed a handful of people holding "TRUMP" sugns with US flags. Biden boarded the plane with a wave and salute at about 6:38 pm. |
| March 31, 2021 18:45 |
Travel Pool Report #16 - wheels up Air Force One began rolling down the runway at abojt 6:43 pm and was wheels up at 6:45 pm. -- |
| March 31, 2021 19:36 |
Travel Pool Report #17 - JBA Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews at 7:35 pm. -- |
| March 31, 2021 19:47 |
Travel Pool Report #18 - Back in the motorcade President Biden disembarked Air Force One at about 7:45 pm. He saluted an airman on the ground and they spoke briefly. Biden ignored shouted questions about when he wants to see the bill passed abd boarded the motorcade at 7:46 pm. Your pooler is now handing off to the in town crew. On a personal note, this is going to be my last time in the pool for a while. It has been an honor and a privilege yelling at the president on behalf of the people and alongside so many increeibly talented and kind journalists. See you all around! And, most importantly, go Brooklyn Nets!!! |
| March 31, 2021 19:53 |
Travel Pool Report 18a - Arrival note The White House sent along this info about the president's arrival: Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, the President was greeted by: |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Travel Pool Reports of March 31, 2021 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/349327