Joe Biden in Biden: Promises Kept / Promises Broken


On Abortion: Restore federal Title X family planning program

PROMISE MADE: (Campaign website JoeBiden.com): Biden will reissue guidance specifying that states cannot refuse Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other providers and reverse the Trump Administration's rule preventing these organizations from obtaining Title X funds.

PROMISE KEPT: (NPR News, 4/14/21): The Biden administration is moving to reverse a Trump-era family planning policy that critics describe as a domestic "gag rule" for reproductive healthcare providers. The proposal would largely return the federal Title X family planning program to its status before Trump took office. The current rules, implemented by Trump in 2019, forbid any provider who provides or refers patients for abortions from receiving federal funding through Title X to cover services such as contraception and STD screenings for low-income people.

ANALYSIS: Since 1970, the Title X Program provides family planning services, without abortion funding.

Source: NPR on Biden Administration promises Apr 14, 2021

On Abortion: Rescind Mexico City Policy "global gag rule"

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Just as the Obama-Biden Administration did, rescind the Mexico City Policy that Pres. Trump reinstated & expanded. This rule currently bars the US federal government from supporting important global health efforts--including for malaria and HIV/AIDS--in developing countries simply because the organizations providing that aid also offer information on abortion services.

PROMISE KEPT: (Time magazine, 1/28/21): Biden will rescind the Mexico City policy--sometimes called the "global gag rule"--in another rollback of a Trump policy that will bring major changes to reproductive health and rights around the world.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: The Mexico City Policy has been instituted and rescinded by Executive Order each time the president's party changed. Reagan initiated the policy in 1985; Clinton rescinded it in 1993; Bush reinstated it in 2001; Obama rescinded it in 2009; Trump reinstated it in 2017.

Source: Time Magazine on Biden Promises Jan 28, 2021

On Budget & Economy: COVID relief: 478 million stimulus check payments

PROMISE MADE: (Lorie Konish on CNBC, Jan 14, 2021): President-elect Joe Biden unveiled his stimulus plan that includes sending additional $1,400 payments to Americans following the $600 second stimulus checks that were recently deployed. "We will finish the job of getting a total of $2,000 in cash relief to people who need it the most," Biden said. "The $600 already appropriated is simply not enough."

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN March 6, 2021): The Senate bill amends the House bill on the $1,400-per-person stimulus payments to tighten eligibility. Individuals earning less than $75,000 a year and married couples earning less than $150,000 will receive $1,400 per person, including children. That will get money to about 90% of households.

ANALYSIS by en.as.com: (July 23, 2021): In total, an enormous 478 million stimulus check payments have been sent out since the start of the pandemic [with the third round underway] at $1,400 per person.

Source: CNBC and CNN analysis of Biden Promises Jan 14, 2021

On Budget & Economy: $130 billion in stimulus aid to counties and cities

PROMISE MADE: (Third Presidential Debate 10/22/20): "When I was in charge of the Recovery Act with $800 billion, I was able to get $145 billion to local and communities that have to balance their budgets, so they could keep their cities & counties running."

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN 3/6/21): The Senate bill would provide $350 billion to states, local governments, territories and tribes, the same amount as the House. The bills would give states and the District of Columbia $195.3 billion, while counties and cities would split about $130 billion in aid. Tribes would get $20 billion and territories $4.5 billion under both bills.

ANALYSIS: 3/10/21): "Additional assistance to states has been among the most controversial elements of the congressional rescue packages, with Democrats looking to add to the $150 billion in the March legislation & Republicans resisting such efforts. The December package ultimately dropped an initial call to include $160 billion.

Source: CNN "Senate stimulus" analysis of 2021 Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Civil Rights: Appoint Cabinet who look like the country they serve

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Biden will start on day one of his Administration leading by example, making sure his political appointees, including his Cabinet, and our entire federal workforce look like the country they serve. As President, Biden will nominate and appoint people who look like the country they serve.

PROMISE KEPT: (The Conversation e-zine, 2/22/21): President Joe Biden's Cabinet is the most diverse in U.S. history. It has five women, including the first female treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, and Deb Haaland, who will become the first Native American Cabinet member if confirmed as interior secretary. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is the first openly gay man to win Senate confirmation and lead a Cabinet department. Four of Biden's 15 Cabinet nominees identify as Latino or Black. They also span generations, ranging in age from 39 to 74.

Source: TheConversation.com blog on Biden Promises Mar 8, 2021

On Crime: No police reform commission despite campaign promise

PROMISE MADE: (CNN Town Hall, Sep 17, 2020): I will bring together police chiefs, police officers, the civil rights leadership to [decide on] more rigorous background checks on those who apply to become police officers, teach people how to de-escalate.

PROMISE BROKEN: (Politico.com, 4/11/21): The White House is putting the creation of a national police oversight commission on hold, nixing a Biden campaign pledge to establish one within his first 100 days. "The administration made the considered judgment that a police commission, at this time, would not be the most effective way to deliver on our top priority in this area, which is to sign the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act into law," a spokesperson said.

ANALYSIS: The White House said it consulted with national civil rights organizations and police unions. Both entities made clear to the administration that they thought a commission was not necessary and likely redundant.

Source: Politico.com on Biden Administration promises Apr 11, 2021

On Crime: Social & economic support services to deter violent behavior

PROMISE MADE:(2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com):There are proven strategies for reducing gun violence in urban communities without turning to incarceration. Group Violence Intervention organizes community leaders to work with individuals most likely to commit acts of gun violence, express the community's demand that the gun violence stop, and connect individuals who may be likely perpetrators with social and economic support services that may deter violent behavior. Biden will create a $900 million, 8-year initiative to fund these evidence-based interventions.

PROMISE PARTLY KEPT: (White House press release, 4/7/21): The American Jobs Plan proposes a $5 billion investment over eight years to support community violence intervention programs. Health and Human Services is organizing a webinar and toolkit to educate states on how they can use Medicaid to reimburse certain community violence intervention programs, as we wait on Congress to appropriate additional funds.

Source: White House press release on Biden Administration promises Apr 7, 2021

On Education: $200B in emergency COVID funding for K-12 schools

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): The School Superintendents Association and the Association of Educational Service Agencies have estimated that K-12 education requires at least $200 billion in emergency funding. Biden and Harris are calling on Trump to bring Congressional leaders together immediately to pass this emergency support funding.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN, March 6, 2021): [In the stimulus plan]: Both the Senate and House bills would provide nearly $130 billion to K-12 schools to help students return to the classroom. The bills are in line with what Biden proposed. Altogether, $170 billion would be authorized for K-12 schools and higher education. Last year, Congress approved a total of $112 billion between two relief packages that went to K-12 schools and colleges.

Source: CNN "Senate stimulus" analysis of 2021 Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Energy & Oil: Convened "climate world summit"; cut US emissions in half

PROMISE MADE: (JoeBiden.com website): Biden will, in his first 100 days in office, convene a climate world summit to directly engage the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations of the world to persuade them to join the US in making more ambitious national pledges.

PROMISE KEPT: (NPR, 4/22/21): Emphasizing US commitments on climate change, Pres. Biden kicked off the first international summit during his presidency. He announced that the US would cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half, from 2005 levels, by the end of the decade. Biden was joined by 40 heads of government on Earth Day, focused entirely on lowering greenhouse gas emissions quickly in order to prevent the worst outcomes of a rapidly warming planet.

ANALYSIS: Much of the substantive work on cutting GHGs has yet to be done; only plans & proposals have been announced. However, the 2-day summit, which included Russia & China, fulfills Biden's pledge, within his first 100 days.

Source: NPR on Biden Administration promises Apr 22, 2021

On Energy & Oil: FactCheck:US rejoined world in GHG reduction, not vice-versa

Biden promised to persuade "the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations to join the US in making more ambitious national pledges." Biden led a climate world summit where he committed "that the US would cut its greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in half, from 2005 levels, by the end of the decade" (NPR 4/22). But some fact-checking:

Biden didn't persuade other countries to "join the US": In 2015, 191 countries signed the Paris Accord committing to GHG reductions. Trump withdrew the US entirely in 2017, reducing US commitment to zero.

Looking at the numbers, the US had committed in 2015 to a 26% domestic reduction in greenhouse gases by 2025 compared to 2005 levels. Biden committed to a 50% reduction by 2030--a comparable reduction rate. For comparison, the EU committed to a 40% domestic GHG reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels--a much lower base level. In summary, Biden's action restored the US to what the world is already doing--the US joined the other nations, not vice-versa!

Source: NPR/OnTheIssues FactCheck on Biden Administration promises Apr 22, 2021

On Energy & Oil: Appoint Special Envoy for Climate; recognize climate crisis

PROMISE MADE: (Atlanta debate, Nov 20, 2019): BIDEN on climate: "I think it is the existential threat to humanity. I was passing the first climate change bill, while I managed the $90 billion recovery plan, investing more money in infrastructure that related to clean energy than any time ever."

PROMISE KEPT: (Executive Order on Climate Crisis , 1/27/21): It is the policy of my Administration that climate considerations shall be an essential element of U.S. foreign policy and national security. I have created a new Presidentially appointed position, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, to elevate the issue of climate change and underscore the commitment my Administration will make toward addressing it.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: Biden's order acknowledges primacy of climate change as a matter of national security (which the Trump administration did not). Former Secretary of State John Kerry was appointed as the first "special envoy."

Source: White House press release on Biden Promises Jan 27, 2021

On Families & Children: Fund "red flag" laws for family members at extreme risk

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Extreme risk laws, also called "red flag" laws, enable family members or law enforcement officials to temporarily remove an individual's access to firearms when that individual poses a danger to themselves or others. Biden will incentivize the adoption of these laws by giving states funds to implement them.

PROMISE PARTLY KEPT: (White House press release, 4/7/21): The Justice Department will publish model "red flag" legislation for states. The President urges Congress to pass an appropriate national "red flag" law, as well as legislation incentivizing states to pass "red flag" laws of their own. In the interim, the Justice Department's published model legislation will make it easier for states that want to adopt red flag laws to do so.

ANALYSIS: Legislation and funding is required to incentivize states, but Biden kept his promise on DOJ providing support.

Source: White House press release on Biden Administration promises Apr 7, 2021

On Families & Children: Guarantee education free from gender-based violence

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Biden will create a White House Council on Gender Equality, chaired by a senior member of the Executive Office of the President tasked solely with guiding and coordinating government policy that impacts women and girls, such as economic policy, health care, racial justice, gender-based violence, and foreign policy.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN, 3/8/21): President Joe Biden is set to sign two executive orders which will establish the White House Gender Policy Council, and address sexual violence in the education field. The orders, to be signed on International Woman's Day, are aimed at ensuring gender equality and equity throughout the federal government at a time when women, particularly Black and Latina women, are being disproportionately afflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden's other executive order, meanwhile, is aimed at advancing policies to guarantee education free from sexual violence.

Source: TheConversation.com blog on Biden Promises Mar 8, 2021

On Families & Children: No mandatory paid family and sick leave in COVID relief

PROMISE MADE: (FMLA Insights 1/15/21): Biden's paid leave plan would effectively cover all employers. First, it would require employers with under 500 employees to again provide leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Second, the plan would require employers with 500 or more employees to provide FFCRA leave. Biden also would remove any exemptions for those employers who are smaller than 50 employees.

PROMISE BROKEN: (CNN March 6, 2021): Unlike Biden's initial proposal, neither bill would reinstate mandatory paid family and sick leave approved in a previous Covid relief package. But they continue to provide tax credits to employers who voluntarily choose to offer the benefit through October 1.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: Paid family and sick leave is mandated in 10 states: CA, CO, CT, DC, MA, NJ, NY, OR, RI, and WA.

Source: CNN "Senate stimulus" analysis of 2021 Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Families & Children: Expand the child tax credit to $3,000 for each child

PROMISE MADE: (Darla Mercado on CNBC, Jan 14, 2021): The president-elect wants to increase the child tax credit to $3,000 for qualifying children aged 17 and under. Kids under age 6 would be eligible for a $3,600 credit. Biden is calling to put these expansions into effect for the year on an emergency basis. Biden also wants to make the child tax credit fully refundable. That means taxpayers get a refund check, even if the credit exceeds their tax liability.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN March 6, 2021): [In the Senate stimulus plan]: In an effort to combat poverty, lawmakers would expand the child tax credit to $3,600 for each child under 6 and $3,000 for each child under age 18. The credit would also become fully refundable so more low-income parents could take advantage of it. Plus, families could receive payments monthly, rather than a lump sum once a year, which would make it easier for them to pay the bills.

Source: CNBC and CNN analysis of Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Families & Children: $39B to child care providers for COVID relief & stimulus

PROMISE MADE: (Michelle Fox on CNBC, Jan 15, 2021): Biden's plan would:

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN, March 6, 2021): [In the stimulus plan]: The bills would also provide about $39 billion to child care providers. The amount a provider receives would be based on operating expenses and is available to pay employees and rent, help families struggling to pay the cost, and purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies.

Source: CNBC and CNN analysis of Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Foreign Policy: Recognized 1915 Turkish genocide of millions of Armenians

PROMISE MADE: (Twitter posting @JoeBiden, 4/24/20) Today, we remember the atrocities faced by the Armenian people in the Metz Yeghern--the Armenian Genocide. If elected, I pledge to support a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and will make universal human rights a top priority.

PROMISE KEPT: (NBC News, 4/24/21): Biden officially acknowledged the killing of more than a million Armenians by Ottoman Turks more than a century ago as genocide, a move that could complicate an already strained relationship between the U.S. and Turkey. As a candidate, Biden said he would make the designation, and a bipartisan group of members of Congress urged Biden to take action ahead of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day,

ANALYSIS: Congress approved a resolution recognizing genocide in 2007, but Pres. Bush declined to support it, because it would harm relations with Turkey, our NATO ally. Pres. Obama promised recognition but declined to do so as President.

Source: NBC News on Biden Administration promises Apr 24, 2021

On Foreign Policy: Sanctions on Russia for interference in 2020 election

PROMISE MADE: (CNN Town Hall 2020 drive-in with Anderson Cooper, Sep 17, 2020): [Russia] attempting to interfere with our election is a violation of our sovereignty. I don't mean war. But they'll pay an economic price.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN, 4/15/21): The Biden administration slapped sweeping sanctions on Russia over Moscow's alleged interference in the 2020 election, the massive SolarWinds hack and the ongoing occupation of Crimea, signaling it is adopting a tougher posture toward the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

ANALYSIS: President Trump denied all sanctions against Russia for interference in the 2016 presidential election; that was the focus of the first Trump impeachment. The Mueller Report detailed Russian interference, but Trump referred to it as "the Russia Hoax" and "Fake News." Biden's action signifies that the United States no longer considers Russian actions to be a hoax.

Source: CNN on Mueller Report and Biden Administration promises Apr 22, 2021

On Foreign Policy: No punishment for Saudis killing Jamal Khashoggi

PROMISE MADE:(Atlanta debate 11/20/19): "[Journalist Jamal] Khashoggi was murdered on the order of the crown prince. I would make it clear we were not going to sell more weapons to them, we were going to make them the pariah that they are. There's very little social redeeming value in the present government in Saudi Arabia.

PROMISE BROKEN: (A.P., 3/2/21): The Biden administration made clear it would forgo sanctions or any other major penalty against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Khashoggi killing, even after a U.S. intelligence report concluded the prince ordered it. Ultimately, Biden administration officials said, U.S. interests in maintaining relations with Saudi Arabia forbid making a pariah of a young prince who may go on to rule the kingdom for decades.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: Biden was criticized for giving Bin Salman a pass, limiting sanctions to underlings carrying out his orders--but Biden played "realpolitik."

Source: Associated Press analysis of 2021 Biden Promises Mar 2, 2021

On Foreign Policy: Promote LGBTQI+ rights worldwide via State Department

PROMISE MADE: (CNN LGBT Town Hall, 10/10/19): In my State Department, we will have a special office that's devoted directly to promoting LGBTQ rights around the world.

PROMISE KEPT: (Executive Memo on LGBTQI, 2.4/21): I am directing all agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. The Department of State shall lead a standing group, with appropriate interagency representation, to help ensure the Federal Government's swift and meaningful response to serious incidents that threaten the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons abroad.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: Biden has fulfilled this promise in general, but not for the specific promise of establishing a special office. We consider this a general fulfillment because Biden expanded on his promise from "LGBTQ" to "LGBTQI+"--adding "intersex persons"--Biden has consistently used the longer list in his public pronouncements.

Source: White House LGBTQI press release on Biden Promises Feb 4, 2021

On Foreign Policy: Regional Asian alliance with Japan, India and Australia

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): A Biden administration will do more than restore our historic partnerships; it will lead the effort to reimagine them for the future. We will strengthen our alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and other Asian democracies.

PROMISE PARTLY KEPT: (Financial Times, 3/7/21): President Joe Biden is poised to hold the first ever quadrilateral US summit with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia, as the four countries step up co-operation in an effort to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: President Trump described NATO, the European-based anti-USSR alliance--as "obsolete"; NATO is what Biden means by our most important "historic partnership" Biden also hints at restoring SEATO, the equivalent Southeast Asian alliance, which would similarly re-create an anti-China and anti-North Korea alliance.

Source: Financial Times on Biden Promises Mar 7, 2021

On Government Reform: Biden administration officially backs statehood for DC

PROMISE MADE: (National News, 4/21/21) Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden has gone on record saying he supports the movement. "Absolutely, I have for the last 28 years," Mr Biden said when asked by a supporter of the DC statehood movement whether he would endorse the move.

Twitter posting @JoeBiden (Jun 25, 2020): "DC should be a state. Pass it on."

PROMISE KEPT: (WTOP News, 4/20/21): "The Administration strongly supports H.R. 51, the Washington D.C. Admission Act. For far too long, the more than 700,000 people of Washington, D.C. have been deprived of full representation in the U.S. Congress. This taxation without representation and denial of self-governance is an affront to the democratic values on which our Nation was founded," the White House said in a statement.

ANALYSIS: The bill would have to pass the House AND the Senate, but President Biden has kept his promise insofar as publicly supporting the effort as president.

Source: NPR on Biden Administration promises Apr 22, 2021

On Government Reform: Commission of experts to decide on expanding Supreme Court

PROMISE MADE: (Politico.com, 10/22/2020): "I'll put together a bipartisan commission of scholars, constitutional scholars, Democrats, Republicans, liberal, conservative. And I will ask them to over 180 days come back to me with recommendations as to how to reform the court system because it's getting out of whack," Biden said.

PROMISE KEPT: (White House press release, 4/9/21): President Biden will issue an executive order forming the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court, comprised of a bipartisan group of experts on the Court and the Court reform debate. The Commission's purpose is to provide an analysis of Supreme Court reform, including an appraisal of the merits and legality of particular reform proposals, within 180 days of its first public meeting.

ANALYSIS: The proposed reform, which critics call "court packing," would be to add 4 Supreme Court seats, to change the current 6-3 conservative majority to a 7-6 liberal majority.

Source: Politico.com on Biden Administration promises Oct 22, 2020

On Government Reform: Make it easier for overseas and federal employees to vote

PROMISE MADE: (St. Anselm College primary debate, 2/7/20): There should be automatic registration, turning 18, you get a driver's license, you automatically are registered. There are 35 states that have come up with a total of 78 laws to restrict voting just in the last five years.

PROMISE PARTLY KEPT: (NBC News, 3/7/21): Biden's order calls on federal agencies to "consider ways to expand citizens' opportunities to register to vote and to obtain information about, and participate in, the electoral process," make it easier for federal employees to vote by recommending how to "expand the federal government's policy of granting employees time off to vote" and increase access to the ballot for voters with disabilities, Native Americans, overseas Americans and eligible federal prisoners.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: There is only so much Biden can do by executive order; he has promised to sign H.R. 1--an election reform bill--if it passes the Senate.

Source: NBC News on Biden Promises Mar 7, 2021

On Government Reform: Daily press briefings for White House, State Dept., and DOD

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Immediately return to daily press briefings at the White House, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Defense. Our foreign policy relies on the informed consent of the American people. That is not possible when our government refuses to communicate with the public.

PROMISE KEPT: (Albany Times Union, 2/22/21): White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has made her goals very clear: help the public trust the government, set up a better press shop than former presidents Donald J. Trump or Barack Obama and get out of the post in about a year. Since her first daily press briefing on Inauguration Day, she's delivered President Joe Biden's plans with few obvious stumbles.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: The State Department and Defense Department have also restored daily press briefings as of February 2021.

Source: Albany Times Union on Biden Promises Feb 22, 2021

On Gun Control: No bill repealing liability protection for gun manufacturers

PROMISE MADE: "On my first day of office," Biden said in February 2020, "I'm going to send a bill to the Congress repealing the liability protection for gun manufacturers, closing the background check loopholes and waiting period."

PROMISE BROKEN: Biden has not yet sent any gun legislation to Congress. Biden did take six gun-related executive actions on April 8, but those actions did not cover his Day One pledge.

ANALYSIS: Executive actions do not require the approval of Congress, like legislation does. Executive actions can be overturned by the next President, while bills are more permanent, requiring another act of Congress to overturn. All three issues mentioned by Biden have strong opposition by the gun industry, but "liability protection" refers to overturning 2005's Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) was enacted in 2005 to shield gun manufacturers and dealers from civil litigation.

Source: ABC News on Biden Administration promises Apr 26, 2021

On Gun Control: Treat gun violence as a public health epidemic

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Direct the ATF (the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) to issue an annual report on firearms trafficking. This report will provide officials with critical information to better identify strategies for curbing firearms trafficking.

PROMISE KEPT: (White House press release, "Gun Violence Public Health Epidemic," April 7, 2021): The Justice Department will issue an annual report on firearms trafficking. [The previous report in] 2000 summarized information regarding its investigations into firearms trafficking. But there is good reason to believe that firearms trafficking channels have changed since 2000. A new, comprehensive report gives policymakers the information they need to help address firearms trafficking today.

ANALYSIS: The "change since 2000" is to treat gun violence as a public health epidemic, toward a multi-state settlement as with the tobacco industry.

Source: White House press release on Biden Administration promises Apr 7, 2021

On Gun Control: Regulate "ghost guns" and 3D-printed gun parts

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): One way people who cannot legally obtain a gun may gain access to a weapon is by assembling one on their own, either by buying a kit of disassembled gun parts or 3D printing a working firearm. Biden will stop the proliferation of these so-called "ghost guns" by passing legislation requiring that purchasers of gun kits or 3D printing code pass a federal background check.

PROMISE PARTLY KEPT: (White House press release 4/7/21): The Justice Department will issue a proposed rule to help stop the proliferation of "ghost guns." We are experiencing a growing problem: criminals are buying kits containing nearly all of the components for finishing a firearm within as little as 30 minutes and using these firearms to commit crimes.

ANALYSIS: Executive orders are not legislation and can be reversed by a future president. Biden calls these "initial actions" and supports the Senate passing gun control bills.

Source: White House press release on Biden Administration promises Apr 7, 2021

On Health Care: No transgendered discrimination by healthcare providers

PROMISE MADE: (JoeBiden.com campaign website): Trump has proposed to allow health care providers to discriminate based on a patient's gender identity. President Biden will defend the rights of all people--regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity--to have access to quality, affordable health care free from discrimination.

PROMISE PARTLY KEPT: (NBC News, 5/10/21): The Biden administration is reversing a policy introduced that limited protections for transgender people in health care. In a victory for LGBTQ advocates, the change will bar health care providers who receive federal funding from discriminating based on someone's gender identity or sexual orientation.

ANALYSIS: If a transgendered person goes to an HMO that doesn't receive federal funding, it's still legal to discriminate against them for being transgendered--that's not "all people"! To address private HMOs would require state and federal legislation.

Source: NBC News on Biden Administration promises May 10, 2021

On Health Care: Made 100M vaccination goal, but not 70% goal

PROMISE MADE: (Newsweek, Jan. 15, 2021): Biden formally rolled out his aggressive, federally backed delivery plan to meet his goal of getting 100 million shots administered in his first 100 days in office. "Some wonder if we're reaching too far with that goal--is it achievable?" Biden said. "Let me be clear: I'm convinced we can get it done.

PROMISE KEPT: (NBC News, March 18, 2021): Biden said he was poised to meet his goal of administering 100 million Covid-19 vaccination shots in his first 100 days more than 40 days ahead of schedule. "I am proud to announce that tomorrow, 58 days into my administration, we will have met our goal," Biden said in a speech at the White House.

ANALYSIS: Biden subsequently made and then walked back a goal of 150 million shots, a goal that is expected to be met as well. Biden then proposed 70% vaccination rate by July 4th; the US reached 67% on July 4 and reached 70% several weeks later.

Source: Newsweek & NBC analysis of Biden Promises Mar 18, 2021

On Health Care: Mandate COVID masks in all federal buildings

PROMISE MADE: (WPTV-5 coverage of NBC News Town Hall, 10/6/20): On coronavirus: "As president of the United States, I would make a federal mandate on federal property buildings; you must wear a mask. Period. And you must socially distance," Biden said.

PROMISE KEPT: (Executive Order on Mask-Wearing, 1/20/21): The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall immediately take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to require compliance with CDC guidelines with respect to wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, & other public health measures by: on-duty or on-site Federal employees; on-site Federal contractors; and all persons in Federal buildings or on Federal lands.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: "Mask mandates" are a core political issue at the state level: whether to mandate masks for state employees (as Biden has done for federal employees), versus for the public at-large (which Biden has not done).

Source: White House press release on Biden Promises Jan 20, 2021

On Health Care: Re-open ACA enrollment; restore ObamaCare to pre-Trump level

PROMISE MADE: (Biden-Sanders debate 3/15/20): Pass the Biden healthcare plan, which takes ObamaCare, restores all the cuts made to it [under Trump]. Subsidize it further.

PROMISE KEPT:(Executive Order on Medicare 1/28/21): It is the policy of my Administration to protect and strengthen Medicaid and the ACA and to make high-quality healthcare accessible and affordable for every American. In light of the exceptional circumstances caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, establish a Special Enrollment Period for uninsured and under-insured Americans to seek coverage through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace.

OnTheIssues ANALYSIS: Biden made his promise at the beginning of the pandemic, and all healthcare policy in 2021 is tied up with the pandemic. Biden has largely restored ObamaCare cuts--by reopening ACA enrollment--and largely subsidized ObamaCare--via pandemic spending and pandemic justification.

Source: White House press release on Biden Promises Feb 2, 2021

On Health Care: Cap insurance at 8.5% of income instead of 10%

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): [On health insurance cost regulations]: As President, Biden will help middle class families by eliminating the 400% income cap on tax credit eligibility and lowering the limit on the cost of coverage from 9.86% of income to 8.5%. This means that no family buying insurance on the individual marketplace, regardless of income, will have to spend more than 8.5% of their income on health insurance.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN, 3/6/21): [In the stimulus plan]: Enrollees would pay no more than 8.5% of their income towards coverage, down from nearly 10% now. Also, those earning more than the current cap of 400% of the federal poverty level--about $51,000 for an individual and $104,800 for a family of four in 2021--would become eligible for help. Both chambers seek to entice states that have yet to expand Medicaid to low-income adults to do so by boosting their federal Medicaid matching funds by 5 percentage points for two years.

Source: CNN "Senate stimulus" analysis of 2021 Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Health Care: $119 billion to build public confidence in vaccines

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com): Plan for the effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines because discovering isn't enough if they get distributed like Trump's testing and PPE fiascos. Invest $25 billion in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan that will guarantee it gets to every American, cost-free.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN 3/6/21): The [stimulus bills] provide $14 billion to research, develop, distribute, administer and strengthen confidence in vaccines. They would also put $47.8 billion toward testing, contact tracing and mitigation, including investing in laboratory capacity, community-based testing sites and mobile testing units. Both chambers would also allocate $7.7 billion to hire 100,000 public health workers to support coronavirus response. The legislation also provide $50 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with some of the funds going toward expanding vaccination efforts.

Source: CNN "Senate stimulus" analysis of 2021 Biden Promises Mar 6, 2021

On Health Care: $8.5 billion for rural hospitals, for telehealth & COVID

PROMISE MADE: (2020 campaign website JoeBiden.com downloaded 3/11/21): The Biden Administration will provide rural health care providers with funding and flexibility necessary to identify, test, and deploy innovative approaches to keeping their doors open and providing care for the unique needs of rural communities.

PROMISE KEPT: (CNN 3/6/21): The Senate bill allocates $8.5 billion to help struggling rural hospitals and health care providers.

White House Press Release: (8/13/2021): [The $8.5B will go towards]: