Three things for March 8
1. U.S. Senate passes $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill
On Saturday, March 6, the Senate approved a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The vote on bill amendments lasted more than 25 hours. The vote was close, coming to a party-line vote of 50-49. No Senate Republicans voted in support of the bill.
“This nation has suffered too much for much too long,” Biden told reporters at the White House after the vote. “And everything in this package is designed to relieve the suffering and to meet the most urgent needs of the nation and put us in a better position to prevail.”
According to AP News, the bill provides direct payments of up to $1,400 for many Americans and extended emergency unemployment benefits. There will be spending money for COVID vaccines and testing, states, cities and schools through the bill. Additionally, the bill provides tax breaks for lower-earning people, families with children and consumers buying health insurance.
2. Third former aide steps up and out against Cuomo
On Saturday, March 6, the Wall Street Journal published an article detailing the allegations of Ana Liss, the third former aide to accuse New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment.
According to the Wall Street Journal, 35-year-old Ana Liss served as a policy and operations aide to Cuomo between 2013 and 2015. She said the actions by Mr. Cuomo were unsolicited and occurred in the first year while she sat at her desk, which was near his office in the Executive Chamber of the New York State Capitol in Albany
Cuomo has responded to the allegations from Liss and two other women who previously worked for him by denying his actions were inappropriate.
On Sunday, Cuomo announced he is signing a bill passed by the state legislature that will limit his emergency powers. New York Attorney General Letitia James will oversee an investigation with subpoena power into the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo.
The governor reiterated on Sunday that he does not plan on resigning despite the allegations.
3. Biden to sign education executive order today
Today, President Joe Biden will sign an executive order directing the Department of Education to review policies implemented by Donald Trump’s administration, including changes to Title IX regulations prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded institutions.
According to AP News, the order directing the review of Title IX could pave the way to a major shift in how colleges handle allegations of sexual misconduct moving forward.
In 2018, former President Donald Trump’s education secretary, Betsy DeVos, rescinded an Obama-era administration standard in cases of reported sexual assault from requiring a “preponderance of evidence.” The DeVos changes reduced the liability of colleges and universities for investigating sexual misconduct claims, reports AP News.
With the Education Department review, Biden intends to set policies that help ensure students have an environment free from sexual harassment and without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a White House official who briefed reporters on the orders.
Biden will sign a second executive order formally establishing the White House Gender Policy Council.
