ECONOMY EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE

Biden Administration Bans Medical Debt From Credit Reports

President Joe Biden’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (created during the Obama administration) has issued rules that will prevent credit agencies from including data from medical debt in its credit reports. Biden understands that, among other fallout from our very flawed healthcare system, medical debt damages patients’ credit rating, impacting other areas of their lives, and he recognizes that medical debt is not an accurate predictor of a borrower’s likelihood of paying back a loan, The CFPB estimates over 20,000 more people per year will be able to obtain home loans, among other benefits.

EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE LGBTQ+

Biden Administration Takes More Actions On Behalf of LGBTQ+ Americans Than Any Administration In History

It is Pride Month! Check out Human Rights Campaign’s list of some of the many actions taken by President Joe Biden to strengthen and defend America’s LGBTQ+ community, including strengthening the Affordable Care Act to address discrimination in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, expanding Title IX (discussed here previously), and restoring Health and Human Services protections stripped away by former president Trump.

CLIMATE ACTION/ENVIRONMENT ECONOMY EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION

Biden Provides Pennsylvania $16.7 Billion In Infrastructure, Clean Energy, and Affordable Housing, Among Many Other Initiatives

President Joe Biden has directed nearly $17b in funding to the Keystone State for energy conservation, clean water, more affordable medications, improved roads and bridges, better internet connectivity, and may more areas. “Infrastructure Week may have been a punchline but no more,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian said on a conference call with reporters.

CANNABIS EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE SOCIAL JUSTICE

Biden’s DEA Will Move To Reclassify Cannabis As A Less Restricted Drug After Over 50 Years Of Being On Schedule 1

True to his word, President Joe Biden is moving the DEA to take cannabis off of the most restricted drug list — Schedule 1 — and moving it to Schedule III. This move would make it easier to research the effects of cannabis, and would federally recognize and decriminalize its medical use. It will also clear federal resources to deal with actual serious drugs like fentanyl. Should cannabis be legal? Of course. But, this is the biggest federal step in that direction in over 50 years.

CLIMATE ACTION/ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE PUBLIC SAFETY SOCIAL JUSTICE

The EPA Issues New Regulations Cutting Cancer Causing Emissions From Chemical Plants, Particularly Where Those Plants Are Near Residential Neighborhoods

The new regulations, issued by the EPA under the direction of President Joe Biden, will primarily affect people living near industrial sites. Those people are disproportionately poor and people of color. The new rule would, among other things, cut toxic pollutants by 6,200 tons annually and reduce emissions of ethylene oxide and chloroprene by 80 percent. Biden again demonstrates that he is making government work for all Americans, in that these regulations will largely benefit communities in Louisiana, Texas, other locations on the Gulf Coast, West Virginia, and the Ohio River Valley, predominantly red states Biden is aware will not be voting for him in November. A more detailed list of the regulations is in this EPA Press Release.

BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW CLIMATE ACTION/ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE PUBLIC SAFETY

The Biden Administration Regulates The Presence Of “Forever Chemicals” In Our Drinking Water

On April 10, 2024, the EPA, at the direction of President Joe Biden, has set stringent new standards regarding the presence of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in the US drinking water supply. This is the first time the US has ever regulated these toxic, cancer-causing chemicals. The Biden Administration is deploying funds allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help fund states’ efforts to test and treat their local water supplies to attempt to eliminate PFAs.

EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE SOCIAL JUSTICE WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Biden Issues Numerous Executive Orders To Protect Women’s Access To Reproductive Health Care

Throughout his presidency, President Joe Biden, with the help of Vice President Kamala Harris, has been incredibly active through executive orders in battling the loss of Roe v. Wade and the statewide iniatives designed to deny women health care, including abortions, access to contraception, safeguarding patient privacy, and sensitive health information. Initiatives include protecting the right to travel, providing services to veterans, current service members, and emergency abortion care.

CANNABIS EXECUTIVE ACTION HEALTH CARE SOCIAL JUSTICE

Biden Pardons All Federal Convictions Solely For Cannabis Use

Finally, a president takes executive action relating to the failed drug war. President Joe Biden does it twice. Thousands of people are affected by the order. Also, Biden has been lobbying state governors and his regulators are making noises about reviewing cannabis’ Schedule 1 classification, with an eye toward rescheduling it as a Schedule 3 drug. Baby steps, to be sure, but finally a move in the right direction.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION STUDENT LOANS

Biden Kicks Off With The American Rescue Plan

Within 60 days of taking office, President Joe Biden signed into law The American Rescue Plan.

Among the many important provisions it contains are:

  • more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans,
  • $1400 per person to struggling US citizens,
  • extended unemployment benefits,
  • increased food aid,
  • student loan debt relief,
  • and aid to states, cities, tribal governments, and US territories.

Here’s a more detailed analysis.

BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW CLIMATE ACTION/ENVIRONMENT HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION SOCIAL JUSTICE

Biden Administration Announces $5.8 Billion In Funding To Clean Up Nation’s Drinking Water, Upgrade Infrastructure

Ripped from today’s (well, now yesterday’s) headlines. President Joe Biden has been pushing the elimination of lead pipes from our nation’s infrastructure since he took office, and continues that effort today, with the allocation of an additional $5.8 billion for this effort. This funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

HEALTH CARE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT LEGISLATION

Biden Caps Insulin Prices

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, out-of-pocket costs for insulin are capped at $35 per month prescription for enrollees of Medicare Part B and Part D.

Although President Joe Biden wasn’t able to extend that cap to people not on Medicare in the IRA, the political pressure he has brought to this fight has caused major drug manufacturers to cap the cost of prescriptions for insulin to $35 per month for millions of people not on Medicare.

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