In other news, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law today; one day earlier than the White House previously announced.
Meanwhile, an Associated Press poll found that about 1 in 5 Americans have lost a friend or relative to the coronavirus pandemic.
Finally, House Democrats passed two gun control measures today that are probably dead-on-arrival in the Senate where Republicans can filibuster.
The first measure, which passed the Democratic-led House 227-203, would close a long-standing loophole in gun laws by expanding background checks to those purchasing weapons over the internet, at gun shows and through certain private transactions. Only eight Republicans joined the Democrats in backing the bill.
The second bill, passed 219-210 with only two Republicans supporting it, would give authorities 10 business days for federal background checks to be completed before a gun sale can be licensed. Currently, such sales can proceed if the government cannot complete complicated background checks of prospective buyers within three days.
Programming note... I will be offline tomorrow. I have an important appointment, I have to go shopping, and I have to clean my place up before cooking dinner for my father tomorrow evening. We have a vaccination to celebrate. He received his second and final dose this week.
Have a good weekend