Tag: White House

The Biden administration is relying on infrastructure dollars to help fix the clogged ports and blanket the nation with internet access — but a series of initiatives rolled out on Tuesday show that the urgent pace might not be fast enough to address the immediate needs of an economy coping with a supply chain squeeze and a shift to remote work.

Children ages 5 to 11 will soon be able to get a COVID-19 shot at their pediatrician's office, local pharmacy and potentially even their school, the White House said Wednesday as it detailed plans for the expected authorization of the Pfizer shot for elementary school youngsters in a matter of weeks.

With a robust vote after weeks of fits and starts, the Senate approved a $1 trillion infrastructure plan for states coast to coast on Tuesday, as a rare coalition of Democrats and Republicans joined together to overcome skeptics and deliver a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda.

Raphael Chavez-Fernandez, deputy assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs: Raphael Chavez-Fernandez leads IGA which provides strategic advice, guidance and information to the VA Secretary, undersecretaries for Health, Benefits and Memorial Affairs, and all other VA staff offices by fostering and enhancing government partnerships and acting as liaison between VA and the White House, federal, state, county, municipal, tribal, insular and international governments, and faith-based communities. Before joining VA Chavez-Fernandez led the two New Jersey offices as state director for Senator Robert Menendez and was the New Jersey advisor and deputy campaign manager during Menendez’s run for Senate. At Mercury Public Affairs he served as senior associate providing legislative, regulatory and political action analysis. He also served as a legislative aide for New Jersey Assemblywoman Annette Quijano. 

The White House is mounting an all-out effort to sell the bipartisan infrastructure deal President Biden and a group of senators agreed to last week, deploying top administration officials to states and engaging lawmakers to help build support inside and outside Washington for the package.