The White House is defending President Biden’s decision opting against sending Congress his own gun-control package as he presses the Senate to send him two measures already approved by House Democrats and ban assault-style firearms.
Biden believes it is “vital to take action on two tracks,” referring to legislation and executive action. But she emphasized that “lasting change” could only be instigated by lawmakers, shifting the onus back to Capitol Hill, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.
“What our team is looking at now is what is the range of legislation out now, and whether there are policy gaps that need to be filled or can be revisited,” she told reporters.
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Psaki mentioned a bill put forward by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline, both Democrats, rather than Biden’s own proposal to curb corporate civil liability for gun manufacturers. He rolled that idea out during the campaign.
The House passed two frameworks this month expanding background checks, but the Senate has yet to take them up. Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has already indicated his opposition, pushing for exemptions covering private sales between individuals who know each other.
On Tuesday, the president called on Congress to send him legislation banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Psaki was adamant that “no one is talking about overturning or changing the Second Amendment.” The White House’s priority is “commonsense measures” regarding background checks and assault-style weapons, she repeated. But she was mum over meetings scheduled on the issue.
Vice President Kamala Harris expressed doubt earlier Wednesday that Congress would agree on any reforms following the past week’s high-profile mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado. Hours later, Psaki insisted Biden isn’t going to “quit trying.” Instead, she said he had been proactive on the topic, citing a press release distributed on his behalf in February to mark the anniversary of the 2018 Parkland Shooting.
“This is something he is going to put his shoulder into. He’s going to work with members of both parties. He’s … certainly going to advocate for it,” Psaki added.
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On Wednesday, Psaki also defended the administration’s decision to permit news media into a border facility that has had limited problems with overcrowding. After transparency complaints, one television camera crew was granted access to a shelter in Carrizo Springs, Texas, during a Wednesday congressional delegation visit. That crew will share its footage with the White House press corps after the trip.
Biden, too, would reveal parts of his so-called “Build Back Better” agenda next week during an appearance in Pittsburgh to tout his $1.9 trillion coronavirus spending package, according to Psaki. But there’s still no date for the president’s first address to a joint session of Congress, she said.
