Biden Puts Focus On Pandemic’s Economic Impact

Two executive orders signed Friday aim to ease suffering until the passage of a broader relief package. NBC's Alice Barr reports.

(NBC News) — President Biden on Friday signed two new executive orders focused on the devastating economic toll of the COVID-19 crisis.

“Families are going hungry, people are at risk of being evicted, job losses are mounting again. We need to act,” Mr. Biden said.

The new orders will expand food assistance and address worker safety, and move toward increasing the minimum wage for federal workers to $15 an hour.

President Biden is using the actions as a bridge to the nearly $2 trillion rescue package he wants congress to approve.

Republicans are balking at the price tag.

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