Social policy of the Joe Biden administration

The social policy of the Joe Biden administration aims to improve on racial equity with executive orders.

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Joe Biden
Incumbent
Vice President of the United States
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Law enforcement and justice

Capital punishment

Biden is the first president to openly oppose the death penalty.[1]

Gun policy

President Biden promised to introduce a stiffer gun-control policy while Vice President Kamala Harris has a history of implementing tough-on-guns measures during her time as attorney general of California.[2][3]

Due to fears of Biden administration in tandem with the Democratic Party controlling Congress to enact sweeping gun reform legislation, gun owners across the country reported a big increase in sales in the two weeks preceding Joe Biden's inauguration as firearm sellers in states such as California, Virginia, Tennessee, Montana and Florida saw lines stretching out the doors of some stores.[3]

Immigration

Travel ban

Biden was a vocal opponent of Trump's controversial travel ban, which had set immigration restrictions on predominantly Muslim countries, and then with proclamations predominantly African countries. On his first day as president, Biden passed Presidential Proclamation 10141, which revoked Executive Order 13780 and Presidential Proclamations 9645, 9723, and 9983, which mandated the travel ban.[4]

Health

Illegal Drugs
See also: Federal drug policy of the United States

Medical Marijuana
See also: Cannabis policy of the Joe Biden administration

LGBT rights
Executive Order 13988 - Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation

During his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden vowed to support legislation and action to prohibit discrimination against transgender people and to combat hate crimes targeting LGBT persons, including violence and harassment against transgender people.[5][6][7] He supports the Safe Schools Improvement Act, a proposed anti-bullying law.[6]

In office, Biden signed Executive Order 13988, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation, which aimed to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Biden also aimed to enforce Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), where the Supreme Court held that Title VII's prohibition on discrimination "because of . . . sex" covers discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.[8]

Race relations

During his early days in office, Biden focused on racial equity more than any president since Lyndon B. Johnson, who passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[9] Biden embraced and continued on the social policies of Barack Obama, the first African-American president, with whom he had been vice president.

African Americans

Biden passed Executive Order 13985, which advances racial equity and support for undeserved communities through the federal government. It revoked Executive Order 13958 passed by Trump, which had established the controversial 1776 commission to counter critical race theory pushed by the 1619 project.[10]

White supremacy

The storming of the United States Capitol and the aftermath highlighted the rise of domestic violent extremism (DVE) along with white supremacy as a national security threat.[11][12] The Biden administration stated in a press briefing that they were committed to developing policies and strategies based on objective and rigorous analysis with respect for constitutionally protected free speech and political activities.[12] The Biden administration requested the ODNI, along with the FBI and DHS, to perform a comprehensive threat assessment drawing from governmental and non-governmental organizations, law enforcement and intelligence officials.[12][13][14] The administration also ordered the building of an NSC capability to focus on countering DVE and a policy review effort to determine how the government can "share information better about this threat, support efforts to prevent radicalization, disrupt violent extremist networks, and more".[12][15] Biden furthermore ordered the coordinating of government agencies to enhance and accelerate efforts to address DVE, such as an NSC-convened process to focus on "addressing evolving threats, radicalization, the role of social media, opportunities to improve information sharing, operational responses, and more."[12][16][17]

Native Americans

Biden respects Native Americans, their contributions and their territories. He nominated Deb Haaland to be his first Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American to be a Cabinet secretary. He also revoked the permit for phase 4 (XL) of the Keystone pipeline for environmental and indigenous concerns.[18]

Abortion

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to codifying Roe v. Wade and appointing federal judges that respect foundational precedents like Roe. The administration is also committed to eliminate maternal and infant health disparities, increase access to contraception and support families economically.[19] On January 28, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order that rescinds the "global gag" rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, which bans US government funding for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that perform or promote abortions.[20]

References
  1. Sarat, Austin (January 21, 2021). "Biden Is the First President to Openly Oppose the Death Penalty. Now What?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. "Letter to Vice President Biden regarding Newtown shootings and gun violence". PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  3. News, A. B. C. "Fear fuels gun sales as Biden vows crackdown". ABC News. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  4. "Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States". The White House. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  5. "Joe Biden on Instagram: "Period."". Instagram.
  6. "Presidential Candidate Joe Biden on LGBTQ Issues". Human Rights Campaign.
  7. Caroline Kelly (June 1, 2019). "Biden: Fastest way to end transgender violence 'is to end the Trump administration'". CNN.
  8. "Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation". The White House. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. Tankersley, Jim; Shear, Michael D. (January 23, 2021). "Biden Seeks to Define His Presidency by an Early Emphasis on Equity". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  10. "Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government". The White House. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  11. Service, Tribune News. "President Joe Biden orders review of domestic violent extremism threat". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  12. "Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and National Economic Director Brian Deese". The White House. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  13. "Biden Administration Announces Plans To Assess Domestic Violent Extremism". NPR.org. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  14. AP (January 23, 2021). "US: Joe Biden orders review of domestic violent extremism threats". Business Standard India. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  15. News, A. B. C. "Biden orders review of domestic violent extremism threat". ABC News. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  16. "Biden orders review of domestic violent extremism threat in U.S. after Capitol riot". Global News. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  17. "Biden plans to overhaul government's approach to domestic extremism". NBC News. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  18. CNN, Eric Bradner, Betsy Klein and Christopher Hickey. "Biden targets Trump's legacy with first-day executive actions". CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  19. "Statement from President Biden and Vice President Harris on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade". The White House. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  20. Kelly, Caroline. "Biden signs memorandum reversing Trump abortion access restrictions". CNN. Retrieved January 29, 2021.


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