With the recent inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, there are many issues the newly-appointed administration should prioritize. 

The Biden-Harris administration came into power shortly after a day that highlighted a pressing divide in the United States, something many Americans are hoping will become less severe under the new president. Pushes for unity and equity, reforms in immigration systems and environmental policies are among the top priorities for Americans who feel they’ve been ignored by past presidents. 

Though Biden already rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, many Americans hope to see more aggressive actions and laws that target the rapidly-advancing climate crisis. Laws concerning business and industry must be environmentally friendly to curb the effects of unsustainable business practices.

They also hope to see this same urgency extended to the United States’s outdated and discriminatory immigration policies. Americans hope that Biden’s proposed immigration bill is not just another empty campaign promise but one that champions the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and closes inhumane detention centers. 

With the shift in power coming amid a global pandemic, the most pressing issue facing the administration is coronavirus management and relief. Despite state-by-state efforts to curb the viral pandemic and expedite top-priority vaccinations, there is much yet to be addressed. Inconsistent and hasty lockdowns coupled with unclear reopening strategies and a lack of financial relief to unemployed citizens have prolonged the virus’s toll on Americans, especially in Los Angeles county. 

Furthermore, Biden’s plans to reopen schools must prioritize safety rather than speed. His ambitious plan to reopen schools in 100 days must include efficient time for case numbers to drop and well-structured plans for vaccinating all students and staff before returning.

To remedy these issues, the Biden-Harris administration must urge the states to enforce stricter, more comprehensive COVID-19 restrictions aided by relief bills. These should include a months-long mask mandate, rent cancellation and an increase in unemployment checks. A long, strict lockdown must be enforced in every state across the country to curb the rising case counts.

On the federal level, economic relief in the form of a $2,000 monthly recurring stimulus must be distributed to all citizens struggling to pay for essentials. All coronavirus relief must address both the health and financial wellbeing of the American public to be of any help to the public.