U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
Trump Expands U.S. Travel Ban to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Sparking Economic Fears in the Caribbean 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
Venezuela Seeks UN Security Council Meeting Over U.S. Oil Tanker Blockade 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
Trump Administration Plans Major Increase in Denaturalization Cases for Naturalized U.S. Citizens 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director After Brief, Controversial Tenure 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
U.S. Senators Move Toward Deal to Strengthen Military Helicopter Safety Rules 
UN Warns Gaza Humanitarian Aid at Risk as Israel Registration Rules Threaten NGO Operations 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
The COVID-19 pandemic has evidently affected more minorities and communities of color in the US. Vice President Kamala Harris recently announced that the administration would be investing $1.5 billion to healthcare worker organizations to address the worker shortage in underserved communities.
Harris announced Monday that the Biden administration would be investing $1.5 billion in order to address the shortage of healthcare workers in underserved communities across the country. The funds will be going to the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps. Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment and Recovery programs and all federal programs that offer scholarships and loan repayments to healthcare students and workers if they pledge to work in underserved communities.
“Our nation must invest in a healthcare workforce that looks like America and provide access to equitable healthcare for all Americans,” said Harris during her announcement.
“COVID-19 did not invent health disparities. Just ask any healthcare professional and she will tell you: Health disparities existed long before this virus reached our shores. Health disparities stem from broader systemic inequalities,” Harris added.
The funding will be coming from the American Rescue Plan as well as other sources and will support over 22,700 providers. This is part of the Biden administration’s response to the recommendations provided by the White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force earlier this month. The group released a report that detailed how the White House could tackle the systemic inequality in the healthcare system.
During the event where she made the announcement, Harris also pushed for the Senate to pass the social infrastructure bill that would make significant investments in healthcare and drug pricing.
In other related news, with many turning their attention to the 2024 races, Harris is being seen as a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination should US President Joe Biden choose not to seek another term. With Harris being widely speculated to succeed her boss, she is speculated to be met with a challenge from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is also considered to be a strong contender for the White House.
This has led to reports speculating that there is some rivalry between the two, a claim that has since been dismissed by Buttigieg. Buttigieg was asked to weigh in on the recent speculations that there is a rivalry between him and Harris, to which he stressed that both of them make a good team.
“There’s no room to get caught up in the parlor games, and I’m proud to be part of the Biden-Harris team,” said the Transportation Secretary.
