Biden expected to meet with House Democrats before heading to Europe
CBSN
President Biden is expected to meet with the House Democratic caucus meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before he leaves for Europe, multiple sources familiar with his plans told CBS News. The meeting could delay his departure to Joint Base Andrews, where he will take off for his trip to Europe.
Negotiations are ongoing among Senate Democrats for Mr. Biden's social spending plan, Build Back Better. Democratic lawmakers continued haggling over final details of the legislation on Wednesday, with the fate of a new paid family leave plan — a signature campaign pledge by Mr. Biden and congressional Democrats — in doubt amid opposition from Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Mr. Biden and top White House aides met with House lawmakers Tuesday afternoon in a meeting where the president was described as a "master negotiator" who is "building momentum to get this done."
Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.