EXCERPT:
BIDEN: "There are two critical tasks ahead this month to get us closer to our goal and to take the next steps in our recovery. First, we need to make more progress in fighting the Delta variant of Covid-19. This is a continuing pandemic of the unvaccinated. Since becoming president, I’ve ramped up testing, secured enough vaccine for every single American, and gotten 175 million Americans fully vaccinated. Still, still, too many have not gotten vaccinated, and it’s creating a lot of unease in our economy and around our kitchen tables. Today’s report shows that the steps we’ve taken, passing the rescue plan and vaccinating 175 million people, make our economy capable of growing and adding jobs, even in the face of this continuing Delta surge. The strength in our economy very different from the way things were last winter. There’s no question the Delta variant is why today’s job report isn’t stronger. I know people were looking and I was hoping for a higher number, but next week I’ll lay out the next steps that are going to — we’re going to need to combat the Delta variant to address some of those fears and concerns.”