Amid threats of violence planned for today, the security measures around the U.S. Capitol Building tightened and the House canceled all hearings, but that’s old news by now. Another lockdown of sorts began this afternoon, when Senate Republicans requested that the 628-page Covid-19 relief bill be read aloud on the floor, before the 20 hours of debates and vote.

One of the top 3 grocery stores in the United States confirmed, along with other leading retailers, that their mask up requirement has not changed in light of Texas and Mississippi governors lifting statewide mandates. “[We] continue to require everyone in our stores across the country to wear masks until all our frontline grocery associates can receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” a Kroger rep said.

Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) bucked against Federal recommendations and lifted the state’s masks and shutdown mandates, he announced today. "With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” he said via statement.

The United States House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill, in a 219-212 vote, in the pre-dawn hours of the weekend preceding Women’s History Month. “The American people need to know that their government is there for them, and as President Biden has said, help is on the way,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said during the debate.

Despite the ruling yesterday from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, the House scheduled to vote on the pandemic relief package that includes a $15 minimum wage. The District and other states and corporations have already approved the increase, in one way or another. Earlier this week, Costco announced a company-wide $16 minimum.

The House of Representatives passed H.R.5, a bill that amends the Civil Rights Act 1964 to include protection for LGBTQ, with a 224-206 vote. “Transgender rights are human rights — and the House made that clear today by passing the Equality Act. Now it's time for the Senate to do the same,” President Biden tweeted in response. “Trans people exist,” tweeted Oreo cookies.

Washington, D.C. has suffered 1,000 Covid-19-related deaths as of today, claiming Mercia Bowser, sister of Mayor Muriel Bowser, this morning. “Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly,” Mayor Bowser wrote via Twitter, “as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic.”

Top officials testified today about the failures during the January 6th breach of the Capitol Building. The U.S. Senate’s Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee and the Committee on Rules & Administration convened the hearing.

With the United States surpassing 500,000 Covid-19-related deaths today, and with a disproportionate rate among the nation’s racial minorities and impoverished, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff stood for a moment of silence at the White House.

Wearing a mask is inherently empathetic. It requires that we, at least, be aware that there are other people in this world. Even if the only shared feeling is fear of a stranger breathing, it is a shared experience nonetheless.

Must we die martyrs of the pursuit of happiness or are we free? As was the occurrence when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, making it legal for African Americans to fight for their freedom amid the Civil War…

With millions knocked off the power grid during a deadly winter storm, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) spoke today as lead sponsor during a subcommittee hearing about a bill for reparations…

Christian Cooper, the Black birdwatcher who was falsely accused of assault in New York the same day George Floyd was killed, remains resolute in focusing on the bigger picture even today…

Acting Deputy Senate Sergeant at Arms Eugene Goodman was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery and commitment to duty during the insurrection at the United States Capitol Building, January 6th, 2021.

While resting his case for the conviction of former president Trump, Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO) delivered one of the most sobering remarks to come of the insurrection. “Nothing in this country is more sacred — nothing — than our right to vote, our voice,” he said.

After a quick study, the Center for Disease Control gave their official approval of double-masking. The instinct to improve protection from Covid by layering one mask with another is on point, they said.

While Biden continues to float his trillion dollar relief plan, including $130 billion to safely reopen schools, the Senate met to vote on the constitutionality of former president Trump’s second impeachment trial.

U.S. Representative Ron Wright died Sunday. He is the first — and only — sitting Congressman to do so after contracting Covid-19. He was 67.

On this third Friday, President Joe Biden flexed the potential of a Democratically-led Senate, House and White House. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan he campaigned on pushed through the former with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris. She was the 51st vote.

President Joe Biden spoke to the State Department today, in his first speech addressing foreign policy since he took office. “America is back,” he said. “Diplomacy is back…”