House expected to pass COVID relief bill next week

Harris hosted a virtual roundtable Thursday with women lawmakers and community leaders to highlight the disproportionate impact of the economic downturn on women. Harris and the congresswomen delivered brief opening remarks citing statistics that illustrate the impact on women, calling once again for passage of the administration's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue plan.

"In one year, the pandemic has put decades of the progress we've collectively made for women workers at risk," Harris said, pointing out that 2.5 million women have dropped out of the workforce, and one in four female small business owners have had to shut their doors. 

Harris also touched on the child care crisis. 

"Many of you are working mothers, many of you are caring for your own parents sandwiched between two generations. And all of you are a voice of women who have been severely impacted by this pandemic," Harris said. "Which is why you know, it has created a perfect storm for women."

Harris summed up the economic plight of women as a "national emergency."

"Our economy cannot fully recover unless women can participate fully. So, I believe, I think we all believe, this is a national emergency," Harris said. 

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., was among the participants in the roundtable who said passing Biden's COVID-19 relief plan could help.

"The American Rescue Plan really shows a commitment to women as equal partners in our economy and our country's future," Murray said. 

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky

In a press briefing Thursday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi discussed the proposed congressional commission to investigate the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and the possibility of investigations into Texas power outages.

Pelosi that the "9/11-style" commission that would investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection must be "strongly bipartisan" and confirmed that Democrats have sent their commission proposal to Republicans to review.

"For this to work it really has to be strongly bipartisan," Pelosi said.

Pelosi said she consulted with the former 9/11 commission members about how to structure a review of the Jan. 6 insurrection. She also said the commission needs to have subpoena power. 

On the Texas energy crisis, Pelosi said the House Energy and Commerce Committee will be investigating. She also confirmed that her daughter, who lives in Houston, is without power but is safe. 

"I believe that the [House] Energy and Commerce Committee will be taking up some form of, when I say investigation, I mean a look into it to see how things could have turned out better and will turn out better in the future," Pelosi said.

Pelosi also said she thinks teachers should be vaccinated depending on how bad the COVID-19 virus is in their respective regions but did not say she thought it was a requirement for schools to reopen.

"I want everybody to be vaccinated and I certainly want our teachers to be. But depending on what the situation is in their area, it may or may not be necessary," she added. 

On the new immigration bill introduced by Democrats Thursday that is supported by the White House, Pelosi said she doesn't think it will be necessary to get it through both chambers using the reconciliation process, which Democrats are using for the COVID-19 relief bill, but she left the door open to that possibility. Pelosi said a piecemeal approach is possible.

"How it happens through the legislative process remains to be seen," Pelosi said.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

Biden approved an emergency declaration for Oklahoma Wednesday night amid the winter storm that has knocked out power to millions in the region. The president approved an emergency declaration for Texas on Sunday. The authorization allows FEMA to coordinate disaster relief and provides federal funds.

"Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency," a statement from the White House said. "Emergency protective measures for mass care and sheltering and direct federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding."

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management announced that all federal offices in Washington, D.C. are closed Thursday because of extreme weather.

A briefing at the State Department scheduled for Thursday was cancelled and the press briefing with White House press secretary Jen Psaki will be by phone. Many other government operations will continue virtually.