Biden Urges More Employers to Issue Vaccine Mandates Ahead of OSHA Rule

U.S. President Joe Biden walks across the South Lawn as he leaves the White House on Oct. 7, 2021, in Washington, DC. Biden was traveling to the Chicago area to promote his Build Back Better agenda while also encouraging employers to have their employees vaccinated. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Joe Biden is asking private businesses to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates ahead of the rollout of his federal rule requiring many to do so.

The president traveled to Illinois on Thursday to tour a Clayco construction site in Elk Grove Village and to give a speech.