take on the u.s. reaching herd immunity texas ending mask mandate and letting businesses open 100%. the record surge of migrant children as the president under pressure a new warning from the white house. mud slides forcing mandatory evacuations in california and hawaii the state of emergency tonight. one year later a question what was the last photo you took before the pandemic hit. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, seven weeks into his presidency joe biden scored his first legislative victory and it is a big one in dollars and in scope the covid relief bill winning final approval in the house today with its jaw-dropping price tag of nearly $2 trillion. millions of americans will see government payments up to $1,400 land in their bank accounts we'll tell you what else is in it and how to speed those payments along herd immunity of covid can be achieved sooner than expected later what's the last photo on your camera before the lockdown? let's begin in washington with today's massive economic shot in the arm. >> reporter: president biden applauding his first legislative win. the passage of the country's six and largest covid relief bill. >> this bill represents a historic victory for the american people. >> reporter: house speaker nancy pelosi celebrating as she gavels in the final vote. the $1,400 direct payments to millions of americans, plus eight to small businesses including $28 billion for restaurants, celebrity chef helped fight for those funds. >> what does that $28 billion mean >> it means restaurants will stay open, it gives us a lifeline help could not come soon enough for kevin liu who owns a restaurant and bakery in virginia >> you are going to run out of money sooner or later. >> reporter: in the bill, $7.5 billion for vaccine distributions, 22 billion for assistance democrats taking a victory lap. >> what do we say to america? help is on the way >> reporter: this is the first relief bill passed without any republican support >> gop lawmakers say too much of the money does not go to covid relief and they note the economy is reopening and the states are reopening. >> this is the most left wing bill ever passed by the congress but be ware there is no such thing as free money. >> reporter: now president biden will sign that bill into law on friday and hit the road to taut it, making his first stop in pennsylvania next tuesday. kristen welker at the white house. thank you. let's break those numbers down now, stephanie ruhle is here. how much and when. >> reporter: 90% of american households should get some form of direct payment. people make less $75,000 will get $1,400 how do you make sure the government knows you are eligible taxes. file them asap if you sign up for direct deposit with the irs, you will get those funds sooner the first batch is expected to go out as early as this month lester >> great tips there. thanks stephanie this comes as vaccinations accelerate with more on that here is tom costello >> reporter: a week after merck agreed to help produce the johnson & johnson vaccine. the government is ordering another 100 million doses to ensure the country has enough later this year. >> a lot can change and we need to be prepared >> reporter: pfizer and moderna increasing vaccine shipments. 50% of americans 65 and older have been vaccinated 90% of the country has not. the good news, new cases and hospitalizations and deaths are trending down. >> we are at a critical point in this pandemic and on the cusp of having enough vaccine to protect every adults in the united states >> reporter: the government is relaxing restrictions on visiting nursing home residents. with infection rates dropping, the government is encouraging responsible visitation at all times and for all residents. as long as the outbreak is contained. the big unknown, how quickly can the country achieve herd immunity when 70% to 85% of the population is immune the real number could be three times higher it is not clear how long that immunity last. if you add those numbers to those fully vaccinated, the total is 120 million of some degree of immunity if another gets their shots in june, that'll be another 75% herd immunity. >> we can get there by this summer i think what is going to tell all is what happens next >> reporter: it is not clear how long immunity lasts. the hope is that vaccine provides a year or more of protection for those who been sick, that may last three months, maybe a year only time will tell. lester >> tom, thank you. this evening, texas has reopened with businesses in full capacity with no longer in effect of masks. morgan chesky is in dallas >> reporter: all eyes on texas back open. >> i am all for opening up the country. >> reporter: the state's mask mandate is over. >> reporter: business owner kim hunter is worried. >> governor abbott says he trusts every texan to do the right thing. >> common sense is not common they're not going to do the right thing. >> reporter: the move letting any business craft their own policy billy bob's sharing theirs, telling patrons "it is your choice." the texas rangers also takes advantage allowing all fans in the stance, masks still required >> reporter: the attorney general threatening legal action of a public health mandate to mask up. >> the single most effective thing that we can do to stop the transmission of this virus. >> reporter: the u.k. variant of the virus especially is concerning. recent waste water testing shows it is spreading through houston. >> vaccinate as quickly as we can and continue wearing masks and we'll get there. >> reporter: tonight too early to tell. morgan chesky, nbc news mayor garland to be president's attorney general. 20 republicans voting to confirm the judge. the republicans denied garland with a chance to be supreme court justice in 2016. the president's new warning of the southern border of a surge of migrant children the biden administration is facing pressure with a record surge of unaccompanied migrant children at the southern border. peter alexander with the white house's new warning. >> reporter: the biden administration delivered this blunt message to migrants >> the border is not open >> reporter: reversing another trump's border policies it comes as the country is facing a migrant surge. border officials revealing in february they had more than 100,000 encounters with migrants crossing the u.s. illegally. republicans argued president biden's approach is encouraging migrants to come >> word is out that the trump's policies are being replaced by the biden administration if you get one foot in america, you are never going to leave. >> reporter: the biden white house is asking whether it is a coincidence. >> there is a significant hope for a humane policy after four years of pent-up demand >> reporter: the border patrol encountering 9500 of them last month alone. mandatory evacuation near l.a. tonigh after a storm triggering mud slides. in hawaii, a state of emergency declared due to unprecedented floods let's turn to governor gavin newsom on the heat he's taking, the push to recall him. he spoke to our miguel almaguer >> reporter: california's covid crisis punctuated by the governor who held his state of the state at dodgers stadium where 54,000 empty seats represent lives lost minority communities paying the highest price and have the lowest vaccination rates. >> we are failing. i don't want that to be a headline that we are failing. it is an acknowledgment that we have a lot of work to do. >> reporter: california is pledging 40% of the state's vaccine to be allocated to under served community. the world's fifth largest economy is suffering the nation's second highest unemployment rate. >> reporter: you talked about reopening and impact of small businesses and states like florida and texas, 100% capacity, face masks are no longer a mandate why is california doing it >> we believe putting down your guard is reckless. >> reporter: california got 6 million kids who are in public schools. why has there been a slow reopening? >> in january we were running out of body bags in california >> reporter: gavin's response to the pandemic -- do you hold accountable for some of the failures >> this is part of being a governor of california is well defined. i am focused on doing my job everyday >> reporter: the governor believes the worse of the crisis is behind us the state like the nation with better days ahead. miguel almaguer, nbc news more victims are speaking out after a surge of violent attacks against asian americans. >> reporter: when denney kim was attacked on the street of los angeles last month, he became another victim of disturbing anti-asian violence devastating communities and businesses nationwide >> they started calling me [ bleep ] and chinese virus. >> reporter: in new york, two employees were violently attacked at the subway forcing ceo jason wang to close his doors earl >> it is difficult for us to navigate through the pandemic financially and have to worry about anti-asian racism attack. >> reporter: how does it impact your bottom line >> it is really about what's going to make our staff feel safe we are losing money. >> reporter: asian american owned businesses were the early to suffer in the pandemic unemployment for asian americans shot up by 450% from february to june last year faster than other racial groups. in colorado, jack chen says business tanks 25% of xenophobic rumors the that his food is tainted from covid-19. don't talk to him, you are going get sick >> reporter: there is hope awareness will put a stop to this hate. >> we are hoping for better days >> reporter: jo ling kent, nbc news, los angeles. >> we'll have more from vicky nguyen moderates a virtual town hall at 8:00 eastern on our streaming network on nbc news now. on saturday is one year since breonna taylor is shot to death. no one has been charged from her death. blayne alexander she spokes with her mother about the battle >> breonna did not deserve it she was 26-year-old. that support is what kept palmer going. >> reporter: did it help give you strength >> definitely. >> many times i don't want to get up but, you roll over and look at your phone or the tv and they're there before you >> so how do you not show up? >> reporter: none of the officers involved was charged in taylor's death the only indictment were shots that went into a neighbor's wall kentucky attorney general daniel cameron had said the officers were testified in shooting because taylor's boyfriend shot first and the officers never announced themselves but the officers say they did. palmer is taking her plead to biden demanding for accountability in this letter >> reporter: you wrote we fought for you, now is your turn to fight for us what was in your heart? >> breonna she definitely deserves justice so many people >> reporter: palmer has reached a $12 million settlement with the city of louisville of the largest pay-out in city's history. a federal investigation is ongoing. there is breonna's law passed in louisville and three other states but not in kentucky her fight remains the same >> reporter: what do you want people to take away about your daughter >> that she changed the world. >> reporter: her mission is to make sure no one ever forgets it blayne alexander, louisville, kentucky up next, should the covid vaccine be mandated? as more of the country reopens, there is a growing debate whether government and businesses can mandate the covid vaccine, gabe gutierrez has more >> reporter: more and more americans getting a shot in the arm, states and private businesses are grappling with a new question should they or can they force some people to get the vaccine. >> moral obligation. >> reporter: a long-term care facility in new orleans required all employees to get vaccinated >> there is no hard feelings but some people can't do it but the rest of our employees did. >> reporter: what about bars and restaurants? in new york, jacobson says she was fired after refusing to get vaccinated >> it is unfair, i don't think it is necessary at this time. >> reporter: she's now suing the restaurant covid vaccines are not fully approved they are authorized for emergency use so it is unchartered territory. lawmakers in at least 27 states introduced bills trying to block covid-19 vaccine mandates some already failed. >> we have governors and mayors make decisions they should not be making. >> reporter: would you say you are anti vaccine or anti big government >> reporter: major companies are offering vaccine incentives for employees, not mandates as the countries start to reopen, others are wondering whether the shots should be a choice or an obligation up next, the power of everyday images before the lockdown as we approach one year since covid declared a pandemic, nbc news asks you to share the last image on your phone before everything changed as part of our project as the last photo >> reporter: when did the world change check your camera and snapshots in time that now feels a lifetime away a concert or a lifetime away, a concert or a walk with a friend or a family get together or a new care cut the last photo project is a collection of a final photo taken before covid-19 lockdown for kristen anaya was her wedding. >> we could make it through anything now because i don't feel there is any test that's bigger than this >> reporter: ginny mckinney was with her grandchildren, i have not held them since. the little one don't even remembers. >> reporter: jennifer weir took her kids to the grocery store. my children always went to the grocery store with me and now they hardly remember what it is like inside a store. >> reporter: shannon navaro was at a game. it looks like a nightmare. i get a sense of peace in this photo. digital walks down to memory lane remembers us of moments we had together the last photo was celebrating my birthday on march 8th, for dr. fauci was his birthday celebration, too, turning 79 on christmas eve in 2019. >> that was a traditional christmas eve dinner i had for the last 50 years. he spent his 80th birthday alone with his wife. >> how confident that your family will be able to gather again next december? >> i don't think we can guarantee it but i feel optimistic about that. i believe that we can recreate in realtime that picture of my blowing out the candle on what would be my 81st birthday >> reporter: a year capturing the split between then and now. you got to believe we'll get back to those days tomorrow we'll be live from washington as we mark one year later. that's "nightly news" on this wednesday, thank you for watching everyone. i am lester holt, please take care of yourself and each other good night the historic vote and the . right now at 6:00, he got a vaccine, then he got a letter saying something was wrong with the dosage, but that wasn't the only problem. >> there was this other nagging thought in my head, where i got my dose was also impacted. >> more confusion. and lightning. i'll show you when this storm gets out of here and details on our next chance. in an update on the condition of a 75-year-old asian man who was robbed and beaten in oakland. >> i know this neighborhood really well, and it's really sad to see that, you know, people can't feel safe walking around. >> why neighbors believe attacks like these are on the rise near lake merritt. the news at 6:00 starts right now. good wednesday, thanks so much for joining us, i'm janelle wang. >> we almost had it all. this was in san jose this afternoon. in the north bay, the hail looked more like snow. unfortunately, multiple crashes in the area, including plenty right on