Congressional leaders agree on $10B scaled-back COVID bill but no global funds
As the latest COVID subvariant, BA.2, makes the rounds across the nation, congressional leaders have agreed on a scaled-back $10 billion bill to continue funding the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The accord, announced on Monday, represents a deep cut from the $22.5 billion that President Biden initially requested and a $15 billion version that both Republicans and Democrats had negotiated last month. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) abandoned that plan after Democratic lawmakers rejected proposed cuts in state pandemic aid to help pay for the package.
At least half the measure would have to be used to research and produce therapeutics to treat the disease, according to a fact sheet distributed by the chief GOP bargainer, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah. And at least $750 million would be used to research new COVID-19 variants and to expand vaccine production, the description said.
The deal was reached between Republicans and Democrats after a weekend of haggling over details with the hope of passing the COVID legislation before the House and Senate leave town for a two-week Easter break.
Federal officials said they already had to delay purchases of lifesaving monoclonal antibodies and warned that failure to reach a deal could eventually lead to possible shortages of vaccine booster shots, especially now that all Americans over 50 have received a green light to get a fourth shot
The $15 billion plan had included about $5 billion for the global effort to fight COVID-19, which has run rampant in many countries, especially poorer ones.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, leader of the House Progressive Caucus, said erasing the global assistance from the package “is a big problem,” adding that she and other supporters of helping other countries have voiced their objections to House leadership and Senate negotiators.
Some Democrats said it was unclear whether the emerging package would attract the minimum 10 GOP votes needed for the measure to move through the 50-50 Senate.
The measure would provide additional funds for treatments, tests and vaccines and would be fully paid for by pulling back unspent funds from previous pandemic relief bills that have been enacted, bargainers said.
With News Wire Services
