Members of Congress reached a deal on Monday to fund COVID-19 with an additional $10 billion following nearly a month of back-and-forth negotiation and growing pressure from the White House.
Although Monday’s $10 billion agreement falls well short of the amount President Biden had suggested was necessary in the fight against COVID-19, the deal comes as the White House has pleaded for additional funds in the fight.
Read Also: COVID-19: USAID Announces Donation Of $10.6m To Nigeria
In his message to congressional leaders, Biden called for $22.5 billion in emergency funds and warned of severe consequences if Congress failed to act.
“If we fail to invest, we leave ourselves vulnerable if another wave of the virus hits”, Biden pointed.
The Republican Senator from Utah, Mitt Romney, said that Congress agreed upon Monday to redirect $10 billion that had been unspent from the American Rescue Plan for “urgent COVID needs and therapeutics.”
Mitt Romney stated in his prepared remarks that the use of previously earmarked but unspent funds was one of the main sticking points in the negotiations.
The funds will be used for COVID-19 treatments, including research, development, and production.
Moreover, federal funding is being increased at the same time the COVID rate and hospitalization rate have both declined, and local and state governments have ceased to mandate mask use.
Despite the deal being less than the administration wanted, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration was grateful for the Senate’s efforts.
She indicated that the White House has requested that Congress “move promptly” concerning the $10 billion package.
She continued: “as we currently run the risk of not having some critical tools like treatments and tests starting in May and June.”
“Every dollar we requested is essential and we will continue to work with Congress to get all of the funding we need ”.
“But time is of the essence.”
Last week, Romney stated that lawmakers had reached an “agreement in principle” to use funds earmarked for previous pandemic stimulus legislation to cover COVID-19’s new needs.
Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, stated on the Senate floor that lawmakers were “getting close to a final agreement that would garner bipartisan support.”
In March, lawmakers sought $15 billion in COVID-19 funding within a government spending package.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK