Biden’s request for $22B in COVID-19 aid sticking issue for Republicans in government funding bill

President Biden’s drive for Congress to approve far more than $22 billion in new COVID-19 shelling out is a nonstarter for Republicans in this month’s will have to-go govt funding bill. 

GOP lawmakers say that added coronavirus funding is a sticking point for them in any offer to maintain the authorities open up previous Sept. 30 — the deadline by which Congress will have to go a budget invoice or chance a shutdown.

“In the spring, the Administration told Congress that, without the need of further cash, it could not afford to pay for to invest in vaccines in the fall, still someway money was located to assistance the complete want,” reported Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a senior member of the Home Appropriations Committee. “Alternatively than inquiring Congress for even far more cash now, it is higher time for the Administration to be thoroughly clear about cash invested and balances remaining.”

Biden is requesting Congress approve $22.4 billion in new coronavirus paying out. Shalanda Youthful, the director of the White Residence Office environment of Administration and Spending plan, reported the money is wanted to restart the administration’s application for sending citizens absolutely free at-home coronavirus testing kits. 

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“Even though we have manufactured tremendous development in our capability to defend from and deal with COVID-19, we should continue to be on our entrance foot. Executing so necessitates further methods,” reported Youthful. 

Of the extra than $22 billion sum, $18.4 billion is earmarked for the Office of Health and Human Services. The other $4 billion is slated to go towards global attempts to have and take care of the virus.

Democrats are aiming at tacking the expending onto a short-term funding monthly bill, a continuing resolution (CR), that will hold the govt functioning right up until early December. 

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Having said that, Republicans say that Congress ought to not approve any far more coronavirus funding presented that conditions and hospitalizations are on the drop. They also note that the federal governing administration continue to has billions in unspent funds that were being allotted by means of Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic stimulus system last yr.

“If there is any drive for fiscal duty in this administration, it is not evident,” stated Pennsylvania Rep. Lloyd Smucker, a senior Republican on the Home Spending plan Committee. “We have put in trillions currently, right before we expend much more we need a full accounting of how that cash was used and how substantially is still left.” 

A source near to Dwelling GOP leadership informed G3 Box News Digital that a significant the greater part of Republicans would be unlikely to back the quick-time period spending bill if it features funds for coronavirus relief. 

“There is even now a lot of money however swirling all over from preceding COVID payments,” said Senate Republican Whip John Thune, R-S.D.
(SUSAN WALSH/POOL/AFP via Getty Photos)

The mood is identical inside the 50-50 Senate, wherever the shorter-phrase spending invoice will need to have the aid of at least 10 GOP lawmakers to develop into law.

“We just do not consider which is important,” stated Senate Republican Whip John Thune, R-S.D. “There’s even now lots of dollars nonetheless swirling about from earlier COVID charges.”

Even average Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who has proven a willingness to cut offers with the administration on prior rounds of coronavirus funding, has stated that approving additional pandemic investing would be a weighty raise with out building cuts in other spots. 

Democrats are aiming to connect $22.4 billion in new COVID-19 funding to a brief-expression funding monthly bill that will preserve the govt functioning right until early December.
(G3 Box News Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

The opposition is most likely to prevent the govt funding invoice from going forward if it features more coronavirus expending. Democrats say the Republican stance is irresponsible and will put the nation at threat if the coronavirus has a resurgence. 

“We have to have to be geared up,” said Senate The greater part Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. “We have constantly been well prepared as a nation and it really is disgraceful that Republicans are actively playing political online games with this when the health dimension is at stake.”

Coronavirus funds is not the only matter Democrats are hoping to incorporate in the shorter-expression government funding bill. Biden has also requested Congress approve $11.7 billion in armed service and economic aid to Ukraine, $4.5 billion to combat the distribute of monkeypox and $6.5 billion in emergency disaster aid. 

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Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., explained Wednesday that the “critical” to getting Republican assist for the continuing resolution is “for it to be as thoroughly clean as attainable.”

G3 Box News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.