The U.S. will soon begin to run out of money to bolster COVID-19 testing supplies and to guarantee that uninsured Americans keep getting free treatment for the virus unless Congress swiftly approves more funding, the White House warned.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Friday, March 4, 2022. –
The White House last month told Congress it was preparing to seek $30 billion for the virus response, but cut that to $22.5 billion in a formal request earlier this week that officials said includes only the most critical needs. It's being coupled with a $10 billion request to provide support to Ukraine and its people after Russia’s invasion.“This is an urgent request and this is what is at stake in our fight against COVID,” press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.
“Given how costly COVID has been with so many of our fellow Americans hospitalized or dying, and our daily lives disrupted, we simply cannot afford to wait on investing now and keeping people protected,” said Psaki.The request also includes funding to support U.S. vaccine purchases and global vaccine distribution.
Some Republicans have expressed sticker shock at Biden’s request, pressing the administration to repurpose other relief funding that hasn’t been spent.
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