Parliamentarians sign a joint funding agreement that halves the White House’s demands

If passed in its current form, a $ 10 billion deal would publicly campaign for at least $ 22 billion in new funding, perhaps a significant disappointment for the forced White House. Shrink the elements of the planned response. However, lawmakers are rapidly approaching deadlines, Congress will soon take a two-week break, and government officials have warned that there is a de facto shortage of cash due to the urgent need for a coronavirus.The federal government is already Exit the program Authorities say it costs about $ 2 billion a month to cover the cost of healthcare providers who provide uninsured Americans with coronavirus testing, treatment, and vaccination.

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Told the Washington Post that he was “optimistic” when the final agreement was reached. ..

“We are approaching a final agreement to win bipartisan support,” Schumer said, adding that MPs are “working hard” to agree on a package that meets both domestic and global needs.

Romney said he would raise money from unused funds in a previous stimulus package and added that he hopes to vote for the deal next week.

About half of the money goes Senator Roy Blunt, Missouri, told reporters that the other half of the covid treatment was left to the “discretion” of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Republican aides said $ 750 million is in the spotlight for research and development of new vaccines and treatments.

Several Republican lawmakers said the White House’s $ 5 billion demand for global aid would secure about $ 1 billion to support global immunization.But that number A few Democrats claimed quite a lot on Thursday, and lawmakers seemed fluid, admitting they were still in negotiations.

“If there’s a deal, I think we’ll vote for it,” said Senator John Thune (SD), Republican Second Party.

Senator Christopher A. Koons (D-Del.) Is promoting the inclusion of some funding for a global response after some lawmakers have moved to abolish it altogether. I am one of the members of the Diet. “three [are] 2.5 billion people worldwide have not been vaccinated, which is an ongoing daily risk to the United States, “Koons said.

The Collapse of funding package 3 weeks ago US officials have been urged to warn that they have run out of money to buy vaccines, antiviral treatments and other supplies and are endangering the country. The White House has already cut its supply of monoclonal antibody therapy to the state by 35 percent due to a lack of pandemic funding. Congress also plans to start a two-week recess on April 9, raising concerns that the US response could stagnate in May if it fails to secure a deal.

“Parliament, act. You must act immediately,” said President Biden. Said in a speech On Wednesday, authorities said they had already been forced to postpone or cancel planned orders for covid treatment. “The consequences of neglect are serious. They only grow over time, but they don’t have to be.”

Biden administration plan To help vaccination the world According to government officials, the funds will soon run out.The plan, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development, will strengthen the infrastructure for managing vaccination in developing countries, officials say. Reduce the risk of Variants that appear It occurs overseas and occurs in the United States.

“Without more money … the United States will have to turn its back on countries that need urgent help to raise immunization rates,” wrote Atul Gawande, Global Health Head at USAID. The Washington Post editorial on Wednesday. “This can’t be achieved. It not only puts people abroad at risk, but it also puts the health and prosperity of all Americans at risk. The virus isn’t waiting for Congress to negotiate. It’s people. Infects and changes when we speak. “

“I remember the president saying that the United States should be a’armory of vaccines’,” said Tom Marinovsky, vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “And I’m very disappointed that this has been lowered in priority since that statement, and on every occasion,” Marinovsky said, unless funding for a global response was included. He said he would not support the funding package.

Biden officials in early January Personally signed $ 80 billion needed for additional covid aid For vaccines, remedies and other consumables.

By early March, parliamentary leaders had settled at about $ 15.6 billion, In a broader package to fund the government, Passage of coronavirus aid.

However, some Democrats were angry with one of the funding mechanisms: the state government’s efforts to regain funding to address pandemic needs. Due to the turmoil, the house leader stripped his deal of coronavirus aid.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, R, chairman of the National Governors Association, said it was unfair to cancel the money the state expected. But he said he wants Congress to conclude a deal with more aid as long as it is fully paid.

“The last thing Americans expect is that we’ll be caught in flat feet again,” Hutchinson said in an interview last week. “The administration says it requires additional funding. I received those comments at face value and needed to understand where the money came from.”

Amy Goldstein contributed to this report.