WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is about to sign a $13.6 billion expenditure item that provides military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as part of a 1.5 billion project that does not include money for the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Expenditures for COVID had to be sacrificed in order to pass the broader spending project. The White House had asked for $22.5 billion for vaccines and treatments, but during the negotiations the amount dropped to $15.6 billion and eventually to zero, as Democratic lawmakers protested that aid to states was being cut too much to pay for the spending bill.
“We have made tremendous progress in the fight against COVID-19, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Biden tweeted on Tuesday. “We need Congress to immediately approve $22.5 billion in emergency funding to sustain our response to COVID-19.”
In a call with governors, White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients highlighted the “severe consequences” of lack of resources to the official response to the virus, including federal support for states, according to an administration official.
The White House argues that without the additional resources, the federal government will next week have to stop accepting requests for virus treatments for uninsured people, and that state funds for monoclonal treatments will have to be cut by 30% to prolong stocks.
The government also insists that it needs more money to purchase more antiviral pills and prophylactic treatments for people with vulnerable immune systems, as well as vaccines if experts recommend more booster doses or doses against a new variant.
“At a time when cases of the virus are increasing abroad, experts in science and medicine have clearly said that cases of COVID-19 could increase here in the United States as well,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
“Waiting and not approving the money until we are in a worse place when it comes to the virus would be too late. We need those funds right now,” he added.