The $ 10 billion deal to provide further assistance in response to the pandemic was announced Monday and will allow the Biden government to purchase more vaccines and therapeutic drugs, as well as maintain test and research capabilities. It was announced with bipartisan support, but it is not yet clear when it will be able to pass the Senate. Republicans are pushing for a vote on an amendment that would target the Biden administration’s plan to repeal the Trump-era pandemic restrictions on the U.S.-Mexico border that effectively barred immigrants from entering the United States. Known as Title 42, the mandate allowed U.S. border officials to repatriate migrants immediately to Mexico or their countries of origin, citing a public health crisis. Some Democrats were skeptical of the move and signaled that they could also vote in favor of such an amendment. In a press conference earlier Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, said the Covid relief package should include an amendment to Title 42 and an agreement on a draft should be reached. many other amendments in order to move the legislation forward. “I believe there should be an amendment to Title 42 to move the bill,” he said. “There are many other amendments that we would like to offer and therefore we will need to reach some kind of agreement to work on these amendments in order to move forward with the bill.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Sumer expressed frustration after Tuesday’s vote. “Vaccines, treatments and trials have been negotiated in good faith … and should not be held hostage to external irrelevant issues,” Sumer said. “This is very important for the health of the American people.” “I want to make no mistake about what just happened here in the Senate. The Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill that would provide vaccines, tests and treatments for the American people,” Sumer said. The New York Democrat tried to move forward on the aid package, but the failed procedural vote signals that senators have not yet reached an agreement to move forward. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told CNN that the vote would fail “so we can have a negotiation.” Schumer added in a statement on Tuesday: “There is still some time left. I hope my Republican colleagues change their tune quickly.” CNN’s Manu Raju, Katie Lobosco and Lauren Fox contributed to this report.
