Greg Nas | Swimming pool Reuters Senate Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement Monday on $ 10 billion in additional funding to buy treatments and vaccines and maintain the nation’s test capability should another Covid wave hit the United States. Legislation provides at least $ 5 billion to purchase and develop treatments for Covid, such as antiviral pills. Another $ 750 million is available to develop vaccines targeting specific variants and to expand vaccine production capacity in the United States if needed. The funding is less than half of the $ 22.5 billion originally requested by President Joe Biden. The agreement does not include money to support administration efforts to increase vaccinations worldwide. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said every dollar the government asks for is necessary, and noted that the White House will work to persuade Congress to approve more aid. However, Psaki said time was running out and urged lawmakers to spend the $ 10 billion quickly. “We urge Congress to move forward immediately with this $ 10 billion package because it may begin to fund the most immediate needs, as we are currently at risk of not having some critical tools such as treatments and tests starting in May and June.” said Psaki. Congress cut funding to Covid as the White House warned that the United States would not have enough money to ensure that all Americans would have access to vaccines in the fall without further assistance. House Democrats initially tried to spend $ 15 billion in funding for Covid last month, but Republicans insisted on redirecting money already allocated to state and local governments to cover any new spending. Negotiations were moved to the Senate after Parliament failed to reach a bipartisan agreement. Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said the $ 10 billion is being paid in full by reusing unspent Covid funds from the Department of Agriculture, Education, Finance and Transportation and the Small Business Administration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said he was disappointed the legislation did not include money to support the Biden administration’s efforts to increase vaccinations around the world. Schumer said the initiative is vital to prevent the emergence of an innovative Covid variant that can avoid the protection afforded by current downloads. Sumer and Romney said they were willing to work together on a complementary international aid package for Covid later this spring.
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