President Biden’s request for additional Ukrainian aid could provide a foundation for the $ 10 billion COVID preparation package, which has been stalled in parliament, if the Democratic Party can undermine its internal sector.
Big picture: Biden plans to send a new funding request to Congress this week “to maintain Ukraine for the duration of this battle.”
With more support and high support As Ukraine’s war with Russia enters a new phase, lawmakers are considering using funding packages as a catch-all for billions of COVID measures that have stalled before the recess.
- Politico reported that Senate leader Chuck Schumer wants to pair the issue. He is not alone.
- Last week, House Majority Leader Stennie Heuer told Punch Bowl, “I want to achieve both of these,” and “I don’t want to pre-determine how to do that.”
Yes, but: For that to happen, Democrats need to overcome procedural hurdles and refine the internal sector, which has frozen COVID aid in the first place.
- Prior to the break, Republican senators amended the COVID package to thwart government plans to suspend public health policies called Pandemic-inspired Title 42, which were used to rapidly expel immigrants at the southern border. Insisted on voting for the proposal.
- Some Democratic Senators disagree with the administration’s policies. However, adding the language of Title 42 is a dislike for progressives who say that there is no health benefit to sending asylum seekers back on the path of harm.
- The challenge is to avoid ongoing standoffs that can be seen as slowing Ukrainian aid.
What’s next: The Biden administration has already suspended testing and treatment of uninsured individuals as funding for COVID measures is declining, warning that the US pandemic response could be further reduced.
- COVID funding is only part of the Democratic Party’s healthcare ambitions this spring. Prior to the midterm elections, lawmakers are still considering a streamlined version of the Buildback Better Bill, which includes core components of Biden’s social policy agenda.
- This may include extension of drug price law and subsidies for health insurance reform.
- Cohen analysts said in a policy outlook last week, “This isn’t about rebuilding the wheels, the law is largely in place. It rebrands and packages the wheels into a deficit-reducing panacea that fights inflation. It’s about doing. “
Our thought bubble: The recent increase in reported COVID cases with no corresponding hospitalizations or deaths will not change the status quo or put pandemic funding on the priority list.
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