The administration of President Joe Biden will seek $32.5 billion in additional funding from Congress to bolster the country’s response to COVID-19 and to help Ukraine, the White House said, citing two “urgent and immediate needs”.
The $22.5 billion in COVID funding plus the $10 billion in emergency humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine should be included in the largest spending bill in Congress to fund the government that is expected to be introduced on 9/11. March.
Previous COVID-response bills allowed Americans to get vaccinated and tested, as well as donated to the world, but almost all of those funds have been used.
The additional resources will allow the government to secure treatments, vaccines and tests for the coming months and combat future variants. It will also ensure the continuation of free community testing, treatment, and vaccination coverage for the uninsured.
The petition also cited “an immediate need” for aid to Ukraine and other Central European allies following the Russian invasion last week. Those funds would help train Ukraine’s military, protect its power grid, boost its cyber defenses and enforce sanctions.
The White House asked Congress to approve $6.4 billion in aid to address the security and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine the day after Russia’s invasion on February 24. Moscow says its actions are a “special operation”.
Lawmakers approved the so-called stopgap spending bill to fund federal agencies until next Friday and must pass another measure by then to avoid a government shutdown.
Source: Gestion
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
