The Saratogian (Saratoga, NY)

Sweeping Senate vote sends Trump $8.3B bill to fight virus

- By Andrew Taylor

WASHINGTON » The Senate passed an $8.3 billion measure Thursday to help tackle the coronaviru­s outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerati­ng the government’s response to the virus, whose rapid spread is threatenin­g to upend everyday life in the U.S. and across the globe.

The money would pay for a multifacet­ed attack on a virus that is spreading more widely every day, sending financial markets spiraling again Thursday, disrupting travel and potentiall­y threatenin­g the U.S. economy’s decade-long expansion.

Thursday’s sweeping 96-1 vote sends the bill to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., cast the sole “no” vote. The House passed the bill Wednesday by a 415-2 vote.

The plan would more than triple the $2.5 billion amount outlined by the White House 10 days ago. The Trump proposal was immediatel­y discarded by members of Congress from both parties. Instead, the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Appropriat­ions committees negotiated the increased figure and other provisions of the legislatio­n in a burst of bipartisan cooperatio­n that’s common on the panel but increasing­ly rare elsewhere in Washington.

“In situations like this, I believe no expense should be spared to protect the American people, and in crafting this package none was,” said Appropriat­ions Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala. “It’s an aggressive plan, a vigorous plan that has received an overwhelmi­ng positive reaction.”

Trump was sure to sign the measure, which has almost universal support. It is intended to project confidence and calm as anxiety builds over the impact of the virus, which has claimed 11 lives in the U.S.

“The American people are looking for leadership and want assurance that their government is up to the task of protecting their health and safety,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

The impact of the outbreak continues to mount. The British government is considerin­g suspending Parliament for five months in hope of limiting the spread of the virus in the United Kingdom.

The legislatio­n would provide federal public health agencies money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments, including $300 million to deliver such drugs to those who need it. More than $2 billion would go to help federal, state and local government­s prepare for and respond to the coronaviru­s threat. An additional $1.3 billion would be used to help fight the virus overseas. There’s also funding to subsidize $7 billion in small business loans.

Other dollars would be directed to help local officials prepare for the potential worsening of the outbreak and subsidize treatment by community health centers. Medicare rules would be loosened to enable remote “telehealth” consultati­ons whereby sick people could to get treatment without visiting a doctor.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, DWash., whose state is at the center of the crisis, praised the bill because it “will increase access for public lab testing, help pay for isolation and quarantine, help pay for sanitizing in public areas, better track the virus and those who might come into contact with it, help labs who are trying to identify hot spots, and limit exposure.”

The legislatio­n contains a hard-won compromise that aims to protect against potential price gouging by drug manufactur­ers for vaccines and other medicines developed with taxpayer funds. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar would have the power to make sure commercial prices are reasonable. Azar is a former drug industry lobbyist.

Democrats said other steps may be needed if the outbreak continues to worsen.

“This may be a first step because we have issues that relate to unemployme­nt insurance for people who are put out of work.” Pelosi said as she signed the bill to send it to Trump.

“We have only about 27% of people in this country who have paid sick days. So if they have to go home what is going to happen to them and their families?” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.

DeLauro said Pence responded that he would raise the issue with the president.

The bill seeks to restore $136 million that the Department of Health and Human Services cut from other accounts such as heating poor The to legislatio­n battle subsidies the virus. for comes the as carping over the administra­tion’s response to the outbreak is quieting down. Lawmakers in both parties had faulted a shortage of tests for the virus and contrastin­g messages from Trump and his subordinat­es. In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News on Wednesday, Trump downplayed the lethality of the virus, saying the World Health Organizati­on’s updated estimate of a 3.4% death rate in coronaviru­s cases is “a false number.” see tests, “Now rapid which you’re deployment makes starting me feel to of better, quite honestly,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., a doctor. “I think their communicat­ions are a little better. As long as the president doesn’t contradict the experts and the scientists who know what they’re doing, things will get better.”

 ?? J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE ANDREW HARNIK ?? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrives to meet with Vice President Mike Pence and the White House coronaviru­s task force leaders, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, accompanie­d by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., second from left, speaks at a news conference after meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, the head of President Donald Trump’s coronaviru­s task force, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Washington.
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE ANDREW HARNIK Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrives to meet with Vice President Mike Pence and the White House coronaviru­s task force leaders, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, accompanie­d by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., second from left, speaks at a news conference after meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, the head of President Donald Trump’s coronaviru­s task force, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 3, 2020, in Washington.
 ??  ?? Vice President Mike Pence, who is coordinati­ng the administra­tion’s response to the
coronaviru­s, says the task force they’ve assembled is pushing to expand testing.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is coordinati­ng the administra­tion’s response to the coronaviru­s, says the task force they’ve assembled is pushing to expand testing.
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