House passes bipartisan $8.3B bill to battle virus
The Democratic-controlled House passed an $8.3 billion measure Wednesday to battle the coronavirus outbreak that’s spreading rapidly and threatening a major shock to the economy and disruptions to everyday life in the U.S.
The swift and sweeping bipartisan vote was a relative rarity in a polarized Washington and came just nine days after the president outlined a $2.5 billion plan that both Donald Trump’s GOP allies and Democratic critics said was insufficient.
The 415-2 vote came after
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi beat a tactical retreat on vaccine price guarantees and followed a debate that lasted only a few minutes.
“The government’s greatest responsibility is to keep Americans safe,” said House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. “This emergency supplemental addresses the coronavirus and takes critical steps to protect the American people from this deadly and expanding outbreak.”
Rep. Ken Buck, a Windsor Republican and chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, cast one of the two votes against the measure.
“Since day 1, Democrats have politicized the coronavirus,” Buck tweeted Wednesday. “The president’s initial $2.5 billion request was a thoughtful proposal to address our coronavirus response needs.”
The Senate is likely to pass the measure Thursday and send it to the White House for Trump’s signature. The legislation came together in little more than a week — and more than triples Trump’s request — sped along by fears of the outbreak’s growing threat.
Trump is sure to sign the measure, which has the blessing of top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and top House Republican
Kevin McCarthy of California.
“This moment calls for collaboration and unity,” McConnell said. “It’s time to give our public health experts and health care professionals the surge resources they need at this challenging time.”
The agreement came together after Pelosi, D-Calif., dropped a demand, opposed by Republicans and the drug industry, to guarantee that any vaccines and drug treatments developed with government-backed research — but manufactured by drug companies — be offered at “affordable” prices. Pelosi opted to avoid a confrontation that could have delayed the legislation’s path through Congress.