President Joe Biden's administration is seeking $32.5 billion in additional funding from Congress to help the US COVID response and help Ukraine, according to the White House on Thursday, citing two urgent and immediate needs. The $22.5 billion in COVID funding plus $10 billion in emergency military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine should be included in Congress' larger spending bill to fund the US government expected to come by March 11, according to OMB Acting Director Shalanda Young.
The COVID response bills have allowed Americans to get vaccinated and tested, as well as allow donations to the world, but nearly all of the funds have been used, she said.
She wrote that Congress should provide $22.5 billion for immediate needs for tests, treatments and vaccines, investments in research and development of next-generation vaccines, and responding globally, including getting more shots in arms around the world.
She said additional resources will allow the government to secure the treatments, vaccines and tests for the coming months and also to fight future variants. It will ensure the continuation of free community testing, treatment, and vaccine coverage for uninsured individuals.
Young said that there was an immediate need for aid to help Ukraine and other Central European allies in the wake of the Russian invasion last week. She wrote that the funds would help train Ukraine's military, protect its electrical grid, boost its cyberdefenses and enforce sanctions.
The White House asked Congress to approve $6.4 billion in aid to deal with the humanitarian and security crisis in Ukraine a day after Russia invaded on February 24.
A stopgap spending bill to fund federal agencies must be passed by the end of the year to prevent a government shutdown.
While there has been large bipartisan support for Ukrainian aid, Republicans have balked at additional funds to fight COVID 19, with 36 conservative US senators on Wednesday demanding a full accounting of the money authorized so far before considering any more federal funds.
The request was first reported by the Washington Post and Punchbowl News.
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