“Lawmakers are finalizing a $7.5 billion emergency bill to fund the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, even as fear is growing that the rapid spread of the virus is a shock to the economy and will lead to significant disruption in people’s everyday lives.”
“Lawmakers across the spectrum said negotiations are likely to produce a bipartisan deal on Wednesday in hopes of clearing the measure through Congress by week’s end — a burst of bipartisan cooperation that’s atypical of today’s Washington.”
“The $7.5 billion package would triple Trump’s request but is expected to enjoy support from both the White House and Trump’s GOP allies on Capitol Hill…”
“A spokesman for House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said Tuesday night that only modest differences remain and that House is on track to vote on Wednesday.”
“Negotiators had hoped to seal a deal Tuesday but differences over language sought by Democrats to guarantee low prices for a coronavirus vaccine that’s being developed with taxpayer funding are holding up the agreement. Republicans say current law is sufficient to deter price gouging and warn that the Democratic language could backfire and delay production by private sector drug companies. Both sides say the issue is unlikely to stall an accord for long…”
“The draft legislation would speed development and production of a coronavirus vaccine, finance preparedness and response efforts by state and local governments, help foreign countries battle the outbreak overseas, and seek to ensure that the vaccine is affordable when ready it’s ready, which could take a year…” Read the full article here.
Source: Lawmakers Close in on $7.5B Measure to Battle Coronavirus – By Andrew Taylor and Lisa Mascaro, March 3, 2020. Associated Press, US News.
