Lawmakers joined President Biden at the White House today to celebrate
the signing of a $1.5 trillion government funding bill. The measure
provides money for an array of items, most notably the military aid
to Ukraine. But despite this victory, the White House is upset.
That the 22 a half billion in Covid funding that it requested was
ultimately not included in the bill for more on what this all means.
I'm joined by our chief correspondent, Omni nervous who's at the
White House?
So Hello, Omnia. You've been following this. I know the White House
clearly upset What's at stake here? If this covid money isn't passed
somehow, some way soon.
Judy and call Earlier today, White House officials laid out their
top concerns about that lack of covid funding. The top line is this,
they say, without those additional monies, basically 14 months of
capacity building when it comes to the Covid response.
Could wither and disappear in the U. S. Will be less prepared for
whatever comes next in this pandemic. Now they did lay out some of
their top concerns. And they include these three items that is testing
vaccines, which include those booster shots and also treatments like
the monoclonal antibody treatment that specifically on each of these,
they say, look under testing.
The US has now had the capacity for hundreds of millions of tests
a month without additional funding, they say. After June, they won't
be able to maintain domestic manufacturing capability on the treatment
front when it comes to those monoclonal antibody treatments.
They say they've already shipped seven million courses. So far, they
say they have a new purchase order to go into place next week. Without
additional monies. They won't be able to make that purchase order,
and they say the existing supply will run out by late May.
Also worth noting on the vaccine front. Remember when we began the
pandemic and first have vaccines, there was a two shot dose regimen
right? That's now been boosted to three to include the booster shots
and that fourth shot now for immuno compromised Americans and now
for older Americans as well. We know that recommendation or requirement
could broaden to include many more Americans for 1/4 shot.
And now the White House says they won't have money for that fourth
shot without additional funding. Now immediately, Judy they say,
the funding specifically for uninsured Americans who have been getting
access through these funds to testing and to treatment and two vaccines.
That money Judy runs out this month. They also say when it comes
to the global vaccine effort, all of that is hindered without additional
money. And Judy, as you know, until the pandemic is over, everywhere.
It won't be over here.
And I do have a question on that. We know Congress has passed several
covid relief packages that the administration wanted. What was the
hold up this time?
What Judy, As you know, you know, Congress has absolutely passed
hundreds of billions of dollars and appropriated all that money for
covid response in the past. White House officials both earlier today
on the call and Jen Psaki in the briefing today noted that's been
done on a bipartisan basis, and they cited that as precedent saying
that is it has been done. It can be done.
And it should be done. But this time around, it's been widely reported
and also, White House officials were asked about this on the call.
There was some frustration among lawmakers, Democrats in particular
about not being brought into consultation by the White House early
enough.
And then having a massive 22 a half billion dollar request come relatively
late in a big negotiation process for a massive omnibus spending
bill top that off with concerns about bringing Republicans on board
for additional funds and then additional frustration among dozens
of lawmakers.
Overstate at cut cuts to aid that were also included in this bill.
All of that piled on top of each other and eventually, lawmaker said,
Forget it Speakers. Pelosi made the decision to pull the covid funding
from the bill. She sent a letter notifying her colleagues of that
last Wednesday today, White House officials asked about that took
great pains to lay out the lines of communication with Congress,
they said. In January, we notified Congress.
We could need additional funds. In February, We briefed appropriators
on what was at stake. President Biden even mentioned it in the state
of the union. But you saw today, of course, President Biden hailing
the spending measures today, no mention of the covid response funds
because
They didn't make it into the bill. Judy So finally, I'm not. I mean,
given all this. What is the White House path forward? What do they
see is the way they can get this done with Congress in weeks to come.
We asked White House official about it. Earlier, Jen Psaki was asked
about it today. They're very clear.
It's up to Congress how to move forward, whether it's with a stand
alone bill or through reconciliation package. They believe there
are many avenues forward. Their line is clear, though they say we
need those funds now. The bigger picture Judy, though, is this When
you look at where we are in the pandemic? Yes, cases are dropping
precipitously. We are down 95% from the omicron peak.
But White House officials, health experts, they're all watching what's
happening overseas. They are seeing that rise in cases they're worried
and trying to anticipate what could happen next in the United States,
whether it's a surge or a new variant, they're worried without additional
funds. The U. S will not be prepared to face it. And so of course
They want to prepare because this pandemic has already caught us
off guard several times in the last two years, and Judy it is not
yet over. Well, as you say, a lot at stake.