The House passed an $8.3 billion measure to fund the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 11 lives and infected more than 100 people in the United States.
The measure passed nearly unanimously and will now head to the Senate, which is expected to pass it as early as Thursday.
“The government’s greatest responsibly is to keep Americans safe,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat. “This emergency supplemental addresses the coronavirus and takes critical steps to protect the American people from this deadly and expanding outbreak.”
The vote followed a private House briefing by Vice President Mike Pence on the status of the virus and the federal government’s efforts to test for it, prevent the spread of the disease, and develop a vaccine.
The measure is much larger than the $2.5 billion request sent to Congress by the Trump administration. The president said last week he will sign whatever funding amount Congress sends to his desk.
The bill would provide $3 billion for the research and development of vaccines and treatments for the coronavirus, $2.2 billion for prevention and response to the virus, $1 billion for medical supplies, and $1.5 billion to combat the virus overseas. The measure allows for $7 billion in low-interest loans for small businesses affected by the coronavirus.
House and Senate Democrats and Republicans struck an agreement on the spending measure earlier Wednesday after haggling over price controls for the vaccines and treatments.
The measure includes language giving the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to ensure vaccines and treatments “are affordable in the commercial market.”
The funding includes $300 million to help pay for vaccines for those who cannot afford them.
Senators in both parties endorsed the measure Wednesday.
“Today, Democrats and Republicans in Congress showed they can come together in a bipartisan way to respond to the coronavirus in a swift, smart, and strategic way to keep the American people safe,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.
Republicans and Democrats say expanding testing and developing a vaccine must be a priority for the federal government.
“Congress is very likely to approve supplemental funding this week to provide states, local governments, and healthcare professionals the resources needed to respond to the virus,” Sen. Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, said. “I intend to support this measure.”
