By Jordain Carney - 02/27/20 10:08 PM EST
Lawmakers
are discussing a spending package that would provide between $6 billion to
$8 billion to combat the coronavirus, a source familiar with the talks
confirmed to The Hill.
The
zeroing in on the higher spending range comes as negotiators want to finalize a
deal by early next week, which would allow for the spending package to go to
the House floor for a vote shortly thereafter.
Congress
has approximately 10 working days before it is set to leave for
a weeklong recess, giving lawmakers a tight timeframe if they are going to
finalize a deal, get it passed by both chambers and get it to President
Trump's desk before leaving town.
The
spending levels under discussion are double to triple the initial $2.5 billion
requested by the White House. That request included $1.25 billion in new
funding. The rest would be taken from existing health programs, including $535
million from fighting Ebola.
Senate
Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard
Shelby (R-Ala.) indicated on Thursday that the final figure would be
"much higher" than the $2.5 billion initially requested by the White
House.
He also
indicated that it would be more than $4 billion but that they were "not
interested" in going as high as the $8.5 billion, an amount initially
requested by Senate Minority Leader Charles
Schumer (D-N.Y.).
"We
want to make sure if this stuff really spreads that we're doing our job,"
Shelby said.
Shelby,
House Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and their staffs have been
working behind the scenes to try to get a deal on combating the disease.
The
source familiar with the talks added that while the range discussed was between
$6 billion and $8 billion, negotiators are looking at the higher end of that
range.
The
bill, according to Shelby, is being drafted to include a "clawback"
option if the agencies ended up not needing the money, as well providing
agencies with flexibility on spending the funds.
The
movement toward a higher spending figure comes after Republicans,
including Shelby and House Minority Leader Kevin
McCarthy (R-Calif.), indicated they thought the White House's
request was too low.
Trump
said during a press conference on Wednesday that he would largely defer the
final figure to lawmakers.
"Congress is talking to us about funding, and we're getting far more than what we asked for. And, I guess, the best thing to do is take it. We'll take it," he said.
"Congress is talking to us about funding, and we're getting far more than what we asked for. And, I guess, the best thing to do is take it. We'll take it," he said.
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