The
bill to fight the coronavirus could be passed as soon as Wednesday, and
President Trump is expected to sign it.
DAN
WEIL MArch 4, 2020
Democratic
and Republican leaders in the House and Senate forged an agreement Wednesday
for $8.3 billion in emergency funding to fight the coronavirus.
“This
should not be about politics; this is about doing our job to protect the
American people from a potential pandemic," Senate Appropriations
Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R, Ala.) said in a statement.
"We
worked together to craft an aggressive and comprehensive response that provides
the resources the experts say they need to combat this crisis,” Shelby added.
The
$8.3 billion bill is much larger than what the Trump administration originally
proposed last month. It includes a $7.8 billion allotment to agencies fighting
the virus, according to The New York Times.
The
remaining $500 million goes to Medicare providers to offer telehealth services.
That way older patients, who are at greater risk from the virus, can get help
without leaving home.
The
House and Senate are expected to approve the bill as soon as Wednesday, and
President Trump is expected to sign it.
Nine
people in the U.S. and more than 3,100 worldwide have died from the virus. Los
Angeles County officials declared a state of emergency Wednesday, as the area
reported six new coronavirus cases over the past 48 hours.
Meanwhile,
the International Monetary Fund has announced
a $50 billion aid package to help fight the coronavirus.
Managing
Director Kristalina Georgieva told CNBC that the money was available
immediately for low-income and emerging-market countries.
Most of
the money will be interest-free and participating countries do not need to have
a preexisting program with the IMF to participate.
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