Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Senators Reach Deal For $10 Billion In Covid Funds
Politico: Senate Strikes $10B Covid Deal
Senate negotiators struck a deal on $10 billion in Covid aid on Monday, setting the chamber on a potential course to clear the bill this week. The compromise reprograms billions in unused money from other coronavirus bills to deliver funding for therapeutics, testing and vaccine distribution. However, it does not include global pandemic aid sought by Democrats and a handful of Republicans, which could become a sticking point when the package comes before the House. (Everett, Banco and Ferris, 4/4)
CNBC: Senators Reach $10 Billion Covid Funding Deal For Therapeutics, Vaccines And Testing
The legislation earmarks at least $5 billion to purchase and develop Covid treatments such as antiviral pills. Another $750 million is set aside to develop vaccines that target specific variants and to expand vaccine manufacturing capacity in the U.S. if needed. The funding is less than half the $22.5 billion that President Joe Biden first requested. The deal does not include money to support the administration’s efforts to increase vaccinations around the world. (Kimball, 4/4)
The Wall Street Journal: Congressional Negotiators Settle On $10 Billion For Covid-19 Tests, Treatments
The package will allow the U.S. to purchase supplies, including more tests and vaccines, that the Biden administration said would be needed to continue to fight the virus. The $10 billion pulls from unused money in earlier bills passed by Congress, rather than representing new spending. “This bill is comprised of dollar-for-dollar offsets and will not cost the American people a single additional dollar,” said Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah), one of the key negotiators of the deal. (Andrews, 4/4)
Also —
The Hill: GOP Eyes Linking Title 42 To Coronavirus Deal
Republicans are eyeing an attempt to link a Trump-era immigration policy to a coronavirus relief deal that senators are hoping to pass by the end of the week. GOP senators are pushing for a vote targeting the Biden administration’s decision to end Title 42 — which allowed migrants at the border to be summarily expelled from the country instead of being processed under regular immigration rules and allowed to exercise their right to claim asylum — as part of a debate over a $10 billion coronavirus relief deal announced earlier Monday. (Carney, 4/4)
