Senate Democrats are requesting $8.5 billion to help combat coronavirus — more than three times the amount the White House said it’s willing to spend to tackle the outbreak that has now spread to at least 40 countries and killed more than 2,700 people. And as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that spread of coronavirus in the United States is “inevitable,” the Trump administration is facing “swift bipartisan backlash” for its “inadequate” response. But will Senate Republicans stand up to the White House and join Democrats in demanding more funding?
The Trump administration’s insufficient $2.5 billion request, which raids funding from accounts meant for Ebola prevention, comes on top of “big cuts” to the CDC in Trump’s latest budget blueprint and years of Trump “slashing the government agencies responsible for handling the coronavirus outbreak,” which led to the CDC being forced to cut its global disease prevention efforts by 80% in 2018.
After previously pushing ACA repeal legislation that would have eliminated the CDC’s Prevention and Public Health Fund and gutted the agency’s budget by over 10%, Senate Republicans owe Americans answers on whether they’re willing to buck the White House’s insufficient request and back more funding to fight the deadly coronavirus.
“This is an issue of public health and safety, and Republicans must stand up to demand the resources needed to combat this crisis,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “With the White House’s coronavirus response looking more bungled by the day, it’s time for Senate Republicans to join Democrats in protecting Americans and also opposing the president’s irresponsible proposal to cut programs that prepare our country to handle these emergencies.”
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