Senate strikes $10 billion deal on COVID-19 relief

The Senate has reached a $ 10 billion deal COVID-19[feminine[feminine support and relief, three sources told CBS News.

The figure is less than half of the more than $ 22 billion the White House had requested and does not include funding for global efforts to fight the virus. The Biden administration has insisted for months that funding is vital to continue providing therapies and vaccines, should further booster injections be needed.

The deal will need the support of 60 members to pass the Senate. During the negotiations, some of the Republican negotiators sought a compromise with the Democrats.

Last week, Sen. Mitt Romney said there was a “principle agreement” on the COVID package.

“We have reached an agreement in principle on all expenditure and all compensation,” he said. “It’s completely balanced by compensation. And, we haven’t written it yet.”

Lawmakers set aside a recent COVID funding $ 1.5 trillion expense billso Congress sought an autonomous agreement.

Biden himself has recently sounded the alarm about the need for additional funding for COVID-19. The president said on Wednesday that the administration had already had to cancel the planned orders for monoclonal antibodies and cut off the supply sent to the states. Last week, the president said the U.S. was on track to run out of monoclonal antibodies in late May.

“This is not partisan; it is medicine,” Mr Biden said on Wednesday. receiving his second reinforcement blow. “Congress must act now, please.”