Officials in President Biden’s administration on Sunday held an appeal with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss the White House’s proposed $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package.
Several senators confirmed their participation in the call, with a number of Democratic senators describing the conversation as ‘productive’.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin Fallout Capitol Uprising: A PATRIOT Act 2.0? Sunday shows preview: All eyes on Biden administration to tackle coronavirus Overnight Health Care – Fauci: Lack of facts ‘likely’ costs lives in the fight against coronavirus | CDC Changes COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines to Rare Mix of Pfizer, Moderna Shots | The chaos in the senate threatens to slow Biden’s agenda MORE (D-Ill.) Categorized the discussion as “refreshing”, saying it “should have been a long time” to have the White House “fully involved in tackling this pandemic with a focus on science and federal leadership.”
“In the spirit of unity that we saw on the Western Front of the Capitol on Wednesday, the Senate must meet on a two-pronged basis and provide the resources the American people need to survive this pandemic and these long-standing financial troubles,” he said.
Her. Angus King
Angus King: The Next Pandemic Could Be Cyber - How Biden’s Administration Can Stop Bipartisan Senate Gang To Talk To Biden Assistant About Coronavirus Shelter Angus King Warns Of ‘Grave Danger’ Trump Reveals Secret Information MORE (I-Maine) said in a tweet that the conversation centered around “policy solutions,” adding that that was “remarkable in itself.”
“Let’s continue to work together to accelerate vaccine distribution and support Americans during this pandemic,” he posted.
Brian Deese
Brian Deese The Memo: Biden bets he can do it all The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Next steps in the Trump impeachment The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwinds MORE, the director of the National Economic Council, hosted the private Zoom call to which 16 senators, eight from each party, were reportedly invited from CNN and The Washington Post.
Senators on the call reportedly called for assistance to those who need it most, calling for vaccine distribution to be the top priority.
Upstairs lawmakers scrutinized White House officials during the call, which lasted more than an hour, as to where stimulus money is essential, what is the justification for some high spending, and whether the proposed $ 1,400 direct controls could be tailored more to people in emergency. , various stakeholders told the Post and CNN.
Louisa TerrellLouisa Terrell MORE, the White House director of legislative affairs, and Jeff Zients
Jeff Zients Disconnected Vaccine Distribution Pressures Early Test for Biden Biden to Deliver More COVID-19 Shots Fauci: We’re Not Starting Vaccine Distribution ‘From Zero’ MORE, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, also took part in the call reportedly organized by Sen. Joe Manchin
Joseph (Joe) Manchin OVERNIGHT POWER: Biden EPA Asks Justice Dept. To Interrupt Trump-Era Rules Defense Company is appealing rejection of Pebble Mine | Energy Pick Granholm to be heard on Wednesday Nomination hearing for Biden Energy Pick Granholm scheduled for Wednesday Bipartisan Senate gang to talk to Biden assistant about coronavirus lighting MORE (DW.Va.).
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.
Ahead of the call, Deese told reporters that he wanted to stress to senators that “we are at a precarious time for the virus and the economy,” noting that “decisive action” is needed to prevent “in a very serious economic hole, ”said the Post.
The $ 1.9 trillion plan also includes an extension of emergency unemployment benefits beyond mid-March and an increase in the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour, in addition to direct controls.
Several Republicans have criticized the Biden administration’s plan as too costly, with GOP senators specifically expressing concerns about the minimum wage increase during the call, two well-known people told the Post.
“There are many unanswered questions, most notably how the government got the $ 1.9 trillion required, as our figures show there is about $ 1.8 trillion left to spend,” Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s crisis agenda hits headwinds GOP senators say only a few Republicans will vote to condemn Trump For Biden, a Senate trial could help the duality surrounding COVID aid MORE (R-Maine) told the Post. “We hope to get more data from them to document the need.”
Several Republicans have suggested that Biden and the Democrats may have better luck passing separate parts of the emergency relief bill instead of the expanded package.
“The president wants to extend unemployment benefits while people are still unemployed, that’s certainly something we would look into. We felt last time that states needed help, some salvation for states and places that might have reduced their revenues. That’s appropriate, but the overall figure is pretty shocking, if you will, ” Her. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt Romney Sunday Shows Preview: All Eyes On Biden Administration To Tackle Coronavirus The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden’s Crisis Agenda Hits Headwinds GOP Senators Say Only A Few Republicans Will Vote To Convict Trump MORE (R-Utah) said Sunday morning.
But an interlocutor told CNN that the White House is still trying to move forward with the $ 1.9 trillion package rather than dividing parts of it into smaller bills.
“President Biden and his advisers will continue to engage and consult with two-party groups of legislators, including today, to argue why urgent action is needed to get help for hard-hit communities and families and more resources for public health officials so we can speed up vaccinations,” said a White House official against the network.