Lawmakers are finalizing a $7.5 billion emergency bill to fund the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, even as fear is growing that the rapid spread of the virus is a shock to the economy and will lead to significant disruption in people’s everyday lives. Lawmakers across the spectrum said negotiations are likely to produce a bipartisan deal on Wednesday in hopes of clearing the measure through Congress by week’s end — a burst of bipartisan cooperation that’s atypical of today’s Washington. The $7.5 billion package would triple Trump’s request but is expected to enjoy support from both the White House and Trump’s GOP allies on Capitol Hill. “When it comes to Americans’ health and safety, there is no reason to be penny-wise and pound-foolish,” top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said Tuesday. A spokesman for House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said Tuesday night that only modest differences remain and that House is on track to vote on Wednesday. Negotiators had hoped to seal a deal Tuesday but differences over language sought by Democrats to guarantee low prices for a coronavirus vaccine that’s being developed with taxpayer funding are holding up the agreement. Republicans say current law is sufficient to deter price gouging and warn that the Democratic language could backfire and delay production by private sector drug companies. Both sides say the issue is unlikely to stall an accord for long. Frustration is palpable among lawmakers reporting widespread fear and impatience among their constituents, especially about a shortage of tests to detect the virus. “I wish we were a week earlier on producing these tests. Perhaps that’s a valid criticism,” said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. “I am hearing personally from people across our state who are frustrated. They have been exposed. They are sick. They want to get tested. They have nowhere to go,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., whose state is at the epicenter of the outbreak. “This is truly a serious crisis and we cannot respond on the cheap or at the last minute.” Worries are growing about the impact on workers earning hourly wages being told to stay home, immigrants who may fear seeking treatment, and the potential rapid spread among homeless people. Widespread school closures are possible as well. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairmen Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said negotiators are very close to agreement and that swift passage of the bill “sends a message to the American people that we care and we are going to do everything we can.” Schumer boasted that the final figure is far closer to a benchmark he set last week when outlining an $8.5 billion plan. It also contains a provision to restore funds to Department of Health and Human Services programs like energy assistance to low-income households that were cut to pay for the initial federal response. Vice President Mike Pence, who is coordinating the administration’s response, visited Capitol Hill with top U.S. health officials in tow to brief both parties on the situation, which health experts warn is going to worsen in coming days and weeks. He got generally positive reviews from fellow Republicans but Democrats said too many of their questions went unanswered. The vice president’s message was “we’re on top of it,” said GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana. But Kennedy said he’s been told […]
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