Replay Video
UP NEXT
1
Cancel
The coronavirus is sparking fears it could become a pandemic - here's why
USA TODAY
See more videos
What to watch next
UP NEXT
UP NEXT

WASHINGTON – Leaders from the Democrat-controlled House and GOP-led Senate came to a compromise deal Wednesday that will provide roughly $8 billion to combat the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. and help treat people who become ill.

Loading...

Load Error

The number is more than triple the amount President Donald Trump originally asked for last month.

The package includes more than $3 billion for research and the development of vaccines and $2.2 billion that will help in prevention, preparedness and response. A senior Republican aide noted $1 billion would be allocated for state and local response, about half of which would go to specific cities. 

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The aide noted each state would receive no less than $4 million. 

Coronavirus live updates: Patient's family, neighbor become infected with COVID-19 in New York

How you can prepare:The shopping list for your own home quarantine kit

Daily coronavirus updates: Get them in your email. Sign up here

The funding package, if approved, would amount to one of the largest packages Congress will have passed to combat a global health crisis. 

The $8.3 billion is more than $2 billion over what Congress approved to combat the avian flu in the early 2000s and more than $500,000 what it approved in 2009 during the H1N1 virus outbreak. It's also larger than the $5.4 billion allocated for the Ebola crisis. 

The spending package also includes an important caveat Democrats and Republicans had been debating for days: providing more than $300 million to ensure that whenever a vaccine is developed, people will be able to receive it even if they cannot pay for it, the Democratic aide said.

Replay Video
UP NEXT
1
Cancel
How to prepare for an emergency: No need to stockpile for coronavirus
USA TODAY
See more videos
What to watch next
UP NEXT
UP NEXT

"The American people are counting on our government for a fully funded, coordinated, and comprehensive government-wide response to the coronavirus," House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey said. "House Democrats’ emergency supplemental consists of robust, entirely new funding and strong transparency and accountability measures to fully address the virus and keep Americans safe from this growing public health emergency. We must quickly enact this legislation – lives are at stake."

The House will vote on the spending package Wednesday afternoon. It will need to pass in the chamber and in the Senate before it is sent to Trump's desk. The measure largely has bipartisan support but a few issues, such as keeping costs low for treatment and an eventual vaccine, has Democrats and Republicans divided.

"This should not be about politics; this is about doing our job to protect the American people from a potential pandemic," said Sen. Richard Shelby, the Senate appropriations chairman. "We worked together to craft an aggressive and comprehensive response that provides the resources the experts say they need to combat this crisis."

The $8.3 billion in funding will replace the $2.5 billion the White House requested from Congress last month, which both sides agreed wasn't enough to battle the rapidly spreading virus, which has killed at least nine people in the U.S.

In its request, the White House told congressional leaders it needed $1.25 billion in funding at the Department of Homeland Security and hoped to redirect other funds, including $535 million approved for the Ebola crisis in 2015, that would push the amount to $2.5 billion. 

The president has faced criticism for his initial response to the outbreak when he appeared to contradict health officials in his own administration about the scope of the virus. At a rally last week, Trump described opponents' criticism of his administration's response a "hoax."

All of the U.S. deaths from coronavirus have come from Washington state. Washington accounts for 27 of the 118 cases reported in the U.S., and state officials said 231 people are under public health supervision.

Contributing: Ledge King, David Jackson and John Fritze

Goodbye, handshake. Hello, elbow bump? Greetings to avoid during the coronavirus outbreak

More: Tracking the spread of coronavirus cases in the US and worldwide

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House, Senate strike deal on $8 billion funding package to combat coronavirus

Read More
Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Feedback

Found the story interesting?

Like us on Facebook to see similar stories


Send MSN Feedback

We appreciate your input!

Please give an overall site rating: