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Biden urges Congress to pass Ukraine aid before Covid new funding

President Joe Biden on Monday urged Congress to quickly pass a billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine before trying to pass a new round of Covid-19 funding, warning that aid from America for that country’s fighter jets are almost exhausted.

Biden’s new position marks a reversal from his insistence last month that Military aid and pandemic funding are lumped together. Splitting the two bills greatly increases the chances that Congress will pass the $33 billion in funding Ukraine requested, while dimming hopes for $10 billion in a Covid relief fund, Biden said. said it is needed to provide up-to-date vaccines and shots for the fall.

“I have previously recommended that Congress take overdue action on much-needed funding for COVID treatments, vaccines, and testing, as part of the Ukraine Supplement bill,” Biden said. know in a statement released by the White House.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the Rose Garden event at the White House in Washington, May 9, 2022.

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

“However, I have been informed by congressional leaders in both parties that such an addition would delay action on urgently needed Ukraine aid – a view held by some Republicans. congressional peace expressed strongly,” Biden said.

“We cannot delay this important war effort,” he said. “Therefore, I am ready to accept that these two measures move separately, so that the Ukraine aid bill can come to my table immediately.”

Biden on April 28 asked Congress allocates 33 billion dollars plans to provide humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine through the end of September. Under Biden’s proposal, nearly two-thirds of that money would go to security and military support for Ukraine as it fights off forces Russian invasion.

In his statement on Monday, Biden said additional funding was needed and urgent, with money for shipments to Ukraine running out in 10 days. “I have almost exhausted the resources that a bipartisan majority in Congress gave me to support Ukrainian fighters,” he said.

“This aid is critical to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield. We cannot allow our aid shipments to stop while we await further congressional action,” Biden said. speak.

His statement acknowledged that while there appeared to be bipartisan support for the aid package, there was no such consensus for more Covid funding. Republicans have opposed Democrats’ attempt to match money to Ukraine with additional pandemic relief funding.

“Therefore, I urge Congress to pass the Ukraine Supplemental Funding bill immediately and put it on my desk in the next few days. And then, I urge Congress to pass the bill soon. funding COVID,” Biden said.

He stressed that more action by Congress is needed to tackle the pandemic.

“Without timely COVID funding, many Americans will die needlessly,” he said. “By the fall, if we’re hit by new variants, it will be too late to get the tools needed to protect – vital treatments will be available in Europe, but not the US. Ky.”

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