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The White House excoriated Senate Republicans on Tuesday for blocking President Joe Biden’s $10 billion COVID bill because it didn’t contain a provision that kept in place former President Donald Trump’s border policy known as Title 42.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki issued an official statement decrying the blockage of the bill.
“It is disappointing that Senate Republicans voted down consideration of a much-needed bill to purchase vaccines, boosters, and life-saving treatments for the American people. As we have repeatedly said, there are consequences for Congress failing to fund our COVID Response,” the statement began.
“The program that reimbursed doctors, pharmacists and other providers for vaccinating the uninsured had to end today due to a lack of funds. America’s supply of monoclonal antibodies that are effective at keeping people out of the hospital will run out as soon as late May. Our test manufacturing capacity will begin ramping down at the end of June. Today’s Senate vote is a step backward for our ability to respond to this virus. We will continue to work with the House and Senate to move this vital legislation forward,” Psaki said, attempting to use COVID as a means to shame Republicans into capitulating to Biden’s immigration diktats.
The bill was halted in a 47 to 52 vote where every single Republican voted against it. This followed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell threatening to block GOP support for the bill without the inclusion of the Title 42 provision.
By a vote of 47-52, the #Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Cal. #310, H.R.4373, appropriations vehicle for COVID Supplemental.
Senator Wyden joined republicans and voted NO and Senator Schumer changed his vote to a NO
Senator Menendez did not vote
— Senate Press Gallery (@SenatePress) April 5, 2022
What about the unspent Covid money they already approved?
— Stally (@StallyKS) April 6, 2022
They haven't yet spent all of the money from the first covid relief bill and there's a lot of states that have siphoned off that covid money and not paid it out like they were supposed to. https://t.co/pRCvp601c1
— Russ U.S.N. VET (@Russ_1158) April 5, 2022
Since Title 42 is being terminated because COVID is over, why do we need to spend another $10 billion on COVID relief or wear masks on airplanes?
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 5, 2022
Biden announced last week that he would lift Title 42 on May 23 which would, in essence, throw the border wide open to illegal immigrants. The policy allows any border agent to reject asylum-seekers due to COVID concerns.
Ten Republicans were needed in the vote to advance the bill. It now faces a delay until after the Senate returns from a two-week break that commences on April 11.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined Republicans in voting against the bill much to the dismay of his fellow Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer switched from a “yes” vote to a “no” in a last-minute procedural move to enable him to bring the package back to the floor. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) did not vote.
“This is a potentially devastating vote for every single American who was worried about the possibility of a new variant rearing its nasty head within a few months,” Schumer proclaimed following the vote.
(Biden’s Covid response has a penchant for doubling things.)
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 5, 2022
That means the U.S. will need to pay Pfizer another nearly $5 billion, a figure that will chew up a big chunk of whatever new money congress allocates.
One official cautioned that maybe not all will come from this $10 if it’s approved. Others say it will.
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 5, 2022
Pfizer said this when I asked if the U.S. has paid and whether it hinged in talks in Congress: “We are confident that the administration will fulfill its purchasing commitments.”
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 5, 2022
The left is once again fearmongering over COVID, warning Americans of a new sub-variant of the Omicron COVID strain, known as BA.2. They are screaming that it could cause a spike in cases.
McConnell had previously told the Democrats on Tuesday there would have to be an amendment keeping Title 42 in play in order for the bill to pass with the 10 Republican votes that it required.
“There’ll have to be an amendment on Title 42 in order to move the bill,” he told reporters. “We’ll need to enter into some kind of agreement to process these amendments in order to go forward with the bill.”
(Video Credit: Forbes Breaking News)
That prompted Schumer to declare that the bill should “not be held hostage” to other proposals.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated that he “absolutely” wanted a Title 42 amendment to the bill, according to the Daily Mail.
“It’s utterly insane that the administration claims to be concerned about COVID, at the same time, they’ve decided just to throw open the doors to illegal aliens who are COVID-positive,” Cruz asserted.
“Revoking Title 42 authority will supercharge the already skyrocketing flow of illegal aliens, increasing drug, human, and sex trafficking. Biden is failing miserably to faithfully execute the law and is violating his oath of office.” – @GovRonDeSantis
— Christina Pushaw 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) April 4, 2022
Can you imagine how bad it will be when Title 42 goes away in May? https://t.co/wXU3ZFZdtH
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 5, 2022
Joe Biden's reckless border policies have allowed 2+ million foreigners to enter our country illegally via the southern border. Revoking Title 42 will supercharge the skyrocketing flow of illegal aliens, increasing drug, human and sex trafficking.
This is a dereliction of duty!
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 4, 2022
Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) issued a statement warning against rolling back Title 42 without a plan in place to deal with the flood of illegal immigrants.
Psaki responded to the press over the amendment, stating at a press briefing, “Decisions on Title 42 should remain independent of the urgently needed funding for Covid aid. This is a decision made by CDC, it’s a public health decision. It’s not one, of course, that should be wrapped up in politics.”
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