President-elect Joe Biden
Joe Biden Flights from Nashville halted due to telecommunications problems related to RV explosion Show Haaland Biden’s commitment to ban public land? Police: Vehicle that exploded in Nashville issued warning before exploding MORE He is already lobbying Congress to promote more coronavirus amelioration early next year, setting the stage for a high-level battle with GOP lawmakers shortly after taking office.
Congress approved about $ 900 billion in new assistance after months of negotiations, as COVID-19 cases grew, businesses closed, cities imposed blocking restrictions, and hundreds of thousands of Americans died from the virus.
The bill, which President Trump
Donald Trump Millions will lose unemployment benefits amid Trump’s confrontation with Congress Memo: Could Pence run and win in 2024? Flights from Nashville stopped due to telecommunications problems related to RV explosion MORE criticized, but was not threatened with a veto, is meant to help the country by warning public health experts that it will be a brutal winter, even if two vaccines begin to be administered. However, Biden and Democrats consider it an “advance payment” ahead of the additional aid they want to provide next year.
“I have always said, this bill is just a first step – a down payment – to address the crisis … we are inside. There are many more things to do. At the beginning of next year, I will present to Congress my plans for what is to come, “Biden told reporters at a news conference shortly after Congress approved the $ 1.4 trillion aid package. dollars to fund the government until September 30.
Biden’s commitment is echoed by Democratic leaders, who vow to work with him to support more funding once he takes office as president on January 20th.
“We have a new hope that springs from the vaccine and from the commitment that President-elect Biden has to follow science. We are ready for the next step “, Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi: Trump’s aid law sent to Florida Meghan McCain says Merry Christmas to everyone except “healthy people under 65” who get vaccinated before House GOP front-line workers reject unanimous consent for 1,000 direct payments A LOT (D-Calif.) He wrote in a letter to fellow Democrats.
Leader of the minorities in the Senate Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerTrump and Pelosi should join for, 000 Schumer check aid on Trump’s call for K in direct payments: “I’m in” Progressive Democrats signal support for Trump’s higher demand for direct payment MORE (DN.Y.) told reporters he spoke with Biden after the bill passed. He said they agreed that the country needed a “bigger and bolder bill” and that “in January, February we will start”.
But Biden is likely to face significant winds from Republicans in the Senate, no matter which party controls the Senate after Georgia’s January 2 preliminary election.
If Republicans win one or both races in Georgia, they will have 51 or 52 seats in the chamber, the leader of the Senate majority. Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP tries to avoid Trump’s messy fight for the Bipartisan Electoral College, a bicameral group urges Trump to sign aid package COVID-19 (R-Ky.) He will control what measures will be put to the vote. If Democrats win both seats, they will be able to force a 50-50 majority, but will still need GOP support to pass most of the legislation.
Top Republicans warn that while Biden is expected to apply for more COVID-19 aid, it is far from guaranteed that Congress will sign.
“Nothing is guaranteed. … I am confident that you will hear from the administration and especially from local and state governments, Sen. John Cornyn
John CornynGOP tries to avoid Trump’s messy fight to pass Electoral College bill to start fighting to declare victory, blames Congress for spending seven days to gain time for COVID-19 funding agreement (R-Texas) said about the prospect for greater relief next year.
It is. John Thune
John Randolph ThuneGOP tries to avoid Trump’s messy fight because of the election college The last few weeks of Trump are creating chaos for Republicans in Congress who are fighting to prevent the end-of-year legislative disaster. MORE (SD), senator no. 2 GOP, said the effort for further coronavirus improvement could be determined by the outcome of the two races in Georgia.
“I think that the received administration considers it something I can do now and then I can return to next year. Many of these probably depend on what’s happening in Georgia, “said Thune, when asked if he saw the end-of-year package as an advance payment.
McConnell was not required when asked during a recent one Fox News interview about granting more aid.
“If after the new administration comes in, they want to support more, we’ll take a look at the conditions in the country,” McConnell said.
The fight could come to a head pretty quickly, even if Biden will have to juggle to get his administration up and running as he tries to address other priorities for his first 100 days in office.
Biden intends to start pushing for more aid immediately after January or February. In the meantime, Congress will face a number of so-called relief rocks as programs authorized under the latest bill begin to be phased out. The highest deadline will be when the 10-week unemployment extension included in the year-end agreement begins to gradually cease in mid-March. And, depending on when they apply, small businesses could start reaching the end of their payday loans at the same time.
“I think everyone understands that Vice President Biden will ask for another bill, so we’ll have another chance to review it, probably soon enough,” Cornyn said of the approaching rock.
Biden points to a broad and ambitious wish list for a potential package, which could be a big boost, with Republicans growing increasingly concerned about the deficit after embracing large spending bills under President Trump. Biden, who has asked for more money to test COVID-19 and distribute vaccines, also points to a desire for state and local funding, an extension of the federal unemployment benefit and rental assistance, and a third round of incentive checks. .
But the two sides still have deep divisions over their respective priorities, which have been left out of the $ 900 billion deal: more aid for state and local governments and GOP action to protect against coronavirus-related lawsuits. .
Pelosi and Schumer promise to provide direct funding to state and local governments, whose officials have warned they may need to cut services as the coronavirus dries up its tax base.
“I think we will have a more robust bill on state and local issues and many other issues … under the administration of President Biden that we have now,” Schumer told reporters.
But money for state and local governments is considered anathema to some Republicans, and the GOP leadership has warned for months that such funds would deflate the number of votes it could get in support of a new package. A bipartisan group included more money in them for a compromise measure, but was abandoned from the final agreement reached by the leadership.
McConnell has already said he will “insist” that protections against coronavirus-related trials be included in any additional COVID-19 aid.
“I think the disclaimer is really important,” McConnell said. “And if there is another coronavirus aid project after the first year, I will insist that liability protection for these universities and health care providers is part of it.”
Democrats have shunned these efforts, worrying that any legal protection would undermine state regulations and could eliminate workers’ safety standards.
“I could not reach an agreement on liability. I spent two weeks constantly trying and I was not successful “, said Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinWarren and other senators are seeking investigations into the resumption of federal executions by the Trump administration. Biden reaches out to Hoyer’s main staff to join the Parliamentary administration’s communication team A COVID-19 help agreement is expected soon MORE (D-Ill.) On the recent efforts of Congress to find a common ground in this regard.
Biden seems to have acknowledged that Congress could throw a curve in its plans for additional aid.
Asked by reporters if he could ensure that lawmakers would act soon, Biden looked amused.
“Everyone asks the most interesting questions. Have you ever met someone in the history of the United States who can be president and ensure exactly what Congress will do? Said Biden. “I can’t provide anything, but I can tell you what I expect.”
“There are still people who don’t want to help, there are still people who insist on my road or the highway,” Biden added. “But the vast majority of members of Congress, I think, will be able to resolve specific issues that have national consequences.”