Following pushback from some Democrats, President Biden’s requested Covid assistance funding will be a stand-alone bill. Initially, the $16 billion aid package was included in the omnibus funding bill the House passed Wednesday evening.
The money for the Covid aid was to come from leftover Paycheck Protection Program funds, meaning some states would lose money previously allocated to them and sparking Democratic resistance.
“I fought against this last minute deal that would have shortchanged Kansans out of funds we were promised & that our state has already allocated,” Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) tweeted. “I’m happy to work with leadership and my Republican colleagues to find a path forward on COVID relief that doesn’t come out of Kansas’ budget.”
Some Members expressed disappointment about how they learned the Covid money would come from PPP.
“This deal was cut behind closed doors. Members found out this morning,” Rep. Angie Craig (D-AR) told The Hill. “This is completely unacceptable.”
“To complete our work on the omnibus today, we are removing the coronavirus supplemental funding and considering it as standalone legislation without any problematic offsets,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) tweeted.