Biden seeks $9 billion for Covid, $37 billion for Ukraine

Robert Besser
19 Nov 2022, 06:58 GMT+10

The Biden administration asked Congress this week for $9.25 billion to combat COVID-19, as well as $37.7 billion to support Ukraine in its war against Russia
The administration is also requesting $750 million to fight other infectious diseases and will be seeking additional money for natural disaster relief
The Biden administration said it would focus on funding the government and the U.S. COVID-19 response

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration asked Congress this week for $9.25 billion to combat COVID-19, as well as $37.7 billion to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The administration is also requesting $750 million to fight other infectious diseases and will be seeking additional money for natural disaster relief, White House officials said.

In letter to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, White House budget director Shalanda Young said, "The Congress has an opportunity and obligation to address three additional and critical funding needs that should earn bipartisan support: protecting the American people from COVID-19 and saving lives globally; supporting the people of Ukraine; and helping communities across the Nation recover from devastating natural disasters."

The Biden administration said it would focus on funding the government and the U.S. COVID-19 response, as well as confirming judges during the so-called "lame duck" period through the end of the year.

Biden officials have been seeking more money from Congress to fight COVID-19 for some time without success.

The White said also said that the new funds would be used to prepare for a possible surge in COVID cases in winter, "smooth the path to commercialization for vaccines and therapeutics," speed up research and treatment for long COVID-19, and develop new vaccines and treatments.

The funding for Ukraine, which will continue for the duration of the fiscal year, would be spent on defense, humanitarian assistance and nuclear security support, it added.