Electoral President Joe Biden’s economic relief package for coronavirus is expected to cost trillions, and on Tuesday, transitional officials briefed Democratic congressional staff on its priorities for the massive stimulus bill, two people familiar with the plans told CBS News.
Elements of the package developed by mr. Bids considered ‘critical’ include $ 2,000 stimulus payments for Americans, more money for cities and states to boost their response to COVID-19 and to improve vaccine distribution and provide more funding for schools.
Mr. Biden also wants to see a further extension and increase in the increased unemployment insurance payments, which were extended last month and will currently last until mid-March.
How will Biden persuade Congress to pass this bill?
The Biden White House is seeking dual support for the COVID relief package, which could mean significant changes to the legislation to attract more Republican support. This goal was also communicated to congressional assistants on Tuesday.
As mnr. Failing to reach an agreement with the Republicans of the Senate, this package could go under conciliation, a process sometimes used for spending measures. Under this approach, the bill would only need to be adopted by a simple majority, and would not be blocked by a filibuster. Most Senate bills need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. This option will be used to pass the framework of the Biden team with only Democratic votes. Once the Senate election results are approved in Georgia, there will be a 50-50 split between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and Kamala Harris, vice president, will sever any ties. With Harris as the 51st vote, Democrats will control the Senate.
Elected President Biden is expected to outline his COVID relief proposal on Thursday. A Biden transition official did not respond on Wednesday when asked for comment.
This legislation is likely to face intense lobbying by members of Congress and special interests, which could affect the final price.
Some elements of the legislation, such as the $ 2,000 incentive payments for Americans, both have dual support. Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida sent a letter Tuesday in which he told Mr. Pray request to include the larger checks. The president-elect has been asking for the $ 2,000 checks for weeks now and is running in Georgia ahead of the Senate by-election on January 5.
Elizabeth Warren, Senator Elizabeth Warren, sent a 15-page letter to Biden transition officials leading the COVID-19 response, in which she called for more oversight of the federal government’s response to the pandemic. Warren wants to see the increase in data collection and reporting from places with regular COVID-19 clusters, including assistance centers and behavioral clinics.
The incoming government called for input on the legislation of state and local leaders. Biden staff members were in ‘listening mode’ with offices of various governors to get their assessment of the federal government’s COVID-19 response. “We have a different sense of urgency than the previous government to address this and they are proactive in working with the states,” one Democrat governor told CBS News.
Designated Secretary for Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, with dr. Vivek Murthy, who has been nominated as surgeon general, and the head of the COVID task force dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, also recently met with a dozen faith leaders, who combined religious groups with ten million members, to discuss equitable federal response in colored communities.
Two attendees told CBS News the group discussed the use of faith-based hospitals and clinics to increase access and confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in places with a pharmacy desert. Specific plans to reach Americans skeptical about the vaccine were not outlined by the Biden team, two faith leaders told CBS News, but both said they were encouraged by the discussion.
One faith leader told CBS News his network plans to push the Biden team to expand tax credits for children.