House Passes $8.3 Billion Bill to Battle Coronavirus

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bipartisan emergency spending package of about $8.3 billion to fight the coronavirus epidemic, sending the legislation to the Senate in a race to respond to the outbreak, reports the Wall Street Journal . More than $3 billion would be allocated to development of treatments, while $2.2 billion would go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to contain the outbreak. More than $1 billion will be funneled overseas, and $20 million will fund administrative expenses for loans to small American businesses. The Senate is expected to approve the legislation, while President Trump has said he would sign whatever bill Congress passes. The final deal includes $300 million for federal purchasing of the vaccine and other therapeutics and availing them to the public. It also urges Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to apply his authority to ensure that the price of the vaccine is "affordable in the commercial market" and to fast-track its development without any delays. Also in the measure is a provision allowing Medicare providers to supply telemedical services, which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said would cost about $500 million.