Summary
Congress returns this week after a two-week spring recess. At the top of the agenda will be a push to pass the $10 billion bipartisan COVID-19 supplemental package that was negotiated just prior to leaving town earlier this month. The package was pulled by leadership just prior to recess due to Republicans demanding a vote on reinstating the Title 42 border policy, which the CDC said will end in May. Over the last two weeks several Democrats have also expressed concern about ending the order, saying the Administration has no plan to deal with the migrant surge that is expected once the order is lifted. With COVID rates rising, and states running out of funding for testing and treatment, the White House continues to sound the alarm that additional aid is urgent. Democrats may try to attach the COVID-19 relief package to additional funding for the Ukraine, but the path forward is uncertain.
The bipartisan COVID-19 supplemental appropriations package would provide $10 billion to Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund at the Department of Health and Human Services (available until September 30, 2025). Of this amount, $9.25 billion would be allocated to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for research and development, manufacturing, and purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and supplies. The remaining $750 million would support research and clinical trials for the development of vaccines against emerging variants. Unspent COVID funds (mostly related to small businesses and aviation) would be used to fully pay for the supplemental bill.
The Congress will also be returning to a focus on the FY 2023 budget this week, as several Administration officials are slated to testify before House and Senate Committees on the Administration’s budget proposal. Secretary Becerra will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday and the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, and FDA Commissioner Robert Califf will appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture on Wednesday.
Additionally, on the agenda in the Senate this week is a bipartisan effort in the Senate to try to lower the price of insulin, as well as a measure to boost science and technology that includes $50 billion to help produce more powerful computer chips in the United States.