U.S. Senate Democrats introduced legislation to provide an additional $9 billion to support international efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 International Response and Recovery Act (CIRRA) seeks to compel the Trump Administration to engage with other countries and international organizations to stop the spread of COVID-19. The bill has the backing of U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
“We’re facing an unprecedented global crisis and American leadership is nowhere to be found. While the Trump administration is flailing, Congress has to assert itself and restore America’s standing during this global pandemic. I’m proud to join my Democratic colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee in outlining bold steps that America can take to lead the global response to COVID-19, including some of my bipartisan proposals. It’s important that any business the committee takes up focus on measures to deal with the immediate COVID-19 crisis as its top priority,” Murphy said.
The bill proposes several reforms including directing the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to increase U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council related to COVID-19; mandating U.S. participation in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which is working to accelerate the discovery of a vaccine for COVID-19; restoring U.S. funding to the World Health Organization; and re-establishing a position within the National Security Council to deal with global health security emergencies. Also, the bill seeks to better equip the State Department to support U.S. citizens, including U.S. government personnel, affected by this and future pandemics. To that end, it provides $15.7 million in funding for emergency evacuations of U.S. nationals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since Majority Leader McConnell believes it is appropriate to reopen the Senate right now– in direct contravention of the advice of healthcare experts and at great risk to the hardworking men and women who keep the Capitol running – approving this commonsense legislation should be at the top of his agenda to help ensure the United States government can increase our capacity to prevent, respond and detect epidemic and pandemic threats, including COVID-19,” Menendez said. “There is a moral imperative to U.S. leadership in the global arena right now, and this legislation is a recognition that we need to lead the international community to bring this pandemic to an end. If we don’t, even if we are successful in our efforts here at home, failure in the international response makes it inevitable that COVID-19 will return to our shores.”