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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 2 June 2022
Continued from Front Counterintuitively but un-
"There is still an urgency surprisingly for the always
to pass a COVID relief perplexing Senate, one in-
package," Senate Major- tractable puzzle stymying
ity Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrats is immigration.
D-N.Y., said last week. "It's Senate Republicans are
very, very much needed." demanding a vote an
Optimists hope the mea- amending the pandemic
sure could start rolling once legislation with language
Congress returns next week. retaining Trump-era curbs
Pessimists say without quick that, citing COVID-19, have
resolution, Democrats may made it easier to bar mi-
not have enough leverage grants from entering the
to push the money to pas- U.S.
sage until early fall. That's A federal judge has
when they could stuff it into blocked Biden from ending
legislation that will prob- those restrictions. Liberals
ably be needed to finance want Congress to eliminate
government — a bill that the clampdown, but mod-
would avert a federal shut- erate Democrats in both
down, a pre-election dis- chambers facing tough
traction Republicans will be reelections want to vote to
desperate to avoid. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha speaks during the daily briefing at retain it.
The heap of sidelined the White House in Washington, April 26, 2022. The result: Testy divisions
Democratic initiatives has Associated Press between the Democrats'
grown this year, a victim two ideological factions,
of GOP opposition and trol in November's elections 100,000 Americans and $370 billion for purchasing and knotty questions for
rebellions by centrists like and could grab the Senate killing more than 300. Both supplies, for research and party leaders about how
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. as well, and Democrats' numbers are rising. other public health initia- to resolve them and push
Casualties include bills on frustration is clear. Officials say that lacking tives to combat the pan- a pandemic package to
voting rights, health care, "So far it hasn't moved," fresh funds, the U.S. is falling demic, according to ad- passage.
environment, taxes, gun Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Ha- behind other countries that ministration tallies obtained Their task is compounded
curbs, abortion rights, po- waii, said of Biden's latest are already lining up for by The Associated Press. by disputes between House
licing tactics and an inves- $22.5 billion request for CO- supplies needed for fall and Around $14 billion of it was and Senate Democrats
tigation of the 2021 Capitol VID-19, which he initially winter. That's prompted Jha unspent or not committed over why the COVID-19
storming by then-President sent Congress three months to plan for the chance that to contracts as of April 5, battle remains unresolved.
Donald Trump's supporters. ago. "But then neither has Congress provides no new the documents show, seri- Senate Democrats note a
While lawmakers have ap- sensible gun legislation, nei- money at all, threatening ous money but an amount bipartisan $15.6 billion pan-
proved massive packages ther has voting rights." painful choices about what the administration says falls demic compromise was on
financing federal agencies "The 50-50 Senate sucks," to do if there aren't enough below the ultimate need. the cusp of House passage
through September and she said. vaccines or therapeutics Most Republicans are skep- in March until that cham-
helping Ukraine counter The COVID money is need- for all who need them. tical about added pan- ber's progressive Demo-
Russia's invasion, other pri- ed quickly, officials say. "It would be terrible," Jha demic funding. "I have a crats rebelled against
orities are dead or drifting, Their warnings have come told reporters recently. "I hard time believing that spending cuts to pay for it,
even as Democrats' days with over 1 million U.S. think we would see a lot there's not enough money derailing the money. "We're
running Congress are likely deaths from the disease of unnecessary loss of life if and not enough flexibility waiting for the House to
dwindling. Republicans are and a fresh variant that that were to happen." already" to use it, said Sen. send us something," Schum-
favored to win House con- daily is hospitalizing over Congress has provided Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. er said last week.q

Biden says 1st female armed services chief is 'about time'

Guard and the armed forc- States armed forces looks the direction of the world
es' first female service chief, like" and thanked Fagan throughout the 21st cen-
declaring during a change for "all that you've done tury."
of command ceremony throughout your career to The president said his ad-
on Wednesday, "It's about open the doors of opportu- ministration is "going to
time." nity just a little bit wider" al- be calling on the Coast
"The trailblazing career lowing "those following be- Guard more frequently" to
of Admiral Fagan shows hind you a way through." combat the threats of cli-
young people entering the "Now we need to keep mate change, given that
services, we mean what working to make sure Ad- Wednesday marked the
we say: There are no doors miral Fagan may be the first day of hurricane sea-
— no doors — closed to first but not the only," Biden son that is anticipated to
women," Biden told around said. "We need to see more be "the seventh straight
2,000 cheering guests at women at the highest lev- year of above-average
Coast Guard headquar- els of command in the hurricane activity in the At-
Adm. Linda Faganattends a change of command ceremony at
U.S. Coast Guard headquarters, Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in ters. Those attending in- Coast Guard and across lantic."
Washington. Adm. Karl L. Schultz is being relieved by Fagan as cluded service chiefs from every service." Biden also called the Coast
the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. other military branches and Fagan relieved Adm. Karl L. Guard an "essential ele-
Associated Press Homeland Security Secre- Schultz. In a brief address, ment" of his administration's
tary Alejandro Mayorkas. Biden didn't mention Rus- Indo-Pacific strategy, and
By WILL WEISSERT dent Joe Biden hailed Adm. The president added, "This sia's war with Ukraine but said he planned to engage
Associated Press Linda Fagan as new Com- is what an admiral and said "the choices the world to guard against overfish-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- mandant of the U.S. Coast service chief in the United makes today will "shape ing by Chinese interests.q