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A2 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 25 February 2020

White House readying emergency coronavirus budget request

By ANDREW TAYLOR infectious disease rapid re-
Associated Press sponse fund and is seeking
WASHINGTON (AP) — The to transfer more than $130
White House is readying an million from other HHS ac-
urgent budget request to counts to combat the virus
address the deadly coro- but is pressing for more.
navirus outbreak, whose "We need some funding
rapid spread is spooking here to make sure that
financial markets and re- we protect all Americans,"
stricting international trav- Deputy White House Press
el. Secretary Hogan Gidley
The request is still being said on Fox News. "We need
developed but is likely to to combat this, we need to
come this week, a senior make sure our people are
administration official con- safe and the president is al-
firmed Monday. The De- ways going to take action
partment of Health and Hu- to do that."
man Services has already Senators returning to Wash-
tapped into an emergency ington after a weeklong re-

In this Feb. 13, 2020 file photo, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar testifies on
Capitol Hill in Washington.
Associated Press

cess will receive a classified to reimburse the Pentagon, a receptive audience for
briefing Tuesday morning which is housing evacuees the request on Capitol Hill,
on the government's coro- from China — who are re- though stand-alone emer-
navirus response, a Senate quired to undergo 14-day gency spending bills can
aide said. quarantines — at several be tricky to pass since they
"All of the warning lights are military bases in California. are invariably a target for
flashing bright red. We are Democrats controlling the lawmakers seeking add-
staring down a potential House wrote HHS Secre- ons.
pandemic and the admin- tary Alex Azar earlier this The stock market dove
istration has no plan," said month to request funds to Monday over coronavirus
Senate Minority Leader help speed development fears, with the Dow Jones
Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. of a coronavirus vaccine, Industrial Average drop-
"We have a crisis of corona- expand laboratory capac- ping by 3.6% — or more
virus and President Trump ity, and beef up screening than 1,000 points.
has no plan, no urgency, efforts at U.S. entry points. The quickly spreading virus
no understanding of the Azar is slated to testify be- has slammed the economy
facts or how to coordinate fore the Senate Appropria- of China, where the virus
a response." tions Committee on Tues- originated, and caseloads
Trump was a vocal critic day, and the U.S. response are rapidly increasing in
of former President Barack to the outbreak is sure to countries such as South Ko-
Obama's response to the be a major topic. rea, Iran, and Italy.
2014 Ebola scare, which The White House bud- In San Francisco, House
barely touched the U.S. but get office, led by Russell Speaker Nancy Pelosi took
was seen as a factor in that Vought, is working with HHS a walking tour of China-
year's midterm elections, to shape the request, with town on Monday to let the
which restored control of the agency seeking more public know the neighbor-
the Senate to Republicans. than the White House is hood is safe and open for
Among the needs is funding likely to approve. There is business. q