As Congress returns from its two-week long recess on Monday, the Biden administration will address a number of requests on its agenda, including additional aid packages for COVID-19 relief and Ukraine, rising inflation, and immigration laws.
"As Congress returns from recess, the Administration will be focused on working with lawmakers to secure funds to keep aid flowing to the Ukrainian people, and continue protecting the American people from Covid-19," a U.S. official told CNN.
At the top of the list will be President Joe Biden's request for an additional $800 million in military aid for Ukraine to help their fight against Russian forces.
Biden announced the proposed aid last Thursday, but according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's agenda, there is no vote scheduled yet, per USA Today.
COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise around the country due to the omicron BA.2 subvariant, and a $10 billion COVID-19 aid package was previously agreed upon after the Biden administration originally requested $22.5 billion in funding.
Although, senators stalled on the bipartisan deal before the recess.
"Congressional inaction is already taking its toll — from uninsured Americans’ suddenly having to foot the bill for tests, treatments and vaccines to states’ receiving fewer monoclonal antibodies to keep people out the hospital," the U.S. official said, per NBC News. "Further inaction is unacceptable, and Congress must promptly provide us the funds we urgently need to protect the American people."
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) worked on the deal, but mentioned in a statement on April 5 that it was stalled because Republicans wanted to include Title 42 amendments. The immigration policy is scheduled to end on May 23, the Biden administration announced on March 31.
"There is broad support in the GOP conference for the COVID relief bill, but we can’t move forward until leadership on both sides agree on a sufficient amendment process," Romney said.
Former President Donald Trump used the provision throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and forced migrants who had been in a country where the virus was present to be sent back to their home countries. The Biden administration had continued using Title 42 until the announcement last month that it would be ending.
"We had a bipartisan agreement and unfortunately, because of an extraneous issue, we aren't going to be able to get the 10 Republican votes we need to pass it," Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) had said, per CNN.
Lastly, Congress will address the concerns of many Americans in regards to rising inflation affecting food and gas prices around the country. The Consumer Price Index for March showed that inflation has hit 8.5% over the last 12 months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), a member of the Banking Committee, tweeted on Friday about rising inflation and placed blame on the Biden administration.
"Inflation has risen steadily since the day Biden took office, and it’s taxing working families the hardest," Scott tweeted. "It seems like the very people Biden administration’s policies claim to help are paying the highest price."
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