Pres. Joe Biden Urges Congress to Pass Ukraine Aid, Putting COVID Funding Aside

U.S. President Joe Biden has called Congress to give a go-signal for a multibillion-dollar Ukraine aid package, adding that the U.S. aid for the country has nearly been exhausted.

CNBC News reported that Biden's request would put the COVID funding on the back burner. It was a reversal from his request last month that military aid and COVID aid package be bundled together.

Biden said in a statement that he had previously recommended that Congress take overdue action on much-needed funding for COVID treatments, vaccines, and tests, as part of Ukraine aid. However, he added that he was informed by leaders in Congress that such a move would slow down action on the immediately needed Ukrainian aid.

The president noted that the U.S. cannot "afford delay" in what he described as a "vital war effort."

Biden said that he is ready to accept the COVID funding and Ukraine aid measures separately, putting priority on the Ukraine aid bill to be on his desk right away.

Ukraine Aid

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi later noted that the House would move first on the Ukraine aid legislation and would do it quickly, according to an NBC News report. She added that she is hoping to bring forth the bill tomorrow in Ukraine at an event in Miami.

Two Congressional aides noted that the Ukraine aid package the Democrats are proposing comes to $39.8 billion, which is higher than the $33 billion originally requested by the White House.

The package will cover funding for weapons and food.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has pushed for the Ukraine aid measure to travel "separately and quickly."

Another Republican lawmaker Senate Minority Whip John Thune said that a standalone Ukraine aid package could move quickly through the chamber, which is most likely by next week.

Meanwhile, some Democrats said that they could live with voting on the Ukraine funding first.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Armed Services, said that it is important to continue the Ukraine aid so they can keep up the fight.

COVID Funding Measure

In March, the White House has asked Congress to approve an additional $22.5 billion to support the country's pandemic response.

NPR reported that Republicans are deeply divided that Senate has said they would not allow additional funding until the White House was able to account for the trillions of dollars Congress has approved.

The Office of Management and Budget said it needs money to ramp up ongoing relief efforts, which includes $18.25 billion to go to the Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition, $4.25 billion will be passed to the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development.

Biden noted at the time that the U.S. is ready to move into a new phase of the pandemic with more lax restrictions, which prompted the White House's request for a COVID funding measure.

The GOP letter noted that since the passage of the American Rescue Plan in February, questions are piling up where exactly the additional allotment was placed.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: President Biden pledges $150 million for military aid in Ukraine - from CBS News