Susan Collins

Collins Raises Concerns About Biden's COVID Relief Package

Collins said that she has concerns about the $1.9 trillion plan

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins says the Biden administration's coronavirus relief package needs to be refined before she can sign on to it.

Collins and Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, led a conference call for lawmakers with National Economics Director Brian Deese. Collins said late Sunday that she has concerns about the $1.9 trillion plan.

“While I support prompt additional funding for vaccine production, distribution, and vaccinators, and for testing, it seems premature to be considering a package of this size and scope,” Collins said.

Collins also said she’s not clear on how the administration came up with the $1.9 trillion figure. She said she wants lawmakers to “get together to determine if we can come up with a more targeted package that would address unmet needs that we are experiencing now as we fight this persistent pandemic.”

Collins, a moderate Republican, could cast key votes on coronavirus relief in the divided U.S. Senate.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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