From left, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speak to reporters just after the Senate advanced a bipartisan resolution asserting that President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 12, 2020.
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.
