- Trump calls for “changes” in the stimulus package that was approved by Congress
- France lifts travel ban for the UK
- Joe Biden claimed that more relief will be coming after his inauguration next month
Trump Calls for “Changes” in Stimulus Package That was Approved by Congress
Donald Trump has indicated that he may not sign the $900 billion bipartisan pandemic relief bill that was approved by Congress on Monday night.
Trump posted a video message on his Twitter account after the stimulus package was signed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Describing the incentive package as a “disgrace,” Trump said, “I call on Congress to raise the absurdly $600cash aid to $2,000 in this package.”
Trump complained that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries and not enough to Americans. He pointed out that the package includes items such as aid to countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, or some centers that are currently inactive, and said:
“At the same time, I call on Congress to get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items in this package and send me a reasonable bill. Otherwise, the next administration will deal with this package. Maybe it will be me again in the next administration.”
Stating that the money envisaged in the package should go to American citizens, Trump said:
The package includes $85.5 million to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, $1.3 billion to the Egyptian army, which will go and buy weapons only from Russia. It gives $25 million to democracy and gender programs in Pakistan. Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama are also given 505 million dollars.
The President of the United States questioned why more than $1 billion was allocated to museums and galleries in the capital.
Asking why Congress allocates large amounts of money to foreign countries, lobbyists, and private interests while allocating the least amount of money to the American people, Trump demanded that the $600 per person payments, which he described as “ridiculously low”, be increased to $2,000.
France Lifts Travel Ban for the UK
French, EU citizens, as well as British and third-country nationals who are residents in France, are allowed to enter French territory if they have a negative Covid-19 test done no later than three days in advance. This was announced on Tuesday evening, December 22, by the press service of the French government.
It was announced in the statement that:
“Whatever their nationality, all passengers will be required to present to the aviation, maritime, or railway company a document from the laboratory of analyzes containing a negative test result for the virus. Services in charge of border control can also check it “
As the press service explained, a 48-hour ban on entry to the British was necessary due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus mutation in the United Kingdom.
During this time, the risk analysis presented by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control was reviewed with the European Commission and EU member states, and further steps were discussed with the British government.
“This order will be applied at least until January 6, subject to a possible bilateral or pan-European revision, which may take place by that time,” the French government noted.
Despite France and UK reaching an agreement, more than 50 other countries, including Italy, India, and Pakistan, are continuing to block travelers from the UK.
Joe Biden Claimed that More Relief will be Coming After his Inauguration Next Month
President-elect Joe Biden stated that he will push for the third round of stimulus checks in the next Covid-19 relief bill, calling the just-passed aid bill a “down payment” in addressing the pandemic.
Biden stated that early next year he is going to put forward to Congress his plans for what comes next. He said that he wouldn’t provide a detailed proposal at this point, but his plan will include at least the following: Another round of stimulus checks; Funding for every American to receive the Covid-19 vaccine; State and local aid money; More funding for testing; Moratorium on evictions; Direct funding for businesses and personal protective equipment (PPE).
In his approximately 10-minute speech, Biden warned about increasing Covid-19 risks.
“One thing I promise you about my leadership during this crisis, I’m going to tell it to you straight,” Biden said. “And here’s a simple truth. Our darkest days in this battle against Covid are ahead of us, not behind us.”
“So we need to prepare ourselves, to steel our spines,” the President-elect continued. “As frustrating as it is to hear, it’s going to take patience, persistence, and determination to beat this virus. There will be no time to waste in taking the steps we need to turn this crisis around.”
Biden said during his speech that he would reveal his plan to lawmakers early next year. He will be inaugurated on January, 20.
“Congress did its job this week,” he said. “It can and must do it again next year.”
The President-elect’s remarks come one day after he has received his first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on live TV and reassured Americans of the vaccine’s safety.
“I look forward to the second shot, and I have absolute confidence in the vaccine,” Biden said on Tuesday. “But we’re in short supply. Taking the vaccine from a vial into the arm of millions of Americans is one of the biggest operational challenges the United States has ever faced.”
