NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the federal government to set aside billions of dollars so states can ensure a successful COVID vaccine rollout.
“Vaccines don’t cure illness, shots in the arm cure illness,” Schumer said Sunday as he called on the Senate to pass the Heroes Act, a multi-trillion-dollar federal aid package.
The Heroes Act has passed the House but does not have Republican support in the Senate. Schumer is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to get onboard.
Schumer estimates states will need about $30 billion in federal funds to distribute the vaccine for free, educate the public, hire health care workers and establish clinics.
“Paying for large-scale vaccine efforts should, as usual, fall to the feds,” Schumer said. “When there’s an emergency in a state, the federal government picks up the slack.”
Schumer estimates that New York alone would need hundreds of millions of dollars for vaccine distribution and a vaccination campaign.
“We have to make sure that we establish clinics, probably mobile ones. We have to make sure the vaccine is distributed equitably in rich, middle class and poor areas,” Schumer said.
The senator said he spoke with President-elect Joe Biden about the issue.
“I know the president-elect agrees with this. He supports putting the Heroes bill on the floor,” Schumer said. “The need is urgent. We must have Congress come together—House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans—pass the Heroes bill.”
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