93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
(AP) — President Donald Trump says the urgent $2.5 billion funding request he sent lawmakers will help prepare the U.S. in the event of a coronavirus outbreak.
The Republican president says some of the money will help other nations ill-equipped to prepare for a deadly outbreak. Trump spoke at a business forum in India on Tuesday.
The White House budget office says the funding would be used for vaccine development, treatment and protective equipment.
Democrats say $2.5 billion is not enough.
Coronavirus fears were credited with Monday’s 1,000-plus-point drop in the stock market. The virus has slammed the economy of China, where it originated. But the U.S. has had only 14 cases of the disease.
