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.
