Congress

The White House said it has been left with “no choice” but to cut back on orders of at-home rapid tests and funding for research and development of new COVID vaccines.

But Abbott has said that, after production resumes, it could take about two months before new formula begins arriving in stores. The company's factory has been closed due to contamination problems.

The effort, which would finance steps like vaccines, treatments and tests, comes as the president and other Democrats have warned the government is running out of money to counter the pandemic.

The Biden administration has asked Congress to allocate $22.5 billion more for pandemic relief. But the funding is stalled and the effects are already being felt.

The White House says the president will veto the bill if it reaches his desk. But GOP lawmakers pushed the measure as the political fight over vaccine mandates deepens.

Congress passed a law last year to shield patients from surprise out-of-network medical charges. But many doctors in the House now say the way the law is to be implemented unfairly favors insurers.

The latest iteration of President Joe Biden’s social-spending package would close the health insurance gap for at least 2.2 million people, including more than 400,000 in Florida, where political opposition has blocked Medicaid expansion.

The bill, unveiled by Florida Rep. Lois Frankel, would allow local governments and private businesses to impose their own COVID rules and ignore state laws.

With new research released last year, Congress mandated a pilot program that will pay to train service dogs and place them in veterans' homes.

More than 2 million adults are uninsured because their states have not accepted Medicaid expansion. Congressional Democrats want to offer them coverage in the bill being debated, but competition to get into that package is fierce.