Manchin: ‘We shouldn’t be worried about’ how much to spend on Coronavirus response

As Congress debates how much to spend on fighting the coronavirus outbreak, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said the federal government “shouldn’t be worried about” the amount of federal funds to dedicate to respond to the outbreak.

The Trump administration requested $2.5 billion to combat the spread of coronavirus, which would include moving about $535 million that’s dedicated to Ebola preparedness funding.

Other Democratic lawmakers, including Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, said Trump’s request doesn’t go far enough.

Manchin was asked how much he thinks Congress should spend.

“The amount we shouldn’t be worried about right now if we’re facing a crisis — that’s the thing. We should be prepared for a crisis and be able to manage it and this meeting here is about that,” Manchin said after a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Tuesday about the Department of Health and Human Services' fiscal 2021 budget.

Manchin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was also asked if he thinks the U.S. should restrict all travel from China until the coronavirus is under control.

“I’m understanding that we have a grip on that," he replied. "Homeland Security was telling us in the period this morning saying they were doing that and most of the transit hubs up in the Alaska -- they’re on top of that one.

“We should be preparing to take care of Americans here in our land and we’re not. We don’t have the necessary equipment and it’s not even manufactured here to take care of all Americans so that’s what they have to face now."