President Obama is asking Congress for $1.5 billion to fight the current swine flu outbreak.
In a letter to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the president made the request “at an abundance of caution,” and said the funds should be “provided with maximum flexibility to allow us to address this emerging situation.”
He also suggested the supplementing of anti-viral stockpiles, and assisting international efforts to stem the outbreak could be good uses of the funds. He added that his administration has “carefully been monitoring the situation, coordinating state and local responses, assessing the risk here in the United States and cooperating with international organizations and health officials around the globe.”
Robert Gibbs, Obama’s press secretary, read the letter to reporters at the beginning of Tuesday’s White House press briefing.
From CNN White House Producer Jamie Crawford
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/28/president-asks-congress-for-funds-to-fight-swine-flu/
