Live politics updates: Biden on COVID stimulus: ‘Help is on the way’

a bipartisan, $908 billion stimulus unveiled hours earlier by a bipartisan group of senators in his opening remarks. The package is smaller than the one long sought by congressional Democrats.

“Times are tough but help is on the way,” Biden said.

Though light on details about the contours of a stimulus, the former vice president said there is an “urgent” need to fund states and cities, a Democratic priority included in Tuesday’s bipartisan proposal.

But Biden added a note of caution, suggesting that if a stimulus package emerges before the Jan. 20 inauguration, it would be followed up with additional plans. 

“Any package passed in a lame-duck session is likely to be just a start,” he said.

President Donald Trump and congressional leaders have failed to approve a new round of stimulus to address the nation’s high unemployment rate caused by the pandemic. Biden has pressed lawmakers to approve a deal before his takes office, but even the agreement unveiled Tuesday faces a difficult path on Capitol Hill.

Coronavirus relief:Lawmakers introduce bipartisan COVID-19 aid proposal

Biden used the event to formally unveil his economic team as the country struggles to dig out of the worst recession in a century.

At the forefront of Biden’s team was former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, his pick for Treasury secretary. Other appointees included Neera Tanden, a former aide to Hillary Clinton and chief executive of the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress, to head the Office of Management and Budget.

Yellen said urgent help is needed to repair the economic damage from the pandemic and resulting recession. She said the recession has had a disproportionate impact on those less fortunate, who struggle to put food on the table and pay the rent.

“It’s essential that we move with urgency,” Yellen said.

– John Fritze and Bart Jansen

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