President Biden signed a resolution led by the Republican Party on Monday ending the national emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, the White House said.
The resolution passed the House despite nearly 200 House Democrats voting against it after the White House said it was strongly opposed to the measure, though it did not threaten to veto it if the bill passed.
The bill subsequently passed the Senate in a 68-23 bipartisan vote.
The White House had said it was already planning to end the national emergency and public health emergency surrounding COVID-19 on May 11, giving states the go-ahead to begin ending measures enacted under the emergencies.
Experts have said ending the emergency will have “limited impact,” despite a White House warning earlier this year that it would “create far-reaching chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system.”
The resolution will end a number of waivers for the federal health programs Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, yet many of the changes to health care regulations have largely become irrelevant as safety precautions have been relaxed. COVID-19.
The COVID emergency also provided the power for former President Trump and later Biden to pause student loan payments. However, Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan is now being challenged in the Supreme Court, with student loan repayments beginning 60 days after the Supreme Court ruling or 60 days after June 30.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
