Biden threatens to VETO US Senate vote to end COVID national emergency


Biden threatens to VETO Senate vote to end the COVID national emergency because it would be a ‘reckless and costly’ mistake – despite saying the US was heading back to normal at the State of the Union

  • The bill to terminate the declaration under the National Emergencies Act passed the Senate 48-47
  • Three Democrats and two Republicans were absent from the vote 
  • Bill unlikely to pass the House, but Biden promised to veto if it came to his desk
  • In Biden’s State of the Union address this week, the president delivered a message of moving on from Covid-19 


President Biden scoffed at a Senate-passed bill to end the coronavirus national emergency, calling the Republican attempt a ‘reckless and costly mistake.’ 

The bill to terminate the declaration under the National Emergencies Act passed the Senate 48-47, with three Democrats and two Republicans absent from the vote. The national emergency was first enacted in March 2020 under President Trump. 

The White House said that if the bill were to reach the president’s desk. It said that the national emergency declaration is needed for ‘ensuring that necessary supplies are promptly available to respond to the virus and facilitating the delivery of health care.’ 

Absent on the Democrat side for the vote were Sens. Dianne Feinstein, who is mourning the loss of her husband, Alex Padilla, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, and Mark Kelly. Republicans Jim Inhofe, who also recently contracted Covid-19, and Richard Burr were absent from voting. 

In Biden’s State of the Union address this week, the president delivered a message of moving on from Covid-19. 

‘We can end the shutdown of schools and businesses. We have the tools we need. It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again,’ said Biden.

‘People working from home can feel safe to begin to return to the office. We’re doing that here in the federal government. The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person. Our schools are open. Let’s keep it that way. Our kids need to be in school,’ said Biden.

‘And with 75 percent of adult Americans fully vaccinated and hospitalizations down by 77 percent, most Americans can remove their masks, return to work, stay in the classroom and move forward safely,’ he said.

President Biden scoffed at a Senate-passed bill to end the coronavirus national emergency, calling the Republican attempt a 'reckless and costly mistake'

President Biden scoffed at a Senate-passed bill to end the coronavirus national emergency, calling the Republican attempt a ‘reckless and costly mistake’

'After nearly two years of living under this state of emergency, the American people are worn out and yearning to breathe free; they long for their God-given freedoms, and for leaders to take their side,' Sen. Roger Marshall said

‘After nearly two years of living under this state of emergency, the American people are worn out and yearning to breathe free; they long for their God-given freedoms, and for leaders to take their side,’ Sen. Roger Marshall said 

His comments came as last week the Centers for Disease Control drastically eased masking recommendations to suggest that most of the country could safely enter public spaces without a mask. 

The bill is unlikely to pass the House, where Democrats maintain control. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who introduced the bill, used a procedural tactic where a bill can be brought forth for a vote before the full Senate if it is not taken up in committee within two weeks. 

It was yet another recent win for Republicans, who passed two bills to repeal the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers at facilities that receive federal funding and the mandate for large corporations. Neither made it through the House.

‘After nearly two years of living under this state of emergency, the American people are worn out and yearning to breathe free; they long for their God-given freedoms, and for leaders to take their side. There is no doubt, it’s time for our nation to learn to live with COVID,’ Marshall R-Kansas, said in a statement on the bill’s passing. 

‘I am proud my colleagues came together to repeal this emergency declaration and delivered a symbolic victory to our citizens that normalcy is around the corner and that limited government and our constitutional rights still reign supreme. It’s high time to stop talking about restrictions and the unknown. We must chart a new course to victory today that respects the virus and our freedoms.’ 

Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pushed back. ‘The best way to ensure that we keep schools open and cases low is by staying at the ready, and that is what these emergency powers enable us to do,’ the New York Democrat said in a floor speech. 

‘By prematurely terminating the national emergency declaration on COVID, it will be harder to ensure we have enough supplies, enough support for health care workers, and it risks throwing tens of millions of student loan borrowers into needless uncertainty and anxiety.’ 

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