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"We
have to act now," Biden told reporters at the White House.
"There is an overwhelming consensus among economists ... that
this is a unique moment and the cost of inaction is high."
The president later said he supported passing COVID-19 relief
with or without Republican help.
"I support passing COVID relief with support from Republicans,
if we can get it. But the COVID relief has to pass with no ifs,
ands or buts," Biden said.
Biden spoke as Democrats who lead the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives prepared to take the first steps next week
toward delivering fresh assistance to Americans and businesses
reeling from a pandemic that has killed more than 433,000
people.
Congress enacted $4 trillion in COVID-19 relief last year.
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the
sharply divided chamber would begin work on robust legislation
next week, despite misgivings among Republicans and some
Democrats about the size of Biden's proposal.
With the 100-seat Senate split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala
Harris wielding the tie-breaking vote, Democrats are preparing
to use a parliamentary tool called "reconciliation" that would
allow the chamber to approve COVID-19 relief with a simple
majority. Because of Senate rules, legislation usually requires
60 votes to pass in the chamber.
"There is no time for any delays," Biden said on Friday. "We
could end up with 4 million fewer jobs this year ... It could
take a year longer to return to full employment if we don't act
and don't act now."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicted on Thursday that both
chambers of Congress would be ready to move forward through
reconciliation by the end of next week.
(Reporting by Steve Holland and Andrea Shalal; additional
reporting by David Morgan; Editing by David Gregorio and Bill
Berkrot)
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