The US Senate passed a resolution lifting the state of emergency declared by former President Donald Trump three years ago at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Senate approved the resolution under the Congressional Review Act, which allows it to overturn federal agency rules by a simple majority vote, 68-23.
The administration of President Joe Biden previously announced plans to end the state of emergency in May. But a White House spokesman reportedly said that while the president does not approve of the measure, if it reaches his office, “he will sign it and the administration will continue to work with the agencies to end the national emergency.”
The public health emergency was originally declared in January 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began and has since been extended every three months. But in August last year, the government began to indicate that it plans to allow it to expire in January last year.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has promised to notify states 60 days before the state of emergency expires unless it plans to renew it again in January. The second official said the ministry did not provide such notice.
Source: USA news