Hogan Meets With Biden To Talk Economic Aid, Coronavirus Vaccines

WASHINGTON, DC — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has asked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for more economic relief and coronavirus vaccines. Hogan voiced his concerns Friday during an Oval Office conference with three other governors and four mayors.

Economic Relief

Biden called the meeting as he mulls a $1.9 trillion economic aid package. Some congressional Republicans think the price tag is too high, but Hogan has often called for more relief.

The Republican governor led Maryland's charge to pass a $1 billion stimulus plan, which he signed into law Monday. Hogan believes his bipartisan push could be an example for Biden and his hesitant counterparts.

"There is no reason why he and Republicans in Congress cannot forge a compromise that addresses the nation’s top priorities in this crisis," Hogan said in a news release after the conference. "I will continue urging Republicans in Congress to be willing to compromise, and I urge the president to lead by finding the common ground where we can all stand together."

If passed, Biden's deal would send $350 billion to state, local and tribal governments. Every state and the District of Columbia would get at least $500 million. Additional money would go to states based on their portion of the nation's total unemployment, the Associated Press reported.

"These are the folks that are on the ground dealing with it every single solitary day," Biden said of the governors and mayors during the public portion of the meeting. "They see the pain, and they see the successes when they occur."

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Coronavirus Vaccines

Hogan also pressed Biden to ramp up production of the coronavirus vaccine. Maryland currently has one of the slowest immunization rollouts in the country.

Residents and lawmakers alike have complained that the state's registration process is inefficient. One Prince George's county council member called Maryland's plan "racially discriminatory."

"We have built the statewide vaccine distribution network needed to vaccinate every Marylander," Hogan said. "We just need the vaccines and the support from the federal government."

Biden announced Thursday that his team would buy 200 million more doses of the coronavirus vaccine. That brings the nation's total to 600 million doses, CBS News explained. Because both currently authorized immunizations require two shots, that is enough to inoculate 300 million Americans.

The United States has a population of about 330 million. The Moderna vaccine is cleared for people 18 and up. Pfizer-BioNTech's shot has approval for those 16 and older.

Other Attendees

These leaders also joined Hogan at the meeting:

• Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
• New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
• Arlington, Texas Mayor Jeff Williams
• Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
• Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
• Miami Mayor Francis Suarez

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell had planned to attend, but Cantrell's team told the Associated Press that her White House coronavirus test came back positive. A second test was negative, the report added.

Maryland Vaccine Information

To see when you'll be eligible for the vaccine, head to this website or read Maryland's plan. Use the state's search engine to find the location and registration form for your closest vaccination clinics.

Check Maryland's immunization progress on its numbers dashboard. Follow the state's infection trends on its data tracker. For more information about the coronavirus vaccine, click here.

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RELATED:

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• Hogan Calls For Unity, MD Leaders Eye Changes After Inauguration
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