The White House announced on March 30 that President Joe Biden, despite being opposed to the measure, will sign into law H.J. Res 7, which would terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration under the National Emergencies Act. The resolution passed the House by a vote of 229-197 on Feb. 1 and passed the Senate on March 29 by a vote of 68-23.
The declaration, which is issued by the president, is separate from the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration issued every 90 days through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and which HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed for the 12th time on Jan. 11. The HHS has previously stated that it would provide states and territories with a 60-day notice prior to the end of that PHE declaration [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 13].
Biden announced in January that both the national declaration and the HHS PHE would officially end on May 11. The president has not indicated when he plans to sign the measure terminating the national declaration.