Why hasn't Congress passed a Zika funding bill?
As the Zika virus is reported to be spreading in the United States, public health officials are keen to deploy a mass response. But Congressional gridlock over funding to fight Zika is stalled.
In a 52-48 vote on Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-drafted bill that would have allocated $1.1 billion in emergency funding to fighting Zika. The bill needed 60 votes to pass. Democrats took exception with a provision loosening Environmental Protection Agency restrictions as well as another that prohibited funds from being directed to Planned Parenthood and other women鈥檚 health clinics. After the vote, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) of New York accusing the GOP of 鈥淸taking] Zika hostage鈥� by inserting "poison pills" into the bills on Thursday,
Republicans accused Democrats of playing politics. , Rep. Andy Harris (R) of Maryland called increases in funding to Planned Parenthood unnecessary and said the failed proposal 鈥渁ctively calls for tight monetary oversight to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately鈥�, in contrast to the 鈥渂lank check鈥� for $1.9 billion requested by the Obama administration back in February.
The failed passage of a bill designed as a compromise on an earlier measure drafted in the House left lawmakers without much time to spare. Congress breaks for seven weeks on July 15. In the meantime, health officials are burning up borrowed funds 鈥� the administration has redirected almost $600 million in unspent money approved for spending on the ebola crisis.
Among other appropriations, the Senate bill would have allotted $476 million for mosquito-control programs, and $230 million for the development of a Zika vaccine.
The House鈥檚 version would have provided just $622 million in funding, far short of what the Obama administration had sought. It occasioned a veto threat from the White House, which cited assessments from health experts. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 draw that figure from the clouds,鈥� . 鈥淚t was based on the assessment of our scientists and our experts in terms of what was going to be needed for basic mosquito abatement and vaccine development, and making sure that we've got the proper diagnostic tools.鈥�
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention聽(CDC) says that in the continental US, with all but one brought in by travelers. US territories 鈥� Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Samoa 鈥� have been hardest hit, with over 2,000 cases reported there.聽
In mid-June, CDC director Tom Frieden said that Zika鈥檚 spread was increasing in Puerto Rico and, CNN reported that he聽emphasized that residents in areas of active transmission of the virus should聽use protective measures聽such as DEET repellent and long-sleeve clothing, and to work to reduce mosquito breeding sites, adding that it "takes an entire community" to protect women.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky that the chamber would likely hold another vote on the same Zika funding bill next week. "We'll address this matter again (next week) and hopefully respond...to this pending health care crisis," he said.
