[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 10062]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 ZIKA VIRUS AND VA-MILCON FUNDING BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me read some headlines.
  ``Senate Democrats block Zika agreement ahead of recess.''
  ``Senate Dems block House Zika funding.''
  That last article goes on to say: ``Senate Democrats . . . blocked a 
critical funding measure needed to combat the spreading Zika virus, a 
move that will now make it impossible for Congress to send legislation 
to President Obama before July 4.''
  Our Democratic friends are working hard to spin this, but families 
don't want excuses, they want action. Yesterday, Senate Democrats 
listened to the demands of a partisan special interest group and turned 
their backs on women's health and fighting Zika. First, they demanded 
congressional action on Zika. Then, in the midst of mosquito season, 
Democrats chose partisan politics over $1.1 billion in critical funds 
to protect pregnant women and babies from Zika--after the Democrats 
voted for the same $1.1 billion funding level just last month.
  Yesterday, Senate Democrats listened to the demands of a partisan 
special interest group and turned their backs on supporting our 
veterans. First, they demanded more funding for veterans. Then, just 
before the Fourth of July, Democrats chose partisan politics over 
significantly increasing resources for veterans' health care.
  In the coming days, Democrats will hear from constituents back home 
who want to know what they are doing to keep them safe from the threat 
of Zika and what they are doing to support our veterans. Democrats will 
have to explain why they chose not to do their job and instead blocked 
funding for the Zika crisis and for our Nation's heroes.
  I have moved to reconsider the legislation, and we will give 
everybody on the other side a chance to think about that during the 
Fourth of July. We will get back to that when we get back.

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