[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9962]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 ZIKA VIRUS AND VA-MILCON FUNDING BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we all heard Democrats warn that we 
``cannot delay any longer'' on Zika control funding. We have heard them 
warn that ``every day we wait is increasing the risk that we will have 
problems with Zika.'' We have even heard them warn that ``the 
mosquitoes are not going to be on recess.'' But now, as we are about to 
vote on a bicameral compromise that reflects the $1.1 billion funding 
level that Democrats already unanimously supported here in the Senate, 
they are threatening to block the Zika control money.
  The Democratic leader yesterday went so far as to say that his 
Members ``have no choice'' but to oppose it. He and our friends across 
the aisle can try to come up with a line of excuses as to why they are 
blocking funding to address the Zika crisis and blocking support for 
our Nation's veterans, but here is what it all boils down to: This is 
partisan politics.
  They might like to pretend this Zika control measure is ``woefully 
inadequate,'' but Senate Democrats are all on the record supporting 
this level of funding, and the CDC Director has testified that this 
$1.1 billion funding level is sufficient ``to do the things we need to 
do in the immediate term.'' That is the head of the CDC.
  They might like to pretend that the Zika control measure walks back 
clean water protections, but that is false too. It actually contains a 
temporary, targeted compromise to promote mosquito control as long-term 
solutions like a vaccine are being developed.
  They might want to dust off the ``war on women'' playbook, too, but 
this Zika control measure actually provides more resources for women's 
health services through community health centers, public health 
departments, and hospitals.
  It is really puzzling to hear Democrats claim to be advocates for 
women's health measures when they are the ones trying to block this 
Zika legislation and its critical resources to protect women's health. 
The CDC has said: ``Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a 
serious defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain 
defects.''
  So today Democrats have a choice: Continue pushing thinly veiled 
partisan arguments and block the Zika control funding or join with us 
to advance a serious solution and send critical funding to the 
President's desk right now.
  Remember, this legislation is the last chance we have to get Zika 
control funding to the President's desk for weeks. We should pass it to 
protect those especially at risk--pregnant women and babies. We should 
pass it to help prevent the spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne 
illnesses. We should pass it to help keep Americans safer from this 
public health concern in the midst of mosquito season.
  We know that blocking this bill would mean preventing critical anti-
Zika funds from moving one step closer to becoming law. But here is 
what else it would mean: blocking critical funding for our veterans, 
our servicemembers, and their families. These men and women voluntarily 
serve in our Armed Forces in order to protect our country and our 
freedom. They don't ask for much, but we ask so much of them.
  That is why we must meet our commitment to them by passing this 
Veterans and Military Construction funding measure as soon as possible. 
This bill will increase critical resources to help ensure veterans 
receive health care and the health benefits they rely on. It will 
improve quality of life on military bases for soldiers, sailors, 
airmen, marines, and their families. It will support critical national 
security projects such as missile defense. It is a bipartisan measure 
that earned the support of both Democrats and Republicans when it 
passed the Senate. So let's work together today and pass it again.




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