[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11795]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


               ZIKA VIRUS, VETERANS, AND DEFENSE FUNDING

  Mr. McCONNELL. Now on another matter entirely, last night Senate 
Democrats blocked critical funding for veterans, for pregnant mothers 
and babies, and for servicemembers. It is not the first time or even 
the second time they have put partisan politics ahead of the health and 
safety of the American people; it is now the third time. Why Democrats 
would filibuster critical funding for Zika control at a time when cases 
are growing is really inexplicable. Why Democrats would filibuster 
critical funding for defense at a time when threats are growing is 
absolutely inexcusable.
  In case colleagues across the aisle have missed it, here is the 
latest on the spread of Zika: There are now more than 2,700 cases in 
our country. More than 30 of those are likely local mosquito-borne 
cases. Yet, instead of acting with urgency to approve funding to combat 
Zika, Democrats have chosen once again to filibuster it.
  In case colleagues across the aisle have missed this, too, here is 
the latest on the global changes facing us: North Korea continues to 
show signs of aggression with its recent tests of another missile. Iran 
continues to provoke our ships in the Persian Gulf--actions the 
commander of the U.S. Central Command called ``very concerning.'' ISIL 
continues to inspire and call for terror attacks around the globe, from 
a wedding in Turkey, to a church in France, to a nightclub in Orlando. 
Yet, instead of acting with urgency to approve funding to confront 
these threats, Senate Democrats have chosen once again to filibuster 
the Defense bill as well.
  It really makes you scratch your head when the Democratic leader 
boasts how he has led such a cooperative minority. In what sense? 
Democrats have used the filibuster to blow up a bipartisan 
appropriations process for 2 years in a row now--2 years in a row. That 
is not my definition of a cooperative minority. They have bragged 
openly about their filibuster summer strategy. They have filibustered 
to protect executive overreach that even fellow Democrats claimed to 
oppose. They have even filibustered legislation designed to help 
victims of modern-day slavery, if you can believe that. Once again, 
they are filibustering to block funding for Zika control, for veterans, 
and for our men and women in uniform.
  We hear the Democratic leader say he wants his party to do away with 
the filibuster altogether if Democrats win back control of the Senate. 
If he is so concerned about this abuse, maybe he should stop abusing it 
himself. Stop filibustering critical resources for Zika. Stop 
filibustering help for veterans. Stop filibustering the funding for our 
men and women in uniform because they count on us.

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