WASHINGTON (AP) – Top House Republicans said Wednesday that they are increasingly likely to grant a portion of President Barack Obama’s $1.9 billion request to combat the Zika virus. It’s not clear how quickly Congress may act, however, despite the political urgency and a White House pressure campaign.
While they have succeeded in forcing the administration to divert almost $600 million in unspent Ebola funds to fight Zika, Republicans have sat on the White House request, demanding more information and pressuring the administration to free up Ebola money that Obama has promised to help poor nations combat future epidemics.
But the White House says the budgeting maneuver is only a temporary solution and that more money will be needed soon.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky., told reporters that “we’re prepared to try to do a supplemental bill if it’s needed” and that action is likely “before the end of the fiscal year” on Oct. 1. At a hearing later, he acknowledged for the first time that the panel is working on a supplemental spending measure but that he wants more details to supplement the administration’s request, which he said is “almost a slush fund.”
Another senior Republican said additional Zika money most likely wouldn’t come before September at the earliest.