WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate is slated to vote on three competing plans to battle the Zika virus, with a bipartisan plan that cuts President Barack Obama’s $1.9 billion request down to $1.1 billion having the greatest chance of advancing.
A procedural vote expected Tuesday would pave the way to add funding for the government’s response to Zika to an unrelated spending bill.
Obama requested the funding in February and has been forced to tap unspent 2015 funds from the successful battle against Ebola to finance almost $600 million in anti-Zika efforts. They include research on the virus and Zika-related birth defects, response teams to limit its spread, and helping other countries fight Zika.
The White House and its Democratic allies have been sharply critical of Republicans over delays in providing additional funds.