News Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Health Subcommittee – issued the following statement after Senate Democrats rejected advancement of the MilCon-VA/Zika Appropriations bill:

“The threat the Zika virus poses to Kansans and Americans – particularly pregnant women and newborn babies – must be taken very seriously. Providing our experts with the resources they need to keep us healthy is too important to play partisan politics. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to do that today.

“This failure also jeopardizes real steps forward to support veterans and prioritize critical military construction projects like those at McConnell Air Force Base and Fort Leavenworth. Refusing to support this legislation means reduced readiness for our military, an inability to meet the critical needs of veterans and putting the health of mothers-to-be and their children at risk.”

Background

  • The $1.1 billion in funding provided by this legislation to battle Zika would fund immediate Zika-related needs.
  • In fact, CDC Director Frieden acknowledges it is sufficient to respond to the crisis.
  • The $1.1 billion funding level was agreed to in May, with every Senate Democrat voting in favor.
  • The legislation includes record levels of funding to improve access to quality care for veterans.

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