The following statement was issued today by House Democrats on the Zika and Military Construction-VA conference committee, Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Rep. José Serrano, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz:
“House Democrats will not sign this partisan conference report.
“Four months ago, the President requested and justified $1.9 billion in emergency funding to mount a robust response to Zika, an urgent public health crisis. This conference report provides an insufficient amount, and offsets a portion of this funding by cutting other critically needed public health resources. Offsetting emergency spending would set a precedent that will hinder our ability to respond to the next public health crisis, natural disaster, or national security event requiring emergency funding.
“This conference report includes language making access to contraceptive services more difficult at home and abroad, a senseless and counterproductive restriction when responding to a virus that can spread through sexual transmission. Furthermore, it would undermine the Clean Water Act and jeopardize our environment by allowing unrestricted use of toxic pesticides near waterways.
“House Democrats remain willing to work in good faith to develop a bipartisan conference report that can be enacted into law."
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
