Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on the Department of Health and Human Services transferring funding to avoid a halt in the Zika vaccine development process:
"In its continued failure to enact emergency Zika appropriations, the Republican majority is playing Russian Roulette with the health of the American people. This failure has forced the Administration to divert funding from other critical priorities, including cancer, Alzheimer's, HIV/AIDS, mental health, viral hepatitis, and home energy assistance for low-income Americans.
"Robbing Peter to pay Paul is damaging and immoral, and it must stop.
"Instead of playing political games, Speaker Ryan must immediately reconvene the House to pass the bipartisan Zika funding bill that the Senate passed 89-8 three months ago."
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
