Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
House Passes $1.1B Zika Bill That's Likely To Fail In Senate
The Associated Press: House Passes $1.1B Zika Bill Over Democratic Opposition
The House has passed a $1.1 billion House-Senate measure to combat the Zika virus, but the GOP-drafted measure is a nonstarter with Senate Democrats and the Obama White House. The measure was unveiled late Wednesday and approved by the House early on Thursday morning by a 239-171 vote that broke along party lines. The vote came after Democrats hijacked the House floor for virtually all of Wednesday and well into Thursday, protesting GOP inaction on gun legislation in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando. GOP leaders called the vote abruptly, permitting no debate, and immediately adjourned the House through July 4. (6/23)
The Washington Post: Bipartisan Talks On Zika Virus Break Down Ahead Of July 4 Recess
Democrats abandoned negotiations on Wednesday in part because Republicans insisted that the funding be partially paid for by cuts to the Affordable Care Act — President Obama’s signature domestic achievement — and by shifting more than $100 million from the Ebola emergency fund, according to Democratic aides. With lawmakers headed for the exits on Thursday for a week of July 4th recess, the breakdown could mean that Congress will leave town once again without providing funding for Zika during the height of mosquito season. The virus is linked to severe birth defects in babies of some pregnant women who are infected. (Snell, 6/22)
The New York Times: Zika Deal In Congress Likely To Be Delayed Until After Recess
As the Republican negotiators announced Wednesday evening that they had reached a tentative agreement — which the House approved early Thursday in a 239-171 vote — Democrats lashed out. They said the proposal was layered with numerous unrelated provisions that they would never accept, including an effort to restrict government financing of Planned Parenthood, the women’s health organization. While Democrats did not have any sway over the House-Senate negotiations, Republicans do not have sufficient votes in the Senate to overcome procedural obstacles and approve the agreement on their own. (Herszenhorn, 6/23)
Stat: House Passes Zika Bill In Early Morning Vote Over Democratic Opposition
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers of Kentucky said the agreement was “the product of careful and thorough deliberations between the House and the Senate, and reflects a responsible compromise that can and should be signed into law.” But Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate subcommittee that funds health programs, called it “a hyperpartisan proposal that is more about throwing red meat to the Tea Party than actually tackling this crisis.” (Scott, 6/23)
Politico Pro: Reid: GOP Zika Deal An 'Attack On Women’s Health'
“A narrowly partisan proposal that cuts off women's access to birth control, shortchanges veterans and rescinds Obamacare funds to cover the cost is not a serious response to the threat from the Zika virus,” Reid said in a statement. “In short, Republicans are trying to turn an attempt to protect women's health into an attack on women's health. Their proposal would be comical except this a public health emergency and it deserves urgency.” (Ehley, 6/22)
