Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Spat About Planned Parenthood Over, But There's 'Still Work To Be Done' On Funding Bill
The Hill: Planned Parenthood No Longer 'Hangup' Of Spending Deal
Planned Parenthood is no longer at the center of the fight to avert a government shutdown, multiple sources said Monday. Aides from both parties say funding for a Planned Parenthood partner in Puerto Rico is no longer stalling talks on the government's short-term spending bill, though lawmakers have been cautious not to say they’ve reached an official deal. Republicans in both chambers have for months pushed a funding package to fight the Zika virus that would have restricted funding from going to Planned Parenthood partner ProFamilias. (Ferris, 9/19)
Morning Consult: Stopgap Spending Bill Delayed By Zika, Internet, SEC Language
A partisan dispute over $1.1 billion in emergency funding to fight the Zika virus is close to resolved, according to Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and a Democratic leadership aide. The new language, according to the aide, would enable a Planned Parenthood affiliate in Puerto Rico to access federal funding, as Democrats have demanded. Nelson said separately that in return, some of the funding provided for Zika would be offset, but he didn’t know how much. (McIntire, 9/19)
In other news from Capitol Hill —
Politico: House Panel To Vote On Contempt Charges For StemExpress
A House panel will vote Wednesday on whether to begin contempt proceedings against StemExpress, a human tissue procurement company that used to work with Planned Parenthood. The House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives will vote to hold the company and CEO Cate Dyer in contempt of Congress for not complying with subpoenas to turn over documents on its fetal tissue processing, Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) announced Monday evening. The panel would have to vote to send the resolution to the full House — a matter that is unlikely to take place until after the November election. (Haberkorn, 9/19)
