The U.S. Senate has made progress on a stopgap spending bill that would prevent a partial government shutdown, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Senators on both sides of the aisle have agreed to include in the bill $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus, though they still disagree on whether to include assistance for Flint, Mich., according to the article. The bill is needed to keep the government running beyond Sept. 30, and would keep the government funded through Dec. 9.
The short-term spending bill includes $1.1 billion to research a Zika vaccine and provide for healthcare in various U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico, according to the report. It also includes $500 million for disaster recovery in Louisiana and other states.
But Democrats want the bill to also address the drinking water crisis in Flint, the article states.
The Senate last week passed legislation authorizing a numer of water projects across the U.S. and included assistance for Flint, according to the report. But the House version of the water bill, which Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said the chamber will consider next week, doesn't include funding to address Flint's drinking water.
The Senate is expected to vote on the spending bill Tuesday. The bill will then move on to the House.
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