On Thursday, the Senate struck a bipartisan deal regarding the allocation of funds to fight Zika, according to the Washington Post.
The funding package was introduced as an amendment attached to a spending bill that will likely be voted on next week. The package would commit $1.1 billion in federal money to the fight against Zika. The proposal comes with options. Senators will also be able to vote on an option that would fully allocate the White House's $1.9 billion request, or an option backed by the GOP that would use $1.2 billion from an Affordable Care Act program to offset the cost of the $1.1 billion in Zika funds. The proposal is expected to garner widespread bipartisan support in the Senate.
The compromise is sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
"I am very glad that Chairman Blunt and I have been able to work together on an emergency funding bill to quickly respond to the Zika threat. I continue to urge my colleagues to support the President's full request, but I am very encouraged that Democrats and Republicans will be able to come together with a strong step forward to help ensure families in Washington state and across the country are prepared to respond to this emergency," said Sen. Murray.
The underlying spending bill, to which the Zika compromise is attached, is expected to be passed with little opposition in the Senate toward the end of next week. The bill's fate in the House — where contention over Zika funding has been more palpable — is less certain.
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