House GOP Guts, Passes Zika Bill

The House of Representatives has approved a $622 million funding package to fight the Zika virus, despite warnings from the White House that it would be vetoed. The bill’s passage is only a minor victory for the House, as it will still have to contend with a $1.1 billion Senate measure on the same issue. The Obama administration has already made its discontent with the House bill clear, pushing instead for a full $1.9 billion in emergency spending to combat the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to birth defects. Republicans have come under harsh criticism for what many describe as not acknowledging the extent of the public-health crisis posed by the Zika virus. A total of 46 states now have confirmed cases of Zika.