Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said Tuesday that he can’t believe Democrats voted down legislation that would fund the Department of Veterans Affairs over their opposition to language providing $1.1 billion to fight the Zika virus.
Senate Democrats rejected the bill and say at least $1.1 billion in new deficit spending is needed, while the House-passed spending bill reallocated existing funds, and provided no new funding.
After the vote, Isakson took to the floor to say it’s “unbelievable” Democrats would reject the bill, given that Democrats have said Zika is a mounting public health crisis.
Shooting down the bill, he said, “is saying to pregnant moms in America, we don’t think the case of the Zika virus is that important. You’re going to have to run the risk yourself.”
“And saying to our veterans who fought and risked their lives for us that we may not fund your healthcare,” he added. “That’s just not the right thing to do.”
The vote leaves Congress almost no chance of getting Zika funding to President Obama’s desk by the July 4 recess. The House is out all week, and the Senate is expected to leave town as usual on Thursday.
