The Senate has postponed until Tuesday a vote to advance a legislative deal on government spending and Zika funding after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on Monday.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that Democrats have yet to agree to a deal to fund the government and provide money to fight the Zika virus.
“I’ve been asked a number of times if there has been an agreement,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “And no, we have not, is the answer.”
Republican and Democrats are trading offers on a package to fund the government until Dec. 9 and to provide approximately $1.1 billion to the federal government for combating Zika, a mosquito-transmitted disease spreading in the Southeast.
Reid said the two sides “have made progress” and that he is “encouraged at the headway” made toward a deal, but there is “still work to be done” before a deal is made.
The Senate had been scheduled to vote at 5:30 p.m. to advance the legislative vehicle for the spending package. The sticking point involves language in the bill concerning health clinics in Puerto Rico. Democrats want to ensure clinics on the island that are affiliated with Planned Parenthood, an abortion provider, have access to the Zika funding.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the two sides were working out a deal.
“Republicans stand ready to move forward with this important measure and I would encourage members across the aisle to complete negotiations so we can advance this important measure,” McConnell said.
