The Senate advanced $1.1 billion in new funding to fight the Zika virus, but the legislation faces an uphill climb in the House, where lawmakers are proposing roughly half of that amount.
The Senate approved 68-29 a procedural vote to amend an appropriations bill to provide $1.1 billion. The amount is less than the $1.9 billion President Obama asked for in February.
The Senate voted to essentially cut off debate on the funding amendment and will move to a full vote to approve it. Senators voted down earlier amendments to provide $1.9 billion in new funding and $1.1 billion in funding that would be fully offset by taking from other programs.
New funding was a key objective for Democrats, who have accused Republicans in recent weeks of not doing enough to fight the Zika virus.
It is not clear whether the House will take up the new funding. House appropriators introduced a $622 million package on Monday that was completely offset from other funds.
The House bill takes money from unspent dollars allocated for fighting Ebola, a move Democrats oppose.
So far mosquitoes are not spreading the virus within the continental U.S., although they are spreading Zika in Puerto Rico and more than 50 countries and territories.
Health agencies believe the continental U.S. will see “limited outbreaks” of Zika as the warmer summer months approach. To prepare, Obama asked for $1.9 billion in February to provide funding to states to boost mosquito control programs and give money to clinical trials searching for a Zika vaccine.
