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Van Hollen Statement on NDAA and Zika Response Appropriations Act

Statement

Date: May 18, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Health and Health Care

Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on House consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and the Zika Response Appropriations Act of 2016:

"The bills we're considering today are indicative of how misplaced priorities and extreme Tea Party ideology are derailing progress on the pressing issues facing our nation.

"The defense bill includes unacceptable budget gimmicks that threaten the security of our troops and make a mockery of the budget process through the manipulation of the OCO war funding account.

"The Zika response legislation woefully underfunds the effort to prevent the spread of this dangerous virus throughout our communities. It creates the dangerous perception that Congress has done its job, when in fact this bill falls far short of what the NIH and CDC say is needed.

"These pieces of legislation don't come close to supporting our troops and national security or the fight against Zika, and I forcefully oppose both."


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