Ayotte Urges Passage of Funding for Zika, Military Construction, Veterans

Press Release

Following the Senate's failure to advance the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017, which includes critical funding to fight the Zika virus and other important New Hampshire priorities, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte urged her colleagues to swiftly take up and pass legislation to meet these needs.

"It's sad that Democrats chose to play politics and contrive objections to funding we need to fight Zika, support critical infrastructure and facilities for our military - including important projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Pease Air National Guard Base, and the NH National Guard - and provide services for our veterans and their families," said Senator Ayotte. "Zika is an urgent public health, national security, and economic security threat, and I have repeatedly voted for emergency funding to fight this crisis. We've got to put politics aside on important issues like this, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill."

Today's bill was blocked in a 52-48 vote (60 votes required to advance), despite the fact that Planned Parenthood is not once mentioned in the legislation. The bill provides the same access to health care services as the Obama administration's request by allowing reimbursement to providers (including Planned Parenthood) through public health plans, such as Medicaid. And the bill even goes beyond the administration's request to expand access to services through more funding for Community Health Centers, public health departments, and hospitals in areas most affected by the Zika virus.

Senator Ayotte successfully worked to include key provisions for Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and the New Hampshire National Guard in the National Defense Authorization Act, and these provisions were fully funded in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

Senator Ayotte has supported several initiatives to provide emergency funding to fight the Zika virus, including this legislation which would provide $1.1 billion for Zika response. When added to funds already reprogrammed by the Administration, funds for Zika response will total more than $1.6 billion.

Source