Today on the Senate floor U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the legislation he introduced with U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) allocating $1.1 billion in new federal funding, paid for through corresponding spending cuts, to the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of State to combat the growing threat posed by the Zika virus in Texas and across the country. Downloadable video and audio of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks can be found here, and excerpts are below:
“What I would propose is that we deal with the problem without delay, we appropriate the right amount of money which both Democrats and Republicans, at least in the Appropriations Committee, have agreed is $1.1 billion, but that we take available funds and funds that will be available under the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and we pay for it. “
“But we need to do this responsibly. There’s no reason why we have to put our country deeper in debt to protect ourselves against this virus.”
“We should take this opportunity, Mr. President, tomorrow, to give our public health officials and local officials back home the resources they need to protect our constituents, the American people, against the spread of the Zika virus, but we ought to do so without adding to our mounting debt.”
Sen. Cornyn’s legislation:
- Appropriates $1.1 billion in supplemental funding to the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of State;
- Offsets by cutting $1.2 billion from the Affordable Care Act’s FY 2017 and FY 2018 Prevention and Public Health Fund;
- Includes a provision that would waive the Clean Water Act permit requirement so state and local authorities can more efficiently spray to protect against mosquitos year-round.
(News release from the Office of U.S. Senator John Cornyn)