The News
Thursday 21 of November 2024

U.S. Senate Approves $1.1 Bln to Fight Zika Virus


Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters in the U.S. Capitol in Washington,photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters in the U.S. Capitol in Washington,photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
The Senate approved $1.1 billion in emergency money one day after the House of Representatives voted $622.1 million financed through cuts to existing programs

WASHINGTON — An election-year fight over addressing the spreading Zika virus intensified in the U.S. Congress as the Senate on Thursday approved $1.1 billion in emergency money one day after the House of Representatives voted $622.1 million financed through cuts to existing programs.

The two chambers now have to reach agreement on a bill before they can send it to President Barack Obama, who in February requested $1.9 billion. The White House has called the House measure “woefully inadequate.”