On Monday, President Barack Obama met with House and Senate leaders from both parties. Among the topics discussed was the hot-button issue of emergency funding to combat the spread of Zika as local transmission continues in Florida, according to Reuters.
President Obama reportedly left the meeting cautiously optimistic Zika funds would be passed as part of a short term legislation package to keep the government running during fiscal year 2017. The temporary spending bill must be passed by the end of the month to avoid federal government shutdowns.
"My hope is that by the time Congress adjourns [on Sept. 30] before the election that we will have an agreement in place to fund the government and that our Zika funding will be taken care of," President Obama told reporters in the Oval Office after the meeting, according to Reuters.
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The prolonged political spat over Zika funds began in February when President Obama called for nearly $2 billion in funding to prepare the nation for the arrival of the Zika virus — a neurologically debilitating, mosquito-borne disease linked to birth defects, most notably microcephaly.
Since the request, Republicans have proposed bills with funds lower than the White House's request that proposed pulling money from other organizations like Planned Parenthood, which has drawn the ire of Democrats. After returning from a seven week recess, federal legislators failed once again to pass a Zika bill on Sept. 6.
According to Wednesday's update from the Florida Department of Health, there have been a total of 799 Zika infections reported in the state, 70 of which occurred via local transmission. In total, there have been 86 Zika infections in Florida involving pregnant women.
More articles on the Zika virus:
Is Florida underreporting extent of Zika spread?
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