Upton Expects Zika Funding Next Month

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medical-13

Congress could approve funding to fight the Zika virus as soon as next month. Congressman Fred Upton says a previous House effort to approve about $600 million in spending while allowing another $385 million earmarked for other priorities to be reprogrammed was rejected by the Senate. He says the two chambers will be negotiating.

“There is certainly a good majority of Republicans and Democrats that are saying  we need to address this situation,” Upton told WSJM. “The big question is how do we pay for it?”

Upton says the money, whenever it’s approved, would be used for mosquito eradication in Florida, as well as research into a Zika vaccine. He says recent developments around the Miami area have increased the urgency for some action.