CQ News: Senate Passes Stopgap Spending Bill, Speeds it to House
“The Senate Wednesday passed a 10-week continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 9 and avert a partial government shutdown at the end of the week. The chamber voted 72-26 in favor of final passage of the underlying legislative vehicle (HR 5325) for the stopgap spending package, following a series of procedural votes…” (McCrimmon/Shutt, 9/28).

CQ News: Advocates Praise Zika Funding in Continuing Resolution
“…The continuing resolution filed earlier this week by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would fund the government until Dec. 9 and includes $1.1 billion in emergency Zika funds. … The additional money for Zika research was welcome news to advocates who have pushed for additional federal funding to combat the virus…” (Williams, 9/28).

The Hill: Congress approves $1.1B in Zika funds
“House passage of a government funding bill late Wednesday night means that funding for the Zika virus has finally been approved…” (Sullivan, 9/28).

New York Times: Congress Approves Spending Bill, Averting Government Shutdown
“…The stopgap spending bill, which would fund the government through Dec. 9, had been ensnarled in a debate over financing for the lead-tainted water system in Flint, Mich. But an agreement between congressional leaders late Tuesday … appeared to ameliorate Democratic concerns, clearing the way for the Senate to pass the spending bill, 72 to 26. The House followed suit late Wednesday, approving the measure 342 to 85…” (Huetteman, 9/28).

NPR: Congress Ends Spat, Agrees To Fund $1.1 Billion To Combat Zika
“…President Obama asked for $1.9 billion in emergency federal funding back in February to fight Zika. The administration has been using money shifted from other accounts, including money that had been specified for studying and fighting Ebola, and for state-level emergency preparedness, to address the Zika threat…” (Kodjak, 9/28).

Roll Call: House Easily Passes 10-Week Stopgap Spending Bill
“…In addition to continuing fiscal 2016 levels for programs through Dec. 9 — though that level was knocked down by just under half a percent to fit under budget caps — the package also includes $1.1 billion in funding to respond to the Zika virus, $500 million in flood relief for Louisiana and other states, and full fiscal 2017 appropriations for military construction and veterans…” (Mejdrich/McCrimmon, 9/28).

STAT: Congress approves $1.1 billion in Zika funding
“…For several months, Health and Human Services department officials have told lawmakers that the funding for vaccine development at the would be depleted by the end of August; and that they were running out of money transferred from other programs, such as Ebola…” (Kaplan, 9/28).

USA TODAY: Congress approves deal to keep government open, fight Zika
“…The White House issued a statement Wednesday saying that it supports the compromise bill, which President Obama is poised to sign into law no later than Friday…” (Kelly, 9/28).