CQ News: House Appropriators Push Administration to Use Ebola Funds for Zika
“House Republican appropriators told the Obama administration Thursday that they prefer to tap unused Ebola funding to fight the emerging Zika virus — an idea Obama administration officials had resisted, but are now signaling a willingness to partially accept. Congress would have to send President Barack Obama legislation allowing any transfers. An administration official said Thursday evening that Obama is open to shifting only the amount of unobligated Ebola funds that have not yet been planned to be used for important activities…” (Zanona, 2/18).

The Hill: House rejects Obama’s request for $1.8 billion to fight Zika
“The head of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday turned down the Obama administration’s request for emergency funding to fight the Zika virus, citing a pool of funding leftover from the Ebola virus. Federal health officials had requested $1.8 billion to combat the Zika virus both in the U.S. and abroad. … The GOP’s response to Obama’s funding request is likely to draw fire from Democrats, who have said that Ebola funding should be used to shore up public health systems that would prevent another Ebola-like health scare…” (Ferris, 2/18).