Associated Press: Obama wants $1.9B to fight Zika: Where does it stand?
“President Barack Obama’s $1.9 billion request for emergency money to combat the Zika virus has been sitting before Congress for more than two months, and there’s no obvious path forward despite a growing threat in the hot summer months and increasing public anxiety…” (Taylor, 4/28).

CQ News: Zika Emergency Spending Could Be Threatened by Senate Blowup
“A compromise package under negotiation by Senate appropriators that would combat the Zika virus appeared in danger Wednesday as Democrats attacked Republicans anew for not moving fast enough. A joint news conference on the Zika virus with House and Senate Democrats came just an hour after a Senate meltdown over the chamber’s first appropriations bill, which could further complicate plans to pass Zika emergency funding alongside a regular appropriations measure…” (McCrimmon, 4/27).

The Hill: Overnight Healthcare: More trouble for Zika funding
“…The lead negotiator on the funding package, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), said she had not heard from her GOP counterparts on the Senate Appropriations Committee in about a week. She said the radio silence comes after multiple promising conversations about a funding deal…” (Ferris/Sullivan, 4/27).

The Hill: Zika alarm rings out in D.C.
“Dozens of lobbying groups flocked to Capitol Hill in the first three months of 2016 to lobby on Zika amid growing alarm about the spread of the virus. In all, 57 companies, organizations, trade groups, and universities reported advocating on Zika in some way between January and March, including the U.S. Travel Association, the March of Dimes, the National Pest Management Association, GlaxoSmithKline, and Vanderbilt University…” (Wilson, 4/27).

Reuters: House Speaker Ryan: All options open on Zika funding
“House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday said a range of options to provide funds to fight Zika, adding that lawmakers take the threat seriously but have not yet decided the best way to allocate resources to prevent and combat the deadly virus…” (Heavey, 4/27).