Kaine Slams Republicans For Playing Politics With Funding To Combat Zika Virus

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after voting against a partisan Republican funding measure that would insufficiently address the spread of the Zika virus: 

“We don’t have any time to waste in addressing the spread of the Zika virus, but that’s exactly what Republicans in the House and Senate have chosen to do with this appropriations package. Rather than focusing on the serious threat Zika poses to families across our country by advancing the bipartisan funding compromise agreed to in the Senate last month, Republicans attached partisan policy ‘riders’ that would limit access to women’s health care clinics – many of which are leading the effort to stem the epidemic - as well as weaken the laws that govern clean water and the safety of pesticides for public health. I urge my Republican colleagues to abandon this partisan distraction and immediately engage in a new round of talks on funding to combat the Zika virus.” 

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