Congress’s Responsibility & Zika

Most of us have heard of the illness marked by an unassuming low fever, sometimes accompanied by a rash, that can have a devastating effect on the development of an infant’s brain in utero: the Zika Virus.

The virus originally broke out in the Americas in May 2015, and is primarily spreads through mosquitos and with a small number of cases resulting from sexual contact with an infected partner.

By January 2016 the World Health Organization predicted the illness would spread to all parts of the Americas with the exception of Chile and Canada. In anticipation, the Obama Administration requested a large amount of funding in February to fight Zika, without a thoughtful plan for how the money should be spent.

When Congressional Republicans pushed back, asking for a more thorough strategy before doling out $1.9 billion, the Administration called foul. “If Republicans think that it’s not that important for us to go to great lengths to protect pregnant women and their babies, then they’re certainly entitled to make that case,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest stated.

However, as Health Subcommittee Chairman on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, I would be remiss if I didn't point out the obvious: it is precisely because House Republicans do care about protecting pregnant women and their babies that we care how the Administration spends money on Zika.

The Administration’s spending strategy for Zika was suspiciously vague. Members like myself were concerned that the virus and its effects on the unborn would serve as an excuse to ramp up funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood. Although no federal funding goes to the abortions that Planned Parenthood performs, any additional funding the clinics receive frees up resources for abortions. Like I said, members like myself were wary that fears of children being born with microcephaly could set off a string of increased funding with no strings attached, giving the Administration free rein to increase support to abortion clinics.

It turns out those concerns were well founded. The Senate Democrats thumbed their noses at the package the House passed in June including funding to fight Zika, partly because it neglected to fund to Planned Parenthood. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid fumed, “A narrowly partisan proposal that cuts off women's access to birth control, shortchanges veterans and rescinds Obamacare funds to cover the cost is not a serious response to the threat from the Zika virus." Nevermind that the bill allocated $40 million for community health centers, $6 million for the National Health Service Corps and $95 million to the Social Services Grant Program, which has the ability to fund preventative care to Zika high risk areas.

Therefore, the minority in the Senate denied the funding bill a vote, and that’s where we are today. There’s no denying that the Zika virus is a serious issue, and it needs to be dealt with in a serious manner. Nevertheless, as the wielder of the purse, Congress has a responsibility to use the taxpayers’ money wisely and hold the Administration accountable for the requests it makes.

Perhaps nothing demonstrates this point more clearly than the Administration’s announcement on August 2 that it had suddenly found $385 million it could reallocate to fight Zika. The fact that, when push came to shove, the Administration had at least part of the funds it needed, is disconcerting. Why weren’t these funds “found” months ago? Part of governing wisely is stewarding the people’s money responsibly while working to protect the people. Going forward, that is what we hope to do.

I sincerely hope that effort includes the Senate being able to compromise with the House in September so that we can move forward to fight Zika.

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