On the recordApril 27, 2016
I do appreciate the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) bringing up these issues. We try and talk about these issues up at the Rules Committee. There is always a wide-ranging list of not only issues and ideas, but I certainly know that, as we talk about these, we are all after action on the floor. I don't know the exact answer, but I believe, as it relates to the problem with the Zika virus, that we are dealing with some $600 million. I note that Mrs. Lowey, the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, has come on the floor and I am subject to being corrected by her. But it is my understanding that right now, in an account that would be allowed to be exchanged, some $600 million is left over in that fund that is unspent from the Ebola crisis and that negotiations between our appropriators, the CDC, and other Federal agencies have said: We do recognize from the House perspective that this is a very, very serious issue. We acknowledge that. I have acknowledged that up at the Rules Committee. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) has several times, in the spirit that I appreciated and that was very complimentary to a proper answer, brought this issue up, that this is what he is looking at, that it is an issue in our country. The responses that I continue to, I believe, receive back is that our appropriators, on a very professional basis, have allowed use of the funds to be used for that issue.…
