Page 11 - ATA

U.S. NEWS A3
Tuesday 20 September 2016

At Press Time:

Congress struggles to finish
Zika aid, prevent shutdownÂ

A man wearing a homemade mosquito costume, who asked end failed to produce McConnell, R-Ky., post- health providers and hos-
not to be identified, protests the lack of Congressional approval much progress, Senate poned a procedural vote pitals, a step that Repub-
to fund a federal response to the Zika virus, on Capitol Hill in Majority Leader Mitch that had been slated for licans acknowledge was
Washington. Congressional negotiators on Monday pressed to Monday evening. The de- aimed at ensuring Planned
wrap up a must-do spending bill to prevent an election-season lay probably means Con- Parenthood was ineligible
government shutdown and finally provide money to battle the gress won’t wrap up its pre- to receive any funds. A
threat of the Zika virus, Election Day session this proposed solution would
week. The move followed move the money to differ-
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) an earlier delay after talks ent accounts and make
slowed last week. “I’m en- sure Planned Parenthood
couraged by the headway remains eligible to receive
we’ve made,” said Senate it. Another proposal would
Minority Leader Harry Reid, temporarily ease pesticide
D-Nev. “There’s still work to spraying rules from Clean
be done.” The $1 billion- Water Act requirements
plus to fight the mosquito- for permits. Supporters say
borne Zika virus is months the permits are duplicative
overdue. Republicans were since pesticides are gener-
slow to act on Obama’s ally regulated by a differ-
February request and then ent environmental law, but
sparked an imbroglio with the idea is opposed by the
Democrats by restricting administration, which says
new health grants for Puer- it’s an assault on environ-
to Rico to entities like public mental laws.q

ANDREW TAYLOR how many hours long-haul
Associated Press truckers can drive remain
WASHINGTON (AP) — Con- unresolved. A request by
gressional negotiators on Democrats to add mon-
Monday pressed to wrap ey to help the city of Flint,
up a must-do spending bill Michigan, fix its lead-taint-
to prevent an election-sea- ed water system is being
son government shutdown opposed by Republicans
and finally provide money who want it to advance
to battle the threat of the on a separate water proj-
Zika virus, but numerous ects measure. Republican
sticking points remain and Sen. Ted Cruz is pushing
top Senate leaders again for a provision in the bill to
postponed a planned pro- ensure that the U.S. gov-
cedural vote. The stopgap ernment doesn’t relinquish
measure would keep the control of the internet’s
government running past addressing system. The
the end of the budget government is expected
year this month. It’s the to take that step, and Cruz
only measure that has to has been fighting it. “It is
pass before Congress ad- my hope that Congress is
journs for Election Day. As going to act to maintain
such, the talks have been current law and to protect
tricky, with Republicans the internet, keep the inter-
controlling Congress bat- net free,” Cruz told report-
tling Democrats and the ers. “It would be profoundly
Obama administration. harmful to American inter-
bA controversy involving ests and to the free-speech
whether Planned Parent- rights of Americans to give
hood should be eligible for Russia and China and Iran
anti-Zika funding in Puerto greater control over the in-
Rico — which sparked a ternet, and I hope we see
Democratic blockade of a bipartisan consensus to
an earlier measure — ap- protect free speech on-
pears to have been de- line.” Cruz didn’t rule out
fused, lawmakers and holding up the spending
aides say. But unrelated bill, which must be passed
controversies over pesti- and signed into law by
cide regulations, spend- Oct. 1, over the issue.
ing cuts and limitations on After talks over the week-