‘A Fair Proposal’

DEMS: ‘We Want A Clean CR, A Clean Zika Bill, Period’

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): ‘We want a clean CR, a clean Zika bill, period’ “‘We want a clean CR, a clean Zika bill, period,’ said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Senate Democrat.” (“Senate Advances Budget Deal That Doesn't Exist Yet,” Politico, 9/20/16)

SEN. SCHUMER: ‘The Whole Zika Issue Has Been Resolved’

SEN. DURBIN: ‘Enough Of The Political Games’

SEN. CHARLES E. SCHUMER (D-NY): “The whole Zika issue has been resolved...” (“Negotiations Over Stop-Gap Spending Plan Drag Into Tuesday, Zika Issues Resolved,” The Washington Post, 9/19/16)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): “Enough of the political games. Pass the clean bill funding Zika.” (Sen. Durbin, Congressional Record, S.5428, 9/08/16)

• “[Sen. Bill] Nelson's office issued a statement … saying he would support McConnell's bill because ‘my priority is the people of Florida,’ where the Zika virus is a threat. ‘This bill provides a clean $1.1 billion to help stop the spread of Zika virus with no political riders, and I will support it.’” (“Stopgap Talks Still Mired As Democrats Slam Senate GOP's Plan,” Roll Call, 9/22/16)

• SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ (D-HI): “We appear to have a deal on Zika that will help us to address this dangerous disease. This is especially important for Hawai‘i because we have one of the mosquitoes that carries the virus... It’s time we finally move forward with providing the CDC with the resources it needs.” (Sen. Schatz, Press Release, 9/22/16)

SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D-CO): “With the rising threat of the Zika virus, dedicated funding is needed now more than ever to contain the spread and find a cure... This global public health crisis deserves an immediate vote on a clean funding bill.” (Sen. Bennet, Letter to Sen. McConnell, Speaker Ryan, Sen. Reid, and Rep. Pelosi, 8/01/2016)

SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MD): “Let's stop playing politics with this and let's bring forward clean funding for the Zika virus.” (Sen. Cardin, Congressional Record, S. 5238, 9/06/16)

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): “…Zika. We must act now by passing a clean supplemental spending bill...” (Sen. Hirono, Congressional Record, S.4597, 6/28/16)

SPEAKER RYAN: ‘We're Bringing The WRDA Bill Up’ This Week

“The embattled residents of Flint, Mich., who have endured lead-tainted water flowing from their taps for more than two years, would be eligible for $100 million in federal funds to replace corroded pipes — and potentially much more — under a bill that passed the Senate on Thursday. The Flint aid was included in a broader $10 billion water resources bill that passed on a 95-to-3 vote and represents a breakthrough in months of negotiations…” (“Senate Clears Flint Aid Package…” Washington Post, 9/15/16)

• “[Sen. Gary] Peters has been working with fellow Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow to find an avenue to help Flint, and the two believe the so-called Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, is the right one.” (“Flint Aid Could Pass Senate, But Faces Uncertain Future,” Roll Call, 9/12/16)

SEN. JIM INHOFE (R-OK): “On September 15, when the Senate passed WRDA 2016 with an overwhelming vote of 95 to 3, I pledged to not let politics, or any lame-duck session, jeopardize the emergency relief in WRDA 2016 and to get this signed into law by the end of this year. I have been standing with my colleagues in Michigan from the beginning in support of our fiscally responsible solutions to help not only the Flint community, but also other communities facing drinking water emergencies and water infrastructure challenges, solutions that a Republican-majority Senate has supported strongly. WRDA 2016 not only provides the critical support Flint needs now but it also will help to prevent future water and wastewater infrastructure crises across the nation. WRDA 2016 is the right vehicle, and I am committed to getting this bill to the president’s desk.” (“Inhofe: My Commitment To Flint And All Communities Facing A Water Infrastructure Crisis,” Huffington Post, 9/23/16)

• INHOFE: “I know there are some members in the House that have said they are going to make it difficult on Chairman Shuster to pass a WRDA bill, because it doesn’t have the Senate provisions that address the water crisis across our nation that involves failing and outdated critical infrastructure and the situation in Flint. I promise to address this in conference. I’ve been standing with my colleagues in Michigan from the beginning on our fiscally responsible solution to help the Flint community, and will continue to do so as we enter conference.” (Sen. Inhofe, Congressional Record, S.5741, 9/15/16)

HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN (R-WI): “Well, I would say there's two separate issues there, one on Flint... [T]hat is an issue that should be dealt with in the WRDA bill. We're bringing the WRDA bill up next week. That is a water resources bill; that's where that belongs, that conversation.” (Speaker Ryan, Press Conference, 9/22/2016)