Ayotte Statement on Senate's Failure to Advance Key Measures for Zika Response, Service Members and Veterans

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte released the following statement regarding the Senate's failure to advance the Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill or the Department of Defense (DOD) appropriations bill. The bills were blocked by Senate Democrats by votes of 52-46 and 55-43. Each bill required 60 votes to move forward.

"With the risks to our country growing, I am disappointed that the Democrats yet again chose to play political games by blocking votes on key legislation to address the Zika virus, and provide our troops the resources they need to protect our country. Instead of engaging in obstructionist tactics that deprive the American people - including service members, DOD civilians, veterans, and their families - of necessary resources, I urge my Democratic colleagues to allow a vote on these important bills that would improve our response to the Zika virus, provide our brave men and women in uniform the resources they need to defend our country, and support critical Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Pease Air National Guard Base, and the New Hampshire National Guard projects," said Ayotte.

She continued, "This obstructionism has an immediate toll as our Southern states are battling the Zika virus today. I have voted at every single opportunity to allocate resources to fight Zika and will continue to support emergency funding - we've got to set politics aside and find a solution."

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill includes important resources to fight the Zika virus, as well as support for New Hampshire service members and veterans, and critical Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY), Pease Air National Guard Base and New Hampshire National Guard projects. The DOD appropriations bill was voted out of committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 30-0.

This is the 12th time Ayotte has voted in favor of more funding to bolster the response to the Zika virus, including this bill that would provide $1.1 billion in funding. At the beginning of August, Ayotte welcomed the announcement that New Hampshire would receive $200,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a framework to respond to the Zika virus, and support families and children who have been affected.

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