Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, took the Senate floor and called on Senate Democrats to stop blocking the VA/Military Construction Appropriations bill, which also includes $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus.
 
WATCH SENATOR TILLIS’ FLOOR SPEECH HERE.
 
“This bill provides critical funding for veterans housing, their disability compensation, suicide hotlines, treatment for PTSD, and for opioid addiction treatment,” said Senator Tillis. “The other provision of the bill has to do with something that's desperately needed in our nation, and it's funding and taking seriously the threat of the Zika virus. We need to work quickly to get a vaccine and make sure we're funding research efforts so we can win the fight against Zika. We stand ready as the Republicans and the majority to provide this funding, but it appears as though because we've reached this political impasse that would put Americans’ health and safety at risk.”
 
“The fact that we're having this discussion, the fact that we can't get it, the fact that time is running out and we have to get it done next week is ridiculous,” added Senator Tillis. “Let's do what we have to do to keep America safe. Let's stop the partisan politics, let's get this bill to the president's desk, and then let's move on to the many other things the American people expect us to tackle while we are in session.”
 
The Senate previously passed the combined Transportation-HUD and Military Construction-VA Appropriations Act by a vote of 89-8, with every Senate Democrat present voting in favor.