WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) commented Tuesday after voting for legislation that would provide an additional $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus by shifting money from lower priority federal programs. The legislation was sponsored by Johnson and by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Johnson said this afterward:

“While I fully support prioritized funding to combat the real and spreading biological threat of the Zika virus, we can, and should, offset that spending by repurposing funds from lower priority programs.  I offered and supported two separate pieces of legislation that did just that.  Unfortunately, the Senate intends to fund these important efforts by further mortgaging our children's future.  As a result, I could not support that irresponsible method of funding."

Johnson voted “no” on amendments that did not take a fiscally responsible approach.

Johnson and Cornyn’s legislation would have:

• Appropriated $1.1 billion in supplemental funding to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State.
• Funded the appropriation by cutting $1.1 billion from the Obamacare Prevention and Public Health Fund in fiscal years 2017 and 2018.
• Cut through federal regulations that prevent state and local authorities from effectively spraying against mosquitos year-round.

Johnson’s legislation introduced in February of this year would have:

• Provided flexibility to use existing, unused funds that had been set aside for combating the largely controlled Ebola outbreak of 2014.
• Lifted restrictions on the funds to allow it to be spent for response and preparedness related to the Zika virus.

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