Senators close to proposal on Zika funds: Republican committee chairmanWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of senators will soon offer a proposal for more funding to fight a Zika outbreak spreading rapidly through the Americas, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran said on Thursday. Democrats and Obama administration officials have urged the Republican-controlled Congress to grant nearly $1.9 billion in emergency funds to combat Zika, a virus borne by mosquitoes that can cause microcephaly, a rare birth defect. But many Republicans have said they need more information from the administration before approving the measure.  In a temporary fix, the White House said earlier this month it would reprogram $589 million of allocated funds, but said this would be insufficient to deal with the threat. Cochran, speaking at an appropriations committee meeting, did not say how much funding would be in the proposal. The Republican said it would supplement the White House reallocation. “We recognize that there is an urgency associated with the threat,” Cochran said. “This proposal will provide new resources ... It is my expectation that this proposal will be offered to an appropriations measure on the Senate floor in the near future.” Senator Barbara Mikulski, the senior Democrat on the panel, said lawmakers must act before July 1. “We are in a race against the clock, we are in a race with the mosquitoes and right now I would say that the mosquitoes are winning.” Zika was first detected in Brazil last year and linked to a spike in the birth defect microcephaly, a condition defined by unusually small heads that can hamper development, as well as the rare autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. U.S. health officials say local outbreaks are possible in the continental United States once the weather warms, particularly in southern states such as Florida. But mosquitoes that carry the virus could spread further north. Cochran said it had been difficult to obtain the information necessary to thoroughly evaluate the Obama administration’s Zika funding request, a complaint also raised by Republicans in the House of Representatives.  Several senators, including Democrat Patty Murray and Republican Roy Blunt, are working on the proposal, Cochran said. Blunt told the panel that he and Murray were largely in agreement and he looked forward to working on the matter over the next few days. “I believe we are closing in on a number that is the right number,” he said, without elaborating. politicsNews
senators close proposal nika funds republican committee chairmanwashington reuters a bipartisan group senators soon offer proposal funding fight nika outbreak spreading rapidly americas senate appropriations committee chairman that cochran said thursday democrats obama administration officials urged congress grant nearly billion emergency funds combat nika virus borne mosquitoes cause microcephaly rare birth defect but many republicans said need information administration approving measure in temporary fix white house said earlier month would program million allocated funds said would insufficient deal threat cochran speaking appropriations committee meeting say much funding would proposal the republican said would supplement white house allocation we recognize urgency associated threat cochran said this proposal provide new resources it expectation proposal offered appropriations measure senate floor near senator barbara mikulski senior democrat panel said lawmakers must act july we race clock race mosquitoes right i would say mosquitoes nika first detected brazil last year linked spike birth defect microcephaly condition defined unusually small heads hamper development well rare autoimmune disorder syndrome adults health officials say local outbreaks possible continental united states weather warms particularly southern states florida but mosquitoes carry virus could spread north cochran said difficult obtain information necessary thoroughly evaluate obama administration nika funding request complaint also raised republicans house representatives several senators including democrat patty murray republican roy blunt working proposal cochran said blunt told panel murray largely agreement looked forward working matter next days i believe closing number right number said without elaboration politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Senators close to proposal on Zika funds: Republican committee chairmanWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of senators will soon offer a proposal for more funding to fight a Zika outbreak spreading rapidly through the Americas, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran said on Thursday. Democrats and Obama administration officials have urged the Republican-controlled Congress to grant nearly $1.9 billion in emergency funds to combat Zika, a virus borne by mosquitoes that can cause microcephaly, a rare birth defect. But many Republicans have said they need more information from the administration before approving the measure.  In a temporary fix, the White House said earlier this month it would reprogram $589 million of allocated funds, but said this would be insufficient to deal with the threat. Cochran, speaking at an appropriations committee meeting, did not say how much funding would be in the proposal. The Republican said it would supplement the White House reallocation. “We recognize that there is an urgency associated with the threat,” Cochran said. “This proposal will provide new resources ... It is my expectation that this proposal will be offered to an appropriations measure on the Senate floor in the near future.” Senator Barbara Mikulski, the senior Democrat on the panel, said lawmakers must act before July 1. “We are in a race against the clock, we are in a race with the mosquitoes and right now I would say that the mosquitoes are winning.” Zika was first detected in Brazil last year and linked to a spike in the birth defect microcephaly, a condition defined by unusually small heads that can hamper development, as well as the rare autoimmune disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. U.S. health officials say local outbreaks are possible in the continental United States once the weather warms, particularly in southern states such as Florida. But mosquitoes that carry the virus could spread further north. Cochran said it had been difficult to obtain the information necessary to thoroughly evaluate the Obama administration’s Zika funding request, a complaint also raised by Republicans in the House of Representatives.  Several senators, including Democrat Patty Murray and Republican Roy Blunt, are working on the proposal, Cochran said. Blunt told the panel that he and Murray were largely in agreement and he looked forward to working on the matter over the next few days. “I believe we are closing in on a number that is the right number,” he said, without elaborating. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: senators close proposal nika funds republican committee chairmanwashington reuters a bipartisan group senators soon offer proposal funding fight nika outbreak spreading rapidly americas senate appropriations committee chairman that cochran said thursday democrats obama administration officials urged congress grant nearly billion emergency funds combat nika virus borne mosquitoes cause microcephaly rare birth defect but many republicans said need information administration approving measure in temporary fix white house said earlier month would program million allocated funds said would insufficient deal threat cochran speaking appropriations committee meeting say much funding would proposal the republican said would supplement white house allocation we recognize urgency associated threat cochran said this proposal provide new resources it expectation proposal offered appropriations measure senate floor near senator barbara mikulski senior democrat panel said lawmakers must act july we race clock race mosquitoes right i would say mosquitoes nika first detected brazil last year linked spike birth defect microcephaly condition defined unusually small heads hamper development well rare autoimmune disorder syndrome adults health officials say local outbreaks possible continental united states weather warms particularly southern states florida but mosquitoes carry virus could spread north cochran said difficult obtain information necessary thoroughly evaluate obama administration nika funding request complaint also raised republicans house representatives several senators including democrat patty murray republican roy blunt working proposal cochran said blunt told panel murray largely agreement looked forward working matter next days i believe closing number right number said without elaboration politicsnews