Associated Press: Congress struggles to finish Zika aid, prevent shutdown
“Congressional negotiators on Monday pressed to wrap up a must-do spending bill to prevent an election-season government shutdown and finally provide money to battle the Zika virus, but numerous sticking points remain and top Senate leaders again postponed a planned procedural vote…” (Taylor/Jalonick, 9/19).

POLITICO: McConnell punts budget vote to buy time for deal
“…The key vote is now scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, McConnell said — giving negotiators more time to hammer out the fine print of the continuing resolution that will keep the federal government funded until Dec. 9. For now, however, sources said negotiators have settled on language that would provide money to battle the Zika virus while allowing Planned Parenthood’s partner clinic in Puerto Rico to access the federal grants — a provision that had been a major point of contention…” (Kim/Everett, 9/19).

Washington Post: Negotiations over stop-gap spending plan drag into Tuesday, Zika issues resolved
“…Several Democratic aides said Monday that an agreement has been struck to carefully re-route the funds so that family planning clinics could access money to help prevent the spread of Zika through sexual activity. ‘The whole Zika issue has been resolved and they are dropping all of their riders,’ said Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.). There remains disagreement, however, over what government funding should be cut to offset the cost of providing $1.1 billion in Zika funding…” (Snell, 9/19).