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 The first test votes on the measures, which would provide at least
$1.1 billion in new funds to deal with the spreading virus, were
expected on Tuesday.
In February, Obama urged Congress to quickly approve $1.9 billion in
emergency funds to deal with prevention and treatment of Zika virus,
which the World Health Organization warns is spreading rapidly in
the Americas.
The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, has been linked to the birth
defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities. It also is
suspected of causing a rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre
syndrome, that can result in paralysis.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest welcomed "any sort of forward
momentum in Congress" while continuing to push for the full $1.9
billion.
"It could not be clearer that Congress needs to take action to help
our states and our local officials fight the Zika virus. That is
critical for health and safety of the American people," Earnest
said.
Florida's senators, Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Marco Rubio, a
Republican, called for the full $1.9 billion, saying $1.1 billion
was inadequate.
They noted that the Florida Department of Health has reported a
total of 112 Zika virus cases, the most of any U.S. state, as the
mosquito season goes into high gear with hotter temperatures.
One proposal now before the Senate would provide Obama with his full
$1.9 billion request for emergency funds. A second one would scale
back Obama's request to $1.1 billion.
These two options would not require spending cuts elsewhere to cover
the Zika costs, Senate aides said.
A third one would take money from Obamacare to pay for $1.1 billion
in Zika response funds.
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Even if the Senate approves one of these proposals, its fate is
uncertain in the House of Representatives, where Republicans are
deeply divided over new Zika funding, according to aides.
Two senior Republican aides said the party's House leadership has
been unable to formulate a plan on Zika legislation and is
preoccupied with internal party strife over Donald Trump becoming
the presumptive presidential nominee, as well as a deadlock over
Puerto Rico debt legislation and a budget blueprint that has been
stuck in the House.
While plans to unveil a new Puerto Rico bill on Wednesday were
canceled, a third senior House Republican aide noted there is
progress on that legislation and that "discussions" on a budget "are
moving forward as well."
Senate backers of each amendment will try to attach their competing
proposals to an unrelated spending bill the Senate started debating
on Thursday.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Timothy Gardner; Editing by Bernard
Orr)
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