In The News
1. U.S. Congress Passes Global Food Security Act; Bill Codifies Feed The Future Initiative
Humanosphere: U.S. Congress passes Global Food Security Act
"In a rare act of bipartisanship, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Global Food Security Act (S 1252). It bolsters efforts by the U.S. to eliminate hunger and malnutrition globally by providing backing to existing programs, including the Obama administration's Feed the Future program..." (Murphy, 7/6).
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Casey's global food security bill heading to the White House
"All that U.S. Sen. Bob Casey's global food security bill lacks now is the president's signature. ... The legislation solidifies the country's commitment to existing programs including Feed the Future, a ... program created by the Obama administration in 2009 in an effort to stabilize food prices in impoverished countries by investing in small farms, woman-owned farms, and agricultural education programs in Africa, Asia, and Central America. The measure ensures that Feed the Future and programs like it continue after Mr. Obama leaves office..." (Mauriello, 7/7).
2. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Says Zika Funding Bill Will Be Considered Again; Minority Leader Vows To Block
CQ News: Reid: Obama Would Back $1.1 Billion in Emergency Zika Spending
"Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that President Barack Obama would support $1.1 billion in emergency funding to combat the Zika virus, but declined to say when the administration communicated this to him. 'I'm willing, the president's willing, Patty Murray's willing to take $1.1 billion dollars, the one that passed here,' Reid said following weekly caucus lunches. The Nevada Democrat was referring to the compromise package reached between Murray, D-Wash., and Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., that was added as an amendment on a 68-30 vote to the hybrid Transportation-HUD and Military Construction-VA measure package (HR 2577) in May..." (McCrimmon/Mejdrich, 7/6).
The Hill: Reid warns Dems will block Zika funding again
"Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday warned that Democrats will once again block Zika virus funding in an upcoming redo vote, signaling that lawmakers have made little progress on finding a compromise. 'Republicans are no closer to getting serious about Zika. ... This bad legislation will never pass and will never get a presidential signature,' the Senate Democratic leader said from the Senate floor..." (Carney, 7/6).
POLITICO: HHS spending Zika money slowly, amid big funding battle
"The Obama administration has so far distributed only about one-sixth of the unspent Ebola funding that it diverted to combat the Zika virus, according to administration officials. The White House in April [reprogrammed] $589 million to the Zika virus amid congressional squabbling over approving new emergency funding. Since then, the administration has distributed $112 million, according to HHS figures shared with POLITICO..." (Haberkorn/Everett, 7/6).
Reuters: U.S. Senate leader says will try again to pass Zika bill
"The U.S. Senate will make another attempt to pass a bill dealing with the Zika virus during the current session, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday. 'As I've said before, the Senate will revisit this important issue over the current work period,' McConnell said on the Senate floor. 'We'll give Democrats another opportunity to end their filibuster of funding that's critical to controlling Zika and supporting our veterans'..." (Walsh, 7/6).
3. U.S. House FY17 Labor-HHS-Education Draft Spending Bill Would Create Reserve Fund For Outbreak Response
CQ News: House Spending Draft Would Establish Infectious Disease Fund
"House appropriators proposed creating a reserve fund in an annual spending bill to allow for swift responses to emerging health threats such as the mosquito-borne Zika virus. While that proposal may have bipartisan appeal, other provisions in the fiscal 2017 Labor-HHS-Education draft likely will renew bitter divisions over workplace and gun policies..." (Young, 7/6).
4. Viral Hepatitis Is A Leading Cause Of Death, Disability Worldwide, Study Shows
Agence France-Presse: Hepatitis outstrips AIDS, TB as killer: report
"Virus-caused hepatitis has become a leading cause of death and disability in the world, killing more people in a year than AIDS, tuberculosis, or malaria, a report said Thursday. Deaths from infection, liver disease, and cancer caused by viral hepatitis increased by 63 percent from 890,000 in 1990 to 1.45 million in 2013, according to a review of data collected in 183 countries. By comparison, in 2013 there were 1.3 million deaths from AIDS, 1.4 million from tuberculosis, and 855,000 from malaria, said the report, published in The Lancet..." (7/6).
5. International Red Cross Launches Emergency Appeal For Angolan Yellow Fever Outbreak, Worst In Decades
Thomson Reuters Foundation: Angola battling worst yellow fever outbreak in decades needs help, says Red Cross
"Angola is suffering its worst outbreak of yellow fever in 30 years with 350 deaths since last December, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Wednesday as it launched an emergency appeal for funds..." (Malo, 7/6).
6. Philippines Only Asia-Pacific Nation With Rising Teenage Pregnancy Rate, UNFPA Says
Associated Press: Philippines only country in Asia where teen pregnancy rising
"The Philippines is the only Asia-Pacific country where the rate of teen pregnancies rose over the last two decades and the slow decline of its overall fertility rate may deprive the country of the faster economic growth expected in places that have more working-age people than younger and older dependents, the U.N. Population Fund said Thursday..." (7/7).
7. Traumatic Events Increasing Mental Illness In South Sudan, With ‘Almost Total’ Lack Of Care, Amnesty International Report Says
Thomson Reuters Foundation: Cannibalism, rape, and death: trauma as South Sudan turns five
"Mass killings, rape, torture, abductions, and forced cannibalism have led to an increase in mental illness in South Sudan, with patients routinely housed in prisons due to an 'almost total' absence of mental health care, a rights group said on Wednesday. There are only two practicing psychiatrists for South Sudan's 11 million people, Amnesty International said in a report ahead of the country's fifth anniversary of independence on July 9..." (Migiro, 7/6).