Senate approves $1.1b in Zika funding as part of stopgap spending bill

The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to keep the federal government running through Dec. 9, including $1.1 billion in long-awaited emergency funding for prevention and treatment of the Zika virus, according to reports.The 72-26 vote came just 2 days before federal agencies were set to run out of money, and represents a break in the months-long stalemate over the issue of funding a response to the Zika virus, which has been confirmed to cause microcephaly and other birth defects. The bill also provides $37 million to fight opioid addiction, and includes funding to provide assistance to Flint, Michigan, to address the lead in its water supply.