Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement after voting to pass the FY17 Continuing Resolution, which funds the government until December 9, appropriates military construction and VA spending for the entire 2017 fiscal year including funding for construction at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the Coastal Campus on Coronado, and includes $1.1 billion in emergency Zika funds:

“The funding authorized tonight for Zika will allow the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to study the long-term health implications of birth defects caused by the virus and fund the National Institutes of Health to advance research on diagnostics and vaccines. I am disappointed Congress did not act to address Zika sooner as me and many of my colleagues have urged, but am glad to finally see these resources going where they are needed.

“Tonight’s bill also ensures that military construction projects and the VA will be funded for the next year regardless of what happens in Congress. This is good news for the projects to build new hangars at MCAS Miramar and training facilities for Coronado’s Navy SEALs, which will give our military leaders the resources they need.

“While this continuing resolution avoided a costly government shutdown, I look forward to returning to a more regular budgeting process that gives our military leaders and business community the certainty they need, cuts wasteful spending, and invests in expanding educational and economic opportunity in America.”