WASHINGTON – A bill designed to help combat the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses such as the Zika virus has passed a committee test on Wednesday. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee unanimously approved the bill.
The bill, titled Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, would authorize increased support for state and local mosquito control work, and reauthorize laboratory grants that support health departments in surveillance for infectious diseases.
The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and co-sponsored by Florida Sens. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Marco Rubio, a Republican, and North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr.
In a press release Sen. King noted that the bill would give states and communities more tools to control mosquitoes.
Source: Associated Press