House members Tuesday passed a $108 billion emergency war funding bill which is also gives money to battle swine flu at home. The measure skimmed through on a 226 to 202 vote. Congressman Steve Kagen (D-Appleton), who voted no to an earlier version of the supplemental bill, backed this latest version in part for the $7.7 billion dollars to combat the H1N1.
"We have to prepare for that," says Kagen.
Kagen, who is also physician, says Congress must ensure federal health officials and pharmaceutical companies have the funding they need. The Appleton Democrat says a vaccine must be ready for a predicted spike in cases during flu season this fall.
Wisconsin still ranks as the state with the most confirmed cases of Influenza A. This week, the state's third and fourth swine flu deaths were both children , one in Milwaukee and another in Marathon County.
