Servicemembers' Zika Protection Act of 2016

To mitigate risks of the Zika virus to members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel stationed in or deployed to areas affected by or that may soon be affected by the Zika virus, to authorize the Secretary of Defense to transfer funds to counter or control the Zika virus, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Servicemembers' Zika Protection Act of 2016 2. Mitigation of risks of the Zika virus among members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel (a) Measures To protect servicemembers from the Zika virus (1) In general Funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense under any other provision of law shall be made available for— (A) the deployment of insect repellant and other appropriate measures for members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel stationed in or deployed to areas affected by the Zika virus or areas that may soon be affected by the Zika virus, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, inside and outside the United States; and (B) the treatment for insects at military installations located in areas affected by the Zika virus or areas that may soon be affected by the Zika virus, as determined by the Secretary, inside and outside the United States. (2) Foreign military installations Using existing authorities to work with foreign governments that host United States military and civilian personnel, the Secretary shall provide support as appropriate to those foreign governments to conduct treatment for insects under paragraph (1)(B) at military installations in areas affected by the Zika virus or areas that may soon be affected by the Zika virus, as determined by the Secretary, outside the United States where members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel are stationed. (b) Report and strategy on risk to servicemembers posed by the Zika virus (1) Report Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the risk members of the Armed Forces face of contracting the Zika virus and the mitigation efforts being taken by the Department of Defense in response to such risk. (2) Strategy Not later than 90 days after submitting the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategy to counter the Zika virus should it become a long-term issue to members of the Armed Forces. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Areas affected by the Zika virus The term areas affected by the Zika virus (2) Congressional defense committees The term congressional defense committees 3. Authorization for Secretary of Defense to transfer funds to counter or control the Zika virus Upon a determination by the Secretary of Defense that such action is necessary in the national interest, the Secretary may transfer working capital funds of the Department of Defense, and amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense under any other provision of law, to and among appropriate accounts of the Department in order to provide funds for the following: (1) Operations to counter or control the Zika virus. (2) Research, development, test, and evaluation of medical items related to the Zika virus.

Summary: Servicemembers' Zika Protection Act of 2016 This bill makes Department of Defense (DOD) funds available for: (1) the deployment of insect repellant and other appropriate measures for members of the Armed Forces and DOD civilian personnel stationed in or deployed to areas affected or that may soon be affected by the Zika virus inside and outside the United States, and (2) the treatment for insects at military installations located in such areas. DOD also shall provide support to foreign governments for treatment for insects at foreign military installations in such areas outside the United States where Armed Forces and DOD civilian personnel are stationed. DOD shall submit a strategy to counter Zika should it become a long-term issue to members of the Armed Forces. DOD may transfer funds to and among DOD accounts for: (1) operations to counter or control Zika, and (2) research and testing of Zika-related medical items.