Ryan backs Louisiana flood aid in stopgap spending bill

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Paul Ryan says he supports an immediate infusion of flood aid to Louisiana as part of a temporary government-wide spending bill that's atop the congressional agenda before lawmakers leave Washington for the fall campaign.



The bill also provides more than $1 billion in long-delayed funding to battle the Zika virus. Ryan predicted that negotiations on the measure will be wrapped up this week.



President Barack Obama has heeded calls by Louisiana's governor and congressional delegation and requested $2.6 billion to help Louisiana rebuild from last month's devastating floods. Ryan didn't volunteer how much money he supports.



The flood aid question is one of a handful of unresolved issues involving the stopgap funding bill, which would prevent a shutdown next week and keep the government running through Dec. 9.