washington u.s. congress head seven-week recess without address gun violence zika virus outbreak press issue amid persistent election-year bicker despite recent gun violence house representatives vote week proposal keep firearms hand people terrorism watch list chamber republican leader kevin mccarthy tell reporters tuesday similarly president barack obama request 1.9 billion fund combat zika virus birth defect cause stall congress since february republicans democrats also odds spend bill keep government function beyond sept. 30 current fiscal year fund expire republicans take control congress vow get things do difficulty election year fail pass budget even consider obama nomination merrick garland fill supreme court vacancy congress however approve bipartisan legislation help puerto rico cripple debt crisis try make progress legislation improve police relations local communities aftermath gun violence barely four days leave start unusually long recess failure vote gun would postpone possible action house least sept. lawmakers return work short stint ahead nov. presidential congressional elections mass shoot orlando dallas gun violence cities propel gun control prominence national rifle association ally congress far stave legislation gun control generally oppose republicans support democrats republicans talk gun bill possibly move congress fall midst campaign season democrats skeptical congress nothing curb gun violence representative xavier becerra california member house democratic leadership tell reporters two side even disagree whether house speaker paul ryan house democratic leader nancy pelosi talk proposal establish special committee study gun violence democrats say pelosi raise issue ryan last week ryan office say never discuss topic anyone republicans house senate sign onto 1.1 billion zika fund bill democrats balk see poison pills attach money would deny fund women healthcare provider plan parenthood ease environmental provision democrats warn current legislation pass senate say tuesday offer accept republican provision senate republicans insist bill alter ryan meanwhile showcased good way agenda flash glossy pamphlet press conference list proposals design lure vote november nothing year legislatively republicans also push new federal probe hillary clinton presumptive democratic presidential nominee use private email secretary state u.s. congress shrug gun zika summer break near