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Zika Represents A Serious Threat

Floor Speech

Date: July 14, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Operations Health and Health Care

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, there is no disputing it, Zika represents a serious threat to global health and security. It is irresponsible and dangerous that Republicans plan to leave Washington for a 7-week recess without providing the resources to combat this threat.

The Zika virus is spreading explosively throughout the Americas, with active local transmission in 31 countries and territories. More than 3,600 Americans, including more than 600 pregnant women in 45 States, D.C., and three U.S. territories, have already been diagnosed with the Zika virus, and more transmission is expected.

Mr. Speaker, it is not a matter of if we will have local transmission of the Zika virus in the Continental United States, it is a question of when.

Despite that risk, Republicans refuse to provide the resources to address this public health crisis. Instead, they have insisted on saddling potential funding with irrelevant and damaging partisan riders.

Make no mistake about it, without swift action, we are gambling with the health of our Nation. The time is now for Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion and provide the necessary funds to protect individuals across this Nation.

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