[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FUNDS FOR ZIKA VIRUS RESEARCH

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of March, I held a 
briefing in Houston with leaders of the health community and our 
research community on the Zika virus. At that time, we had at least one 
case diagnosed in the city of Houston.
  Since that time, we have watched the Centers for Disease Control 
travel to Puerto Rico, and we have seen the potential for a Zika 
epidemic in the United States, first starting in Florida and Texas. 
There are conditions in our particular area that are susceptible to the 
transmission of the Zika virus. Today, the Centers for Disease Control 
has indicated it may be more dangerous than we ever would have 
expected.
  Over 2 months ago, I believe, the President submitted to Congress a 
request for $1.9 billion in an emergency supplemental. All of my 
constituents in the health profession are begging for this supplemental 
to be passed.
  Yesterday I sent out a statement asking for the Speaker and the 
majority leader to bring the supplemental to the floor. It is an 
emergency.
  Having gone through a number of epidemics in our community and in 
this Nation, it is time that we put the American people's interests 
first. It is now the time, Mr. Speaker, to pass the emergency 
supplemental and save lives.

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