[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 80 (Thursday, May 19, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ZIKA RESPONSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2016

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition of H.R. 
5243, the Zika Response Appropriations Act of 2016. It is a tepid 
response to an alarming public health crisis, only providing a small 
fraction of the amount requested by President Obama and public health 
experts.
  The Zika virus poses a severe threat to Americans, especially 
pregnant women. It has been linked to the birth defect microcephaly, 
and even death. As we approach the summer months, the prevalence of 
mosquitoes in our backyards will increase, and more and more Americans 
will become exposed to the virus. We must provide sufficient emergency 
funding to contain the spread and develop a vaccine for this virus.
  Unfortunately, today's bill would only provide approximately $622 
million to fight Zika, less than one-third of what public health 
experts like those at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say is needed. Making 
matters worse, this bill offsets the cost of fighting Zika by taking 
vital resources away from addressing other public health crises.
  Additionally, House Republicans have continued their attack on 
women's access to health care in this bill by incorporating 
restrictions on abortion coverage. It is shameful that anti-choice 
Members have used the urgency of the Zika virus to limit access to a 
woman's constitutionally affirmed right to choose.
  It is dangerous to pretend that Congress has addressed this crisis. 
That illusion creates a false sense of comfort. For these reasons I 
strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and demand appropriate 
funding to guard Americans from this public health crisis.

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