[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        ZIKA VECTOR CONTROL ACT

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                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2016

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 
897, the so-called ``Zika Vector Control Act.''
  This legislation, which has appeared four times before this chamber 
in the past two years, in no way addresses the serious mosquito control 
or Zika virus concerns confronting communities I have the honor of 
representing in Houston and Harris County, Texas.
  Instead, this bill would create a loophole in the Clean Water Act to 
exempt pesticide spraying from current permitting requirements that 
most mosquito control districts and state agencies already have, 
including Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services.
  I hosted an event with my colleague, Congressman Al Green, last 
Friday at El Centro de Corazon health clinic in Houston's East End, 
where we urged Congress to fully fund the Administration's request for 
$1.9 billion in emergency funding to combat Zika. Houston and Harris 
County are particularly exposed to Zika due to our region's climate, 
many bayous, and the presence of the Aedes mosquito species, the 
carrier of the Zika virus.
  For the people of Houston and Harris County, this emergency finding 
is essential to protect our nation's fourth largest city from a Zika 
outbreak that has devastated countless communities in Latin America.
  I urge the House Majority to abstain from using the fears over Zika 
as a Trojan horse for legislation that will create unnecessary 
loopholes in our environmental laws, and to bring to the floor H.R. 
5044, emergency appropriations for $1.9 billion to combat Zika, for a 
vote as soon as possible.

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