[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRESS HAS NO ZIKA PREVENTION PLAN

  (Mr. DEUTCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, what will we tell American families when 
their child is born with microcephaly caused by the Zika virus?
  It is not a hypothetical question. Families in Puerto Rico are 
already answering it. Over 276 travel-related cases of Zika have been 
reported in my home State of Florida, 43 cases affecting pregnant 
women.
  In Florida, we are on the front line and we are at risk of local 
outbreaks. The Florida delegation on both sides of the aisle supports 
funding to prepare for and prevent local infections, but we still don't 
have a bill.
  Over the 7-week recess, while Federal, State, and local officials try 
to prepare for Zika without the resources they need, we will need to 
prepare answers for these families.
  Did we do all that we could to prevent an outbreak? Did we follow 
recommendations from scientists and infectious disease experts? Did we 
assure women that they don't need to be afraid to become pregnant in my 
State of Florida?
  I wish we could say that the leadership of this Congress put the 
health and security of American families above partisan politics. I 
hope, and they better hope, that it is not too late.

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