[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 115 (Friday, July 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GUN VIOLENCE AND ZIKA

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                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a 
plague wreaking havoc on our nation . . . a sickness that brings in its 
wake the death of innocent children in communities all across the 
United States . . . mass shootings in our elementary schools, on our 
playgrounds, in our homes, stores, restaurants, and places of work. 
Innocent people are being slaughtered by criminals using military style 
weapons. . . . like the ruthless killer who shot and killed 49 young 
kids out having fun at a disco in my congressional district in Orlando, 
Florida.
  Few countries make it easier than the United States for someone to 
buy an assault weapon to kill their victims in a matter of minutes. The 
horrific massacre in Orlando is only the latest example, and Mr. Mateen 
was able to kill so many people mainly because the assault rifle he was 
using could fire 30-round clips as fast as he could pull the trigger. 
No civilian anywhere should be allowed to have that ability. These 
types of weapons should be reserved only for our brave men and women in 
the military.
  And so I take to the House floor once again, to demand that the House 
majority allow a vote on commonsense gun violence prevention 
legislation. Although not a cure all, we need to do all we can to help 
keep military type assault weapons out of dangerous hands so mass 
killings like the one that took place just last month in my district, 
which was, incidentally, the worst mass shooting in our nation's 
history, never happens again.
  Month after month--Republicans in the House of Representatives have 
refused to increase funding to combat a dangerous public health crisis 
that is already hitting our country, and that has already arrived in my 
State of Florida: Zika virus.
  Along with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Florida 
congressional delegation, I am imploring the House of Representatives 
to consider fully funding efforts to combat this horrible disease. 
Indeed, over 250 people in the State of Florida have been diagnosed 
with Zika, including 43 pregnant women. This virus is not only a threat 
to our health and the health of pregnant mothers, but also to our 
economy and our everyday lives. And shifting funds from one public 
health crisis like Ebola, to another, is absolutely NOT an acceptable 
solution.
  If we do not act immediately, we will see more and more babies born 
with Zika virus, and trying to figure out why Congress did not do more 
to help them. Congress needs to immediately provide the funding 
necessary for mosquito eradication, vaccine research, and our local 
community health centers so they can provide screenings and 
comprehensive health services.

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