[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FUNDING TO COMBAT THE ZIKA VIRUS

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
disappointment that Congress left in mid-July without adequately 
funding the Zika crisis.
  The number of confirmed Zika cases across the United States and 
territories quadrupled while Congress was on recess. The number of 
cases rose from 4,222 in mid-July to 16,822 last week. Zika poses a 
grave, unprecedented threat to public health.
  It is time for Congress to fulfill its constitutional and moral duty 
to protect the health and welfare of our country. It is an appalling 
disservice to the American people that we have not yet provided 
resources to combat this virus that already is having real effects on 
our families.
  We have delayed funds for medical research and help to our local 
communities. The majority's reluctance is putting the health and lives 
of the American people at risk, and inaction now is only more costly in 
the long run.
  I sincerely hope we can return to work with a renewed sense of 
responsibility for health and welfare of our Nation and approve the 
funds necessary to prevent Zika spreading in the country. We need our 
communities safe. Pass a clean Zika funding bill.

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