[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              ZIKA FUNDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to implore Congress 
to take action to fund Zika response efforts in South Florida, 
throughout the country, and all over the world. Seven months have 
passed since the administration made its initial request for $1.9 
billion to combat Zika, a request I supported.
  As of September 7, the State of Florida alone has seen 596 travel-
related cases and 80 Zika infections involving pregnant women. Across 
the United States, thousands more have been infected with the virus.
  Mr. Speaker, Florida has been ground zero for Zika, and we are seeing 
firsthand the devastating impacts it has not only on public health but 
on our economy as well.
  Neighborhoods in Wynwood and Miami Beach and other communities across 
Florida are seeing decreased tourist traffic, and some residents, 
especially pregnant women, are fearful to venture outdoors. My wife and 
I know pregnant women who have moved away from South Florida to protect 
themselves and their unborn babies from a potential Zika infection.
  Over the months of July and August, I met with the director of the 
Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Tom Friedman, as well as other 
government officials, including Senator Rubio, Governor Scott, and my 
Florida colleagues from both parties to discuss the progress of the 
government's response and the importance of funding these efforts long-
term.
  It is imperative that Congress act on Zika legislation as soon as 
possible to provide the CDC and other agencies at the national, State, 
and local levels the tools they need to rid our neighborhoods of this 
disease. Combating Zika is not a Republican or Democrat initiative. It 
should be a national priority.
  The mosquitos carrying this disease will not discriminate between 
congressional lines or infect people from only certain States. All 
Members of Congress from both parties and across the country must 
appreciate the severity of inaction on passing Zika funding 
legislation. Let's put politics aside and get this done for our 
communities and for all Americans.


                    Condemning al-Assad's Brutality

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise again to strongly 
condemn Bashar al-Assad's atrocities against the Syrian people. It has 
been reported that the government has, once again, unleashed barrel 
bombs with chlorine gas in Aleppo as the regime continues its brutal 
siege of that city. Victims of the attack suffered from breathing 
difficulties similar to the symptoms we have seen in the past when the 
government ignored international law by assaulting innocent people with 
chemical weapons.
  This was the second recent chlorine attack that affected Syrians who 
have been cut off from aid and are unable to escape. In spite of 
repeated warnings, the Syrian Government continues to utilize barrel 
bombs filled with chemical weapons as a tool to remain in power.
  This continued disregard for human life and the well-being of Syrians 
underscores why Assad must go and not be allowed to take part in the 
political transition discussions or Syria's future. The death and 
destruction in Syria is one of the greatest blemishes on human history. 
The entire world must do more to put an end to it.


                             Back To School

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the end of the summer marks the 
beginning of the school year and a fresh start for teachers, students, 
and families. As a father of two young students and as a former school 
board member from Miami-Dade County Public Schools and now the husband 
of a teacher, I greatly cherish this time of year and the excitement 
that children feel while preparing to enter the next grade.
  Soon after classes started, I visited Redland Middle, a school in my 
district that has greatly benefited from my amendment to provide 
students learning English an extra year to become proficient before 
test scores count against their teachers and schools. Like all 
students, English language learners must be counted without being 
counted out, and their teachers deserve our support.
  As a proud member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, 
ensuring young people the brightest future possible is a central focus 
of my work in Congress. I wish the students, parents, teachers, support 
staff, and families of Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys much success as 
this new school year gets underway.

                          ____________________