[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LET'S PASS A CLEAN ZIKA FUNDING BILL

  (Mr. GALLEGO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, 19,000 and counting, that is the number of 
people with confirmed cases of Zika in America so far; 1,800 and 
counting, the number of pregnant women in the U.S. with confirmed cases 
of Zika so far; 17 and counting, the number of babies born with birth 
defects related to the Zika virus so far; 6 months and counting, that 
is how long ago President Obama asked Congress to do its job and 
provide supplemental funding to combat the virus.
  Mr. Speaker, how many more Americans must suffer before the House 
Republicans realize that the health of our families matters more than 
politics? How many more pregnant women must receive the devastating 
news they have contracted the virus before the GOP leadership stops 
playing games with American lives?
  Instead of heeding the pleas of the CDC, public health experts, and 
the medical community, House Republicans revealed their true priorities 
when they decided to hold Zika funding hostage over women's health care 
and the Confederate flag.
  That is just wrong, Mr. Speaker. Let's protect pregnant women. Let's 
save vulnerable infants. Let's pass a clean Zika funding bill.

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