Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I express my appreciation to the Senate that in the funding bill it includes the money for Zika, $1.1 billion that has been so desperately needed, not only assisting local governments and State governments with things such as mosquito control but also starting the trial on the Zika vaccine. The first trial is necessary. There will be a second and larger trial, and, hopefully, at the end of that, we will have a Zika vaccine. This has gotten to the level of being quite uncomfortable. Over 2,000 pregnant women in the continental United States and our territories have the Zika virus. We know from the CDC that for up to 12 percent, it is likely there will be a birth defect. So I want the Senate to know how much I appreciate this. In my own State of Florida, we have been so severely hit now, with 91 of our fellow citizens who are pregnant and have the virus. We say Godspeed to them and hope they will not have babies with birth defects. But now at least the cavalry has arrived and we have the money to proceed with trying to stamp out this Zika virus. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa. ____________________”