Frederica Wilson: “Have you ever heard of a travel ban on an American city? Now, we have one in the beautiful boutique district called…”

“Have you ever heard of a travel ban on an American city? Now, we have one in the beautiful boutique district called Wynwood, in the heart of my district. It is time to lift that ban. District 24, Miami, Florida; and the entire State have been besieged by the Zika virus. We are in the epicenter of this growing epidemic and living in fear of the damaging impact a single mosquito bite can have on an unborn fetus. The vibrant, bustling millennial area of Wynwood has the best restaurants, the best trendy art galleries, museums, antique shops, hat stores, and tourist attractions. Tourists flock there from all over the world. Now, with the travel ban in place because of Zika, people are being laid off; businesses are on the verge of closing. In comparison, it is a ghost town. The unborn babies are not the only ones affected by the virus. The economy is suffering immensely. We need your help, Mr. Speaker. Zika is taking a huge bite out of Florida's booming economy and is devastating the tourism industry. Mr. Speaker, please bring a clean Zika bill to the floor with no riders, no poison pills; just a clean bill. The unborn, families, and the businesses of America are depending on you. Zika is an ever- evolving nightmare and we must do that. When this travel ban has been lifted, I am looking forward to saying: Business as usual in Wynwood. ____________________”