Ted Deutch: “When we left Washington 7 weeks ago, there were 311 Zika cases in Florida, and no local infections. Now there are over…”

“When we left Washington 7 weeks ago, there were 311 Zika cases in Florida, and no local infections. Now there are over 600 cases, including 56 local infections, and the number of cases in pregnant women has doubled. Rather than meeting the serious public health crisis with serious policy, Republican leadership is playing a dangerous game by blocking Zika funding to make a political statement about Planned Parenthood and abortion. We get it. You oppose women exercising their constitutionally protected rights. You would like to live in a world where women don't have access to safe and legal abortion. You want to live in a world where Roe v. Wade is not the law of the land and where women do not have access to contraception. Enough. In the real world, Zika is spread by mosquitoes and Zika spreads through sex. Safe sex means fewer infections, and Planned Parenthood will help in this fight. It is time to protect American families in the real world, where the Constitution protects women's health care rights, and where we are facing a public health crisis from the Zika virus. Mr. Speaker, I urge Republican leaders to listen to anxious Floridians, Democrats and Republicans alike, who want Congress to act for them and not for attempted political gain. ____________________”