Political Quotes

“I rise to join my colleagues in raising awareness about the Zika virus and the need to pass the President's emergency appropriations request to get ahead of this crisis in the making. Some question the need for this emergency appropriations request. Perhaps those who believe that funding the President's request is a waste feel that we are not at immediate risk, but you have heard my other colleagues talking about how this is an impending crisis. While Zika may not seem like a threat in the United States now because we have not hit peak mosquito season, this head-in-sand mentality is irresponsible. Zika is ravaging South America, which is having its summer right now. Zika is on the move. The mosquito that is the main Zika carrier is already in 13 States, and another mosquito also capable of spreading the Zika virus is in 30 States. As families travel this summer, they will be moving in and out of States and countries impacted by Zika. To my colleagues who aren't worried about the spread of Zika right now, it is time for all of us to wake up. With summer comes mosquitoes--including, of course, the mosquito that carries Zika. We must do all we can to ensure that Zika does not gain a foothold in the United States. Let's act, not react, to this Zika threat. This means funding the President's $1.9 billion request for Zika. Hawaii knows firsthand the impact of vector-borne diseases such as Zika and of the resources and effort it takes to contain an outbreak.…”