David Price: “We often hear from constituents who are frustrated by Congress' failure to act on many of the most pressing issues…”

“We often hear from constituents who are frustrated by Congress' failure to act on many of the most pressing issues facing our country. Seven weeks ago, as if we were determined to confirm this indictment, Congress adjourned for summer recess with a long list of critical unfinished business. We came nowhere near finishing our appropriations bills, leaving open the question of whether we can even keep the government open past September 30. We failed to pass the most rudimentary gun violence measures, leaving the tragedies of San Bernardino and Orlando unaddressed. And then there was Zika, perhaps the most incredible failure of all. With an epidemic bearing down on us--an epidemic with disastrous human consequences, but with a prescribed course of action that could do much to prevent and mitigate the catastrophe--still, Congress refused to act. Now we are back in session, facing daily headlines about the dangers posed by Zika. The number of Zika travel-related cases in the continental U.S. is increasing, the number of pregnant women infected is growing, and the number of babies being born--or worse, lost--with microcephaly or other Zika-related complications is rising. Increasing numbers of mosquito-borne cases have been reported in Puerto Rico and south Florida. I learned this week that five service members and retirees from Fort Bragg in North Carolina are being treated for Zika.…”