Political Quotes

“As summer approaches, the CDC confirmed 1,204 cases, including more than 100 pregnant women in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories as of May 11. So far all of the continental U.S. cases are associated with travel, but experts expect the first locally transmitted cases in a matter of weeks. The scientific community has concluded, after careful review, that Zika can cause microcephaly resulting in miscarriage and other severe fetal brain defects, as well as adult neurological disorders. When the House Republican leadership failed to act, the administration was forced to redirect $589 million, mostly from emergency Ebola balances, to fund immediate efforts to respond to Zika. According to Dr. Fauci at the National Institutes of Health, the redirected funds allowed the United States to start work. But we cannot finish what we need to do. The Republican bill does not allow us to finish the job either. It provides $622 million, less than a third of what is needed. The administration requested $743 million for State and local efforts to reduce mosquito populations as well as conduct public health studies of the Zika virus. The House Republican bill provides $120 million, plus an additional $50 million for block grants.…”