Sheila Jackson Lee: “At the beginning of March, I held a briefing in Houston with leaders of the health community and our research community…”

“At the beginning of March, I held a briefing in Houston with leaders of the health community and our research community on the Zika virus. At that time, we had at least one case diagnosed in the city of Houston. Since that time, we have watched the Centers for Disease Control travel to Puerto Rico, and we have seen the potential for a Zika epidemic in the United States, first starting in Florida and Texas. There are conditions in our particular area that are susceptible to the transmission of the Zika virus. Today, the Centers for Disease Control has indicated it may be more dangerous than we ever would have expected. Over 2 months ago, I believe, the President submitted to Congress a request for $1.9 billion in an emergency supplemental. All of my constituents in the health profession are begging for this supplemental to be passed. Yesterday I sent out a statement asking for the Speaker and the majority leader to bring the supplemental to the floor. It is an emergency. Having gone through a number of epidemics in our community and in this Nation, it is time that we put the American people's interests first. It is now the time, Mr. Speaker, to pass the emergency supplemental and save lives. ____________________”