Sheila Jackson Lee: “It is certainly time for Congress to do its job. Just last week we were briefed by the Centers for Disease Control…”

“It is certainly time for Congress to do its job. Just last week we were briefed by the Centers for Disease Control regarding the Zika virus. Earlier today in my congressional district in Houston, one of the infectious disease specialists called Houston and the Gulf region the epicenter of the Zika virus. It is well known that treatment for any child that is infected will cost $10 million. Frankly, the brain is literally destroyed by the virus. So the deformity is the fact that there is no brain functioning in these children. This map indicates the whole Gulf region. That is clearly in the eye of the storm. This map indicates that Houston, among other big cities, is number one as it relates to the Zika virus. So my call today is for us to fully fund the President's emergency supplemental. This is a picture of the mosquito causing these impacts. We discussed today a task force, which I created in my district. Finally, just to leave this information, this is the mosquito. Use DEET. This is a serious matter. We need full funding to combat the Zika virus and save lives. ____________________”