Political Quotes

“I want to start by expressing my appreciation to all of my colleagues who are joining me on the floor today, and I thank them for all the work they do every day for women and their health care. As of last week, the CDC reported nearly 900 cases of Zika here in the United States and three U.S. territories, including actually two confirmed in my home State of Washington. A recent survey showed that 40 percent of adults in the United States see the Zika virus as the reason to delay starting a family. Like so many of my colleagues, I am hearing from women across my State who are very frightened about this virus. They want to know how to travel safely in light of Zika. They want to know whether they should wait to start their families. Tragically, I am hearing from expectant mothers who are concerned about what this virus could mean for the babies they have on the way. Women and families at home and abroad need Congress to take action against this virus, to help raise awareness about its impact, to expand access to contraception and family planning, to improve vector control, and to accelerate our efforts to find a vaccine. That is why for months Democrats have urged Republicans to come to the table and work with us on making sure we put the needed resources into this fight against Zika. The administration has put forward a strong proposal, but Republicans refused to even consider it.…”