The Urgent Need to Act on Zika
Nearly 1,400 Americans – including more than 275 pregnant women – are confirmed with Zika cases. Doctors say this virus will impact millions in the Americas by the end of the year. Yet Speaker Ryan and House Republicans have shown the American people that they're not serious about addressing the perilous and lethal threat of Zika.
Last week, the House GOP Conference responded to Zika by inadequately providing far less than what Americans required and health officials requested. Yesterday, the GOP leadership deceitfully masked legislation undermining the Clean Water Act as having something to do with fighting Zika – when in reality, it was just another Republican relentless attack on the Clean Water Act and does nothing to protect Americans from the frightening virus. And as of today, Republicans in the House have five times voted to block meaningful emergency funding to address Zika.
For the reckless GOP Congress, the terrifying threat of Zika is just another shameful opportunity that reveals their Party's values and priorities. But for public health officials and organizations across the United States, this is a serious and urgent matter:
From New York Times:
"…there is a narrow window of opportunity here and its closing. Every day that passes makes it harder to stop Zika." –Dr. Thomas R. Freiden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
From ABC:
Speaking at a panel at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Dr. Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Zika virus remains "pretty concerning" for experts as they learn how it affects pregnant women.
"The reality is one bite, and if you're pregnant, your baby might be harmed," Schuchat said at the panel today. "That's a phenomenal problem."
"We're not starting in a good place. We used to have a lot stronger mosquito control and mosquito surveillance," said Schuchat. "We really have a patchwork nation around mosquito capacity. The local governments are really concerned."
From NBC News:
Congress has been moving slowly on funding to help the U.S. prepare for and fight Zika. President Barack Obama asked for the $1.9 billion in emergency funds in February. That would be new money approved outside the normal appropriations process.
"The president asked for $1.9 billion because we need $1.9 billion," [said Dr. Tony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases]. "He didn't ask for it for a slush fund. We need it. We are now using money that we otherwise would be using for other things."
"We really need the Congress to act quickly, and taking money from the (Ebola) account is not the solution," Fauci said.
From more than 60 national medical and other organizations:
Underfunding Zika prevention efforts will come with a heavy human and economic toll. In addition to experiencing the pain of families with infants born with dreadful preventable birth defects, our nation can expect costs of approximately $10 million in lifetime costs of care for each affected baby.
Our nation has no time to waste…
And even some Republicans are also sounding the alarm.
Rubio yesterday condemned the inadequacies of the House GOP's Zika bill and pleaded with lawmakers start taking the matter seriously.
"I urge the American people to make next week a tough one on those who are home from Congress," Rubio said, referring to the latest in a series of breaks congressional Republicans have scheduled for themselves.
"Every day we delay in getting a bill signed into law puts more Americans at risk…The cost of delay is unacceptably high…We are seeing the effect of this disease in Florida, where mosquito season has already begun."
GOP efforts fall "short in funding the fight against Zika and offers no guarantee that efforts to combat the virus will be adequately supported after September 30 of this year…I remain in strong support of funding the Administration's $1.9 billion Zika response request."
As Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said earlier today:
"Republicans, again, have found time for almost 5 weeks of recess in this spring period – but no time to act on the crisis with the urgency and seriousness it deserves. And now, they're prepared to close down Congress again…"