DeLauro and Lowey Statement on Zika Supplemental

WASHINGTON, DC (February 18, 2016) — Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, and Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on Republicans urging the Administration to direct Ebola funds to fight the new Zika emergency, rather than taking up a supplemental to confront this significant and growing health crisis:

“Congress appropriated emergency funding to fight Ebola in December 2014 to protect Americans and the rest of the world from a lethal virus, as well as prepare our health care facilities for future threats and rebuild a devastated healthcare infrastructure in affected countries – responsibilities that remain critical to fulfill today. Supplemental funding for Ebola was not enacted as a piggy bank to raid in the event of another health crisis.

“Even those Ebola funds that are currently unobligated have been committed to priorities that protect American citizens, including detecting and preventing future transmissible health threats in developing countries; developing vaccines and therapeutics to treat Ebola; helping states and laboratories in the United States to conduct testing and preparedness training; and continuing to rebuild West Africa’s devastated health care infrastructure.

“The threat of Ebola is not over. The majority’s suggestion to shift unobligated Ebola funds to confront Zika would rob Peter to pay Paul, and it would increase health risks both at home and abroad. It is penny wise and pound foolish to tell our public health professionals they can be prepared to respond to only one life-threatening pandemic at a time.”

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