DeLauro Calls on Republicans to Join Democrats in Responding to the Zika Virus
WASHINGTON, DC (September 7, 2016) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today joined Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Members of Congress, and public health and disability experts to call on Speaker Ryan and House Republicans to take immediate action to respond to the Zika virus.
Click here to watch the full remarks.
Here are the remarks, as delivered:
Thank you so much, Dr. Benjamin. I’m so delighted to be here with everyone. The Zika virus is one of the most critical issues that’s facing the American people today. Yes, it is truly a public health emergency.
The Speaker and the Republican majority have been irresponsible with the health and safety of the lives of thousands of American families. They gaveled us into recess without sufficiently funding the Zika response, despite the mounting number of Zika cases around the country. Recess is now over; they can no longer hide in their districts. We are back, and the first order of business must be funding a robust response to the Zika virus.
We are running out of time, as my colleagues have mentioned—end of the month for CDC and funding, NIH by October 1st. Doctor Fauci said just this morning that they will not be able to move with clinical trials if there is no money by October 1st. What we need to do is to move for a whole year, not month to month. We need a robust funding for this effort. And in fact, between CDC and NIH, $670 million has been reprogrammed. That’s vital resources from cancer research, from HIV, from mental health services, and in effect, yes, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
And just in the last few days, the Food and Drug Administration has called for all blood donations nationwide to be screened for the Zika virus. It is mandatory and this is intensive blood testing that is reserved for the most dangerous infectious diseases. Is this not a crisis? How are the screenings going to be paid for? There is no money for this at the moment. We’ve already reprogrammed $44 million, reprogrammed it from the public health emergency fund that’s from state and local governments. Our State of Connecticut lost $490,000 and now how are you going to ask these local communities to pick up the cost for these efforts?
Just one or two points: Americans are being told to avoid neighborhoods—they’re cordoning off neighborhoods in our country for fear of infection. Women are being told not to get pregnant.
The Wall Street Journal ran an article that said pregnant women are afraid to go outside. Some have decided to move, to go where maybe other families are so that they’re not in any difficult situation. A woman said, “Every time you go out of the house it’s like Russian roulette. I am really scared right now.” A woman in Florida talked about going out in 90 degree weather with a hoodie and with long pants because of fear, and she said, “All it takes is one mosquito bite to change the course of our entire lives.”
My God, who are we and what are we about with this public health emergency in our nation? And we know what the effects are on a child, and the effects on a family of a child who can’t see, or hear, or who may, yes, die. Why? Why can’t we fund what the President has asked for and attack this public health emergency?
It gives me great pleasure now to introduce to you a woman who is head of the Easterseals’ effort, and that’s Katy Neas.