DeLauro Statement on Locally Acquired Cases of the Zika Virus in Florida

WASHINGTON, DC (July 29, 2016) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding news that health officials have officially confirmed that cases of the Zika virus have been locally acquired in Florida.

“Today is the day we all knew would come, that the American people are being bitten by mosquitoes and infected with the Zika virus here on the U.S. mainland. Republicans in Congress have delayed acting on the President's emergency request for months, choosing instead to wait until after Labor Day to deal with this crisis. This is absolutely unacceptable and Republican inaction is leaving women and families at risk. Next year, when the first children with Zika-related microcephaly are born in the U.S., we will ask ourselves, 'Why did we wait?' Republicans will have to answer for that.”

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