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Zika Response and Safety Act

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 3, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care Government Budget and Spending

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Mr. STEWART. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus outbreak a global public health emergency.

The virus is particularly dangerous to pregnant women as it has been linked to serious physical and neurological defects in their unborn children. As the father of six children, I understand how frightening this could be.

Experts fear the virus will spread more widely to the United States, especially with the Olympic Games in Brazil on the horizon. That is why I have introduced the Zika Response and Safety Act, to ensure that key agencies have the resources necessary to combat this growing threat.

In 2014, Congress allocated more than $2 billion to fight Ebola. Much of that money is still unspent. I would like to make some of that funding available to be used to combat the Zika virus.

This virus is a global health threat that requires our immediate attention. I urge my colleagues to support the Zika Response and Safety Act so that we can provide the necessary resources to understand and to prevent the harmful effects from Zika.

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