After Rubio's Multiple Requests, Obama Administration Finally Agrees to Reprogram Funds to Fight Zika

Press Release

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement today after the Obama Administration's Department of Health and Human Services finally agreed to reprogram existing funds to ensure critical anti-Zika programs do not lapse this month. Rubio also urged the Administration to find more resources that can be used to immediately address this public health crisis.

"Last month I urged President Obama to use all the funds that were already available to fight Zika, and when I met with the CDC Director in Miami last week, I again asked the Administration to reallocate funding so that these critical programs to not lapse later this month. Today's action is long overdue, and the Obama Administration should do even more to find unspent funds that can be redirected toward fighting Zika in Florida.

"As I've said repeatedly, we never should have gotten to this point. Congress should have passed additional funding months ago, and Senate Democrats never should have blocked the bill. I was one of the first Republicans to support President Obama's request for additional funding to fight Zika, and I've supported every anti-Zika bill the U.S. Senate has considered. As soon as Congress reconvenes, we should resolve this issue once and for all. This public health crisis is no place for politics."

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