Sessions and Congressional Leaders Meet with NIH Director and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Congressman John L. Mica (FL07), Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Congressman Carlos Curbelo (TX32) and Congressional leaders met with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health at a recent NIH event.

"As the threat of this virus continues to spread, I believe we must work together to find a way to advance research and combat this dangerous disease, " said Sessions. "My Florida colleagues Congressman Mica, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, and Congressman Curbelo are facing this disease head on in their home state and I applaud their leadership on this issue."

Dr. Fauci explained that expedited research has enabled the development of a vaccine candidate anticipated to enter Phase II clinical trials by January of 2017.

Congressman Mica, who conducted the first U.S. House Oversight hearing on Zika on February 24th, requested that the Administration speed up the award and distribution of research grants in late July.

Mica said, "This is good news in our fight to address the Zika challenge. Unfortunately, Florida and Puerto Rico have been hit by local transmission. We need to find a cure and treatment, especially for women of childbearing age, who are significantly affected by this mosquito-borne disease."

Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins, working with colleagues at HHS, are leading the national Zika virus research effort. Dr. Fauci assured Members that vaccine trials will proceed on or ahead of schedule. With $1.1 billion approved by Congress this week, this will be sufficient to continue research and to advance targeted work to control the spread of the Zika virus.

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