Staff Reports
Patrick Murphy joined Gwen Graham and more than 120 House Democrats calling on Speaker Paul Ryan to hold a vote on the President’s emergency appropriations request to fight the spread of Zika.
Murphy is a cosponsor of H.R. 5044, legislation to provide $1.9 billion in emergency funding to respond to the Zika virus that reflects the President’s request to Congress earlier this year.
“With over 500 travel-related Zika cases in the United States, the need for immediate action could not be more clear. This is especially true in Florida, which leads the nation with over 100 cases reported,” said Murphy. “While the Florida Congressional delegation has been working together to combat Zika, it is time for the rest of Congress to do the same and vote to provide the full funding necessary to protect Americans from this virus.”
“There have already been more than 100 Zika cases reported in Florida, and as summer approaches, the situation will likely worsen,” Graham said. “Floridians can’t wait any longer — lives are at risk. It’s time for Republicans to quit stalling and end their political games. We must fully fund research, prevention and response efforts to fight this deadly virus.”
In addition to sending today’s letter and cosponsoring H.R. 5044, Murphy also supported the Adding Zika Virus to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program Act that was recently signed into law. Additionally, Murphy joined Curt Clawson to introduce a legislative package that includes a 10 percent research tax credit for any company developing a vaccine for the Zika virus and a $200 million grant program to fight against mosquito-borne diseases. Most recently, Murphy visited Scripps Florida to meet with its Zika research team and met with CDC principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat to discuss ongoing efforts to prevent the virus.
