Congresswoman Sheila Jackson: Flooding In Louisiana Is Representative Of The Tropical Conditions That Supports Breeding Of Zika Mosquitoes

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON  D.C.   Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee a Senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee released the following statement today expressing agreement with the statement by Dr. Anthony Fauci Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that the Zika virus poses a significant threat to public health requiring immediate action:

This weekend Dr. Fauci expressed concern that the flooding occurring in Louisiana last week poses a significant to public health because as the flood waters recede the breeding habitats are optimized for the Aedes mosquitoes which are the primary source of local Zika transmission. At this point governmental agencies attempting to respond to the public health emergency have exhausted all funding resources while awaiting action by the House to pass the Senates $1.1 billion Zika Virus emergency supplemental appropriations package. These same concerns were raised in a meeting of the Gulf Coast Zika Virus Task Force held in Houston last week. Congresswoman Jackson Lee: As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security I commend the extraordinary work of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control to stop the spread of the Zika Virus and place the health and safety of the American people first." The Zika Virus Task Force is asking that the State of Texas review the receipt of funds intended for the Zika virus public health response including the $34 million in additional federal funding and that Department of Health and Human Services review all sources of funding that may be provided to offer relief to local jurisdictions like Houston where the virus is likely to generate local mosquito transmission. The situation is too grave for the House congressional leadership to play politics with peoples lives. It is long past time for Speaker Ryan to exercise his authority to reconvene the House back and pass by unanimous consent the Senates $1.1 billion Zika Virus emergency supplemental appropriations package and the Senates Murray-Blunt compromise free of any poison pill provisions. These funds are vital to providing Zika Prevention Kits which include DEET mosquito replant that is proven safe for use by pregnant women and children; eradication of mosquito breeding habitats; public education on the Zika virus and much needed funding to support local and state public health efforts."

Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texass 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime Terrorism Homeland Security and Investigations