Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. (HOUSTON)On Friday May 20 2016
Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Al Green (TX-09) are hosting a press conference on allocating federal funding for the Zika epidemic.
Today May 18 2016
the House of Representatives began consideration of H.R. 5243 the Zika Response Appropriations Act. This legislation would allocate only $622 millionabout a third of the $1.9 billion requested by the Administration and drain the Ebola response fund. The bill would only fund the Department of Health and Human Services response through September 30 2016. Congressmen Gene Green (TX-29) and Al Green (TX-09) delivered a statement opposing H.R. 5243 and urged House members to consider a full-funding alternative.
As of May 11 there were more than 1200 confirmed Zika cases in the continental U.S. and U.S. Territories" The Congressmen said. Robust action is required now to prepare and protect Americans and this bill falls dramatically short of the response this epidemic demands. We cannot shift funding from an ongoing emergency to offset funding for a newer threat. Doing so will only continue the broken cycle of lurching from outbreak to outbreak. Congress has a constitutional and moral duty to protect the health and welfare of our country. Safety should always be first."
While H.R. 5243 is slated for a vote on Thursday Democratic leaders have introduced legislation to appropriate the requested $9.1 billion in emergency response funds. H.R. 5044 the Emergency Supplemental on the Zika Virus Act has garnered support from 90
members of the House of Representatives including Reps. Al Green and Gene Green who is Ranking Member for the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
They continued This public health threat has the potential to affect vulnerable communities like Houston which serves as a hub for international travelers. Crises of this magnitude demand robust multi-year investments in our public health infrastructure vaccine and diagnostic development and transmission control."
WHAT: Press Conference on Federal Zika Funding
WHEN: Friday May 20 2016 at 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: El Centro de Corazon City of Houstons Magnolia Multi-Services Center 7037 Capitol Street Houston TX 77011
