Zika Response Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. YOUNG of Iowa. I thank Chairman Rogers for yielding, for his leadership, and for taking this seriously.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Zika Response Appropriations Act. There is no question the Zika crisis presents a serious threat to our Nation's public health and an immediate, impactful response is required. The bill does such.

This important legislation provides funding immediately for the most pressing needs, including care for infants and mothers, vaccine development, and efforts to control the spread of the disease.

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear: this is not the final word on the fight against Zika. The funding level we are discussing today quickly and effectively funds much-need efforts for the current fiscal year, 2016. It is an immediate response, while making progress on regular order as well. And we will fund fiscal year 2017 expenditures, so there will be more.

As has already been said, this bill is fully offset by using leftover funds to combat the Ebola outbreak and any unused administrative funds at the Department of Health and Humans Services.

It is the responsible and thoughtful approach to an issue and mission we all agree on, right, combating Zika?

Some have argued the bill should fully fund the President's request. The fact that repurposed Ebola funds used to offset this bill remain unspent years later shows it is hard to predict how much it will cost to contain an outbreak, and where funds will be needed.

The House is acting quickly and responsibly, as we make repeated requests of the administration to share a detailed plan. Repeatedly, we have gotten incomplete responses. That is troubling.

The administration has no complete plan, but they want us to fund it. That is simply the wrong approach.

Though we pass this bill today, work will continue tomorrow on fully funding an effective and comprehensive plan to stop the Zika virus. We are doing this. As we gather the information, we need to move forward.

This bill responsibly and effectively provides the needed funding where the government is ready now to help those in need.

Mr. Speaker, we can argue about process in this Chamber all night, but that will do nothing to help the women and children facing very real health dangers caused by the Zika virus.

What will help them is passing this critical, targeted, and responsible legislation now, which provides needed funding now, where it can actually be used.

Subcommittee Chairmen Cole and Granger, thank you for your leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source