Veasey Welcomes TX Zika Funding, Urges More Long-Term Funding

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX - Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, released the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced $16 million in new Zika funding would be distributed to 40 states and territories with $720,000 in new funding dedicated to the state of Texas:

“Today’s CDC announcement of over $700,000 in new funding will support our local health officials as they work to actively combat the spread of Zika across the state and to ensure that vulnerable Texas infants and their families are referred to the proper health and social services to monitor their health after confirmed infection. Despite the continued calls for emergency Zika resources from the Obama administration, House Republicans have refused to work across the aisle to set aside the appropriate funding to properly address this public health crisis. With Dallas County recently reporting its 22^nd confirmed Zika case this year and Tarrant County health officials confirming its eighth Zika case, there is no time to waste. House Republicans must follow their Senate counterparts’ lead and work with House Democrats to pass the $1.1 billion bipartisan Zika funding bill that already passed the upper chamber. Especially in light of the first contractions of the virus in Florida, we must work together to make sure that all those infected with the virus are treated properly and we must do all we can to prevent its further spread.”