Schatz Applauds the President’s $1.8 Billion Zika Funding Proposal

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, commended the administration’s proposal of $1.8 billion to fight the Zika virus.

“I’m pleased that the administration is aggressively responding to the Zika outbreaks and is working to protect Americans from this devastating virus,” said Senator Schatz.  “We should quickly approve these funds, which will give our communities, states, and health professionals at home and around the world the resources needed to address Zika.”

The president’s proposal will go towards expanding mosquito control, speeding up research and testing of vaccines and new diagnostics, and funding education and outreach to health care providers and women who are or may become pregnant, among other activities.

Last week, Senator Schatz joined 45 Senate Democrats and sent a letter to President Obama urging a coordinated interagency response plan to address the spread of the Zika virus both at home and abroad.  The letter called for the president to take a number of new actions, including taking the Zika virus into consideration in his FY17 budget request.

Zika, a mosquito-borne virus, has been spreading throughout the Americas and has been linked with neurological ailments which can cause paralysis and devastating birth defects. The Centers for Disease Control has issued its highest alert level for Zika, while the World Health Organization has declared it a “global health emergency.”