Hirono, Senate Democrats Call for Vote on Clean Zika Funding Bill

Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Patty Murray (D-WA) called on Senate Republicans to stop stalling critical federal funding to fight the Zika virus. President Obama first sent an emergency funding request to Congress to address Zika in February.

“It’s been nearly four months since the Senate overwhelmingly passed a compromise measure that would fund the fight against Zika,” said Senator Hirono. “Since then, it has become clear that Congressional Republicans would rather limit access to family planning services- which puts millions more women at risk of contracting Zika and giving birth to a child with microcephaly- than ensure that we are fully prepared to combat this disease.”

Earlier this year, Senator Hirono met with Governor David Ige, Hawaii Director of Health Dr. Virginia Pressler, and top Hawaii public health experts to raise awareness of the threat Zika poses to Hawaii families. Eleven travel-acquired cases of Zika have been reported in Hawaii.