Why I’m issuing a call to action on Zika
This weekend, families will honor all that mothers do as breadwinners, as caregivers, and as leaders in their communities. Congress has a critical opportunity to do the same by coming together to quickly address a growing public health threat many mothers are concerned about: the Zika virus.
There is a lot we still need to learn about Zika, but we know this virus can have tragic impacts on expecting mothers and their babies, and because of that, we can’t wait to act.
As we get closer to the summer, we need to put much-needed emergency resources into controlling mosquitos that carry the Zika virus, as well as raising awareness, expanding access to family planning services, and accelerating development of a vaccine.
For months Democrats have urged Republicans to work with us on President Obama’s 1.9 billion emergency funding proposal, which would support each of these priorities. Unfortunately even with more than 1000 reported cases of Zika in the United States and its three territories, including two in my home state of Washington, Republican leaders have refused to even consider it.
As a mother, a grandmother, and a United States Senator, I know how worrying it is to wonder whether your baby is at risk — and that’s why I am issuing a call to action to those in the House and Senate who prefer partisan bickering to protecting women and families from this frightening virus: let’s get to work.
The choice Congress will make when it comes to Zika is not whether to deal with this virus — but how. We can address it now and help keep children and families from harm, or we can deal with the consequences of inaction. Let’s make the right choice — the one that honors and supports mothers across the country — and let’s do it as soon as possible.
