Hirono Calls for Vote on Clean Zika Funding Bill

US Sen. Mazie Hirono. Courtesy photo.

Sens. Mazie K. Hirono and Patty Murray (D-WA) called on Senate Republicans to stop stalling critical federal funding to fight the Zika virus.

President Barack 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 Sen. 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, Sen. Hirono met with Gov. David Ige, Hawaii Director of Health Dr. Virginia Pressler, and top Hawai‘i public health experts to raise awareness of the threat Zika poses to Hawaii families.

Eleven travel-acquired cases of Zika have been reported in Hawai‘i.