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Congresswoman Frederica Wilson Joins Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic Leaders at Press Conference Calling on GOP Lawmakers to Address Unfinished Business

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson today joined Vice President Joe Biden, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, and House and Senate Democrats at a press event on the steps of the U. S. Capitol to urge Republicans to join with Democrats to address pressing issues. Legislation to address the Zika virus is a top priority.

House Democrats have spent the first two days of their return from an unprecedentedly long district work period pushing for the passage of a clean, bipartisan bill to fund efforts to combat the virus’s spread. The legislation supported by Republican lawmakers includes “poison pills,” that range from restrictions on Planned Parenthood funding to a reversal of the ban on flying Confederate flags in military cemeteries.

“For seven long weeks, Congress punted on what is now a pressing public health issue. The Zika virus is threatening the health of families and unborn children and also is having an adverse economic impact on tourism and businesses in the state of Florida,” Rep. Wilson said. “The rest of the nation is not immune to this devastating virus about which there is so much more to learn. People should not live in fear that one encounter with a mosquito can alter the rest of their lives. Life is too precious and we should not be playing political football with the futures of unborn children or any human life.”

“I will not stop pushing Speaker Paul Ryan to schedule a floor vote on a clean Zika bill. The American public is counting on us,” the congresswoman added. “More important, I have promised my constituents and the businesses in my district that I will stand firmly on the frontline of this battle until adequate funding and resources have been provided to control, contain and defeat this virus.”

The Florida lawmaker on Tuesday also participated in a press conference with Leader Pelosi, Democratic leaders, and health care experts and advocates to call on House Republicans to take urgent action to confront Zika. To hear her remarks, click here.