The White House on Monday played up a statement from the National Governors Association about the Zika virus to prod congressional Republicans to move on the Obama administration’s request for $1.8 billion in emergency funds to combat the mosquito-born virus.
“It’s critical that Congress act swiftly,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday. “We’re hopeful that Republicans will drop their opposition and actually work with Democrats to get this done,” he said.
“The nation is on the threshold of a public-health emergency as it faces the likely spread of the Zika virus,” the governors wrote. “As with all such emergencies, advance planning and preparation is essential to prevent injury and death.”
“A key component to averting infectious disease outbreaks is to prevent incidence levels from reaching a critical ‘tipping point,’ after which there is a rapid increase in the number of infections,” the statement continued. “This is particularly true of the Zika virus.”
The governors called on lawmakers to approve some funds quickly without specifically backing the amount the administration seeks.
“As Congress returns from recess today, the nation’s governors urge the administration and Congress to work together to reach agreement on the appropriate funding levels needed to prepare for and combat the Zika virus,” the statement read. “We also ask they act as expeditiously as possible to ensure those funds are available to states, territories and the public at large.”
