A Republican senator said it will be the Democrats’ fault if the Zika virus spreads in the U.S. this summer, since they twice rejected legislation to fund prevention efforts.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said blocking the bill again, “months after saying it was so urgent,” is tantamount to “tying the hands” of those working to prevent outbreaks of the disease that has been linked to significant birth defects. “So the responsibility will be with them for refusing to act in light of the clarion call by public health officials that this is a real public health emergency.”