Saying “the lives of thousands of infants are potentially at risk,” U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan announced Wednesday he plans to vote against an “inadequate” proposal by House Republicans to combat the Zika virus.
The House is moving toward a vote Thursday on a $622 million plan to tackle the Zika threat. President Barack Obama has asked for $1.9 billion and is warning he may veto the House bill. The Senate is pushing a $1.1. billion Zika package.
Buchanan, R-Longboat key, backs Obama’s proposal.
The House plan “is far less than what the Centers for Disease Control said is needed to confront the Zika threat,” Buchanan said in a press release.
The Zika virus has become an epidemic in parts of Latin America. It can be transmitted by mosquitos and is especially worrisome for pregnant women because of the potential for several problems with fetal development. Florida is the epicenter of the emerging threat in the United States.
“There’s no excuse for failure to act responsibly and swiftly,” Buchanan said.
