Blumenthal Statement on Federal Zika Funding for Connecticut

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement today regarding an additional $400,000 in federal aid awarded to the Connecticut Department of Public Health to fight Zika:

“This additional aid for Connecticut is welcome and needed, but Congress must return to Washington to approve the full aid needed nationwide to combat the growing Zika epidemic. We are robbing Peter to pay Paul—taking money that could have been used to fight Ebola—and allowing this growing, urgent public health crisis to spiral. Mosquitoes do not know red states from blue, and there should be nothing partisan about fighting this devastating disease. I call on Republican leadership to bring Congress back to Washington immediately to approve the comprehensive aid needed to develop a vaccine and implement effective and comprehensive treatment and prevention programs—including women’s health services,” Blumenthal said.