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Zika Money War: Florida gets 4.5% of funding, has nearly half of US cases

Posted at 8:55 PM, Aug 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-05 16:31:30-04
As the Center for Disease Control spreads the green, local lawmakers are seeing red.
 
"It's not enough... It is simply not enough," said frustrated Congresswoman Kathy Castor.
 
In past 24 hours, the CDC awarded $16 million to 40 states. Florida received $720,000, despite having around half the cases in the United States.
 
 
"Congress should [go] back to Washington to pass an emergency funding bill to develop vaccines and get help to our local communities, otherwise the virus is going to spread," warns Castor.
 
Democratic Representative Castor said it should have never come to this. Congress had the chance to pass a $1.1 billion bill in June, but instead ran into gridlock -- then went on vacation.
 
"The bill that the House republicans passed at 3 a.m. was loaded with poison pills," says Castor.
 
Poison pills refers to things like restricting Planned Parenthood from fighting Zika, which can be transmitted sexually.
 
"We are adjourned until after Labor Day, yet we have this growing public health crisis," Castor pointed out.
 
Castor, along with the rest of Florida's Congressional Delegation which includes Democrats and Republicans, is urging congress to act now.
 
Late Thursday, 41 Senators joined the call for an emergency session to pass a Zika funding bill. The White House warned that the current money to fight Zika will run out this month if nothing is done.