“The Democrats are more focused on protecting the mosquito than they are protecting people. The American people deserve better.”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s remarks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) delivered remarks at a Senate leadership press conference after Senate Democrats blocked critical funding to address the Zika health crisis and fund military construction and veterans’ health. Below are some excerpts:

“I want to talk as a doctor about the threat of the Zika virus for women who are pregnant, women who are considering becoming pregnant.

“Earlier today, the report is the first baby born in the United States with microcephaly related to Zika was born in Florida today.

“And the Democrats on the floor of the United States Senate choose to play politics rather than focus on public health.

“The president said he wanted a result by the fourth of July. We were ready to deliver that today, and the Democrats blocked it.

“The head of the CDC said I need $1.1 billion and that’s how much was in the bill. It was also funding for military construction, for veterans’ health.

“So what are the objections? There’s going to be a litany, and one of them has to do with the fact that to actually kill the mosquitoes, and it’s the mosquitoes that carry the virus that causes the Zika, you have to use pesticides. And you have to use it near water because that’s where mosquitoes multiply.

“And yet one of the Democrats’ concerns is oh no, we can’t be using spray and all of these things near water because it may affect the water.

“The Democrats are more focused on protecting the mosquito, than they are protecting people. The American people deserve better.

“We need to vote on this again, we need to pass this, and we need to give the Centers for Disease Control what they’ve asked for and give the president what he’s asked for by the fourth of July.

“I’m ready to vote again right now.”

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