Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and 76 other Mayors from across the country wrote an open letter to congressional leaders, urging them to pass the Zika bill that has been gridlocked in congress.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there are 18,611 confirmed Zika cases in the U.S.

The letter the mayors released on Tuesday reads as follows:

Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Senator Reid, Speaker Ryan, and Leader Pelosi,

We write to express the urgent need for supplemental funding to contain and address the Zika virus in our cities. As the mosquito-borne virus rapidly spreads in the U.S. and its territories, we urge congressional leadership to prioritize passing the Zika funding package that President Obama has requested during this work period.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 16,800 cases of the Zika virus have been reported in the U.S. and its territories. Zika usually causes mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, lasting for several days to a week. However, this virus is far more dangerous for pregnant women, whose fetuses can develop the birth defect microcephaly if the mother contracts the virus. Thus far, 1595 pregnant women in the U.S. and its territories (624 in US, 971 in territories) have tested positive for Zika, which is associated with debilitating birth defects in the form of brain damage or atrophy. In the past two weeks, the Zika virus has been detected in trapped mosquitoes in the continental US for the first time.

Congress’ persistent inaction has forced the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use more than $10 million of its funding for cancer and heart disease research for Zika. In total, $670 million has been diverted from other health priorities to fund Zika research. In addition, the CDC estimates that it will run out of funding to combat Zika at the end of this month, just as mosquito season reaches its peak.

The critical resources that President Obama has requested would help prevent the spread of the virus by allowing local governments to work in cooperation with the CDC and the NIH to enhance mosquito control, conduct tests, and deploy a critical Zika vaccine. We urge Congress to work together to address this pressing health issue immediately upon your return from August recess.

Sincerely,

Mayor Greg Stanton Phoenix, Arizona

Mayor Bill de Blasio New York City, New York

Mayor Eric Garcetti Los Angeles, California

Mayor Rahm Emanuel Chicago, Illinois

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake Baltimore, Maryland

Mayor Mitch Landrieu New Orleans, Louisiana

Mayor Peter Bober Hollywood, Florida

Mayor Sly James Kansas City, Missouri

Mayor Francis Slay St. Louis, Missouri

Mayor Philip Levine Miami Beach, Florida

Mayor Bob Buckhorn Tampa, Florida

Mayor Jim Kenney Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mayor Martin J. Walsh Boston, Massachusetts

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser Washington, D.C.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee San Francisco, California

Mayor Jennifer Roberts Charlotte, North Carolina

Mayor Chris Koos Normal, Illinois

Mayor Mario Avery Fairburn, Georgia

Mayor Mckinley Price Newport News, Virginia

Mayor Toni Harp New Haven, Connecticut

Mayor Charles Smith Woodmere Village, Ohio

Mayor William Johnson Holly Hill, South Carolina

Mayor Diane Delaware Yazoo City, Mississippi

Mayor Luke Bronin Hartford, Connecticut

Mayor Anthony Lamonte Tickfaw, Louisiana

Mayor Paul Champagne Lockport, Louisiana

Mayor Bill Flaute Riverside, Ohio

Mayor Patrick J. Furey Torrance, California

Mayor Jacqueline Goodall Forest Heights, Maryland

Mayor Hattie Edwards Eutaw, Alabama

Mayor John Giles Mesa, Arizona

Mayor Jennifer Vidrine Ville Platte, Louisiana

Mayor Donald Villere Mandeville, Louisiana

Mayor Susie Giles Hosston, Louisiana

Mayor Ken J. Silver, Ed. D. Southfield, Michigan

Mayor Kate Stewart Takoma Park, Maryland

Mayor Debbie Goettel Richfield, Minnesota

Mayor Karen Kirks Alexander Salisbury, North Carolina

Mayor Chris Watts Denton, Texas

Mayor Stan Koci Bedford, Ohio

Mayor Chris Roberts Shoreline, Washington

Mayor Jeffrey Slavin Somerset, Maryland

Mayor Ken Miyagishima Las Cruces, New Mexico

Mayor Derrick Freeman Port Arthur, Texas

Mayor Tim A. Scott Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Mayor Michael VanSchoick Vivian, Louisiana

Mayor David H. Bradford Muscle Shoals, Alaska

Mayor David Baker Kenmore, Washington

Mayor Jason Ashmore Sesser, Illinois

Mayor Lauren Meister West Hollywood, California

Mayor Johnny L. DuPree Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Mayor Billy Ray McKelvy De Queen, Arkansas

Mayor Nelda Martinez Corpus Christi, Texas

Mayor C.M. Mitchell Galax, Virginia

Mayor Charles James Sunset, Louisiana

Mayor Teddy P. Gros Fordoche, Louisiana

Mayor Mark Mitchell Tempe, Arizona

Mayor Denny Doyle Beaverton, Oregon

Mayor Susan Haynie Boca Raton, Florida

Mayor Sherrie MsMac Jacobs Ferriday, Louisiana

Mayor Andy Hafen Henderson, Nevada

Mayor Vivian Covington University Park, Illinois

Mayor Chris Coleman Saint Paul, Minnesota

Mayor Karen Best Branson, Missouri

Mayor Mike Robertson Bunkie, Louisiana

Mayor Shelley Welsch University City, Missouri

Mayor Glenn Hendricks Sunnyvale, California

Mayor Mark Meadows East Lansing, Michigan

Mayor Lydia E. Lavelle Carrboro, North Carolina

Mayor Rusty Bailey Riverside, California

Mayor Lloyd Glascock Albany, Louisiana

Mayor Nancy Lyons Diamond Bar, California

Mayor Irma Thompson Gordon Kentwood, Louisiana

Mayor Betsy Hodges Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mayor Smith Joseph North Miami, Florida