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
