U.S. health officials have now confirmed that exposure to the Zika virus during pregnancy can cause severe brain birth defects. But so far the Republican-led Congress has refused to approve President Obama's request to set aside emergency Zika funding.
According to the Washington Post, once U.S. health officials confirmed the connection between the Zika virus and microcephaly (along with other birth defects), Republicans finally conceded that some of the $1.9 billion Obama requested in February was justified. But House Speaker Paul Ryan's office reportedly blamed the White House for holding up the approval by not responding to their request for details on spending.
The White House claimed it had indeed sent a detailed response to Ryan's office, which now acknowledges it received the response but claims it was insufficient.
In addition to microcephaly, Zika can also cause other severe brain and neurological damage in children born to infected mothers — including temporary paralysis. The World Health Organization has declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern, and the virus will likely "continue to spread to new areas."
We are facing a potential health crisis that is far too serious for Republicans to be playing political ping-pong with the White House. Sign this petition and tell Congress to approve emergency funding for Zika.
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