News

Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, August 3, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) ‎will hold a press conference at his Senate office in Doral to discuss the latest developments regarding Zika. Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory against visiting Miami’s Wynwood district.
 
‎Media interested in covering this event must RSVP to alex_burgos@rubio.senate.gov‎
 
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Approximately 10 a.m. EDT
Rubio to hold press conference on the Zika virus.
8669 NW 36th Street
Suite 110
Doral, FL
 
TIMELINE OF RUBIO’S EFFORTS TO COMBAT ZIKA

• ‎On January 29, Rubio expressed safety concerns over the Zika virus and its impact on Florida, and asked that public health concerns be addressed.
• On April 8, Rubio became the first congressional Republican to announce his support for the administration’s $1.9 billion request to combat the virus at a press conference in Miami.
• Rubio has highlighted the threat of Zika and urged Congress to act quickly numerous times on the Senate floor:

•  April 14: Rubio Highlights New Zika Developments, Urges Congress To Act Quickly
• April 26: Rubio Reiterates Need For Congress To Address Growing Zika Threat
• April 28: Rubio Urges Congress To Put Politics Aside On Zika
• May 11: Rubio: Inaction On Zika Virus Is Inexcusable
• May 12: Rubio Urges Congress To Support Nelson-Rubio Legislation To Fully Fund Zika Response
• May 17: Rubio Optimistic About Senate Action On Zika, But Urges House “Not To Play With Fire”
• May 24: Rubio: To Get A Serious Zika Bill On President’s Desk, The American People Need To Speak Out 

• On May 5, Rubio published an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel about stopping the Zika virus before it becomes a crisis.
• On May 12, Senators Rubio and Nelson introduced the first bipartisan agreement to provide the full $1.9 billion the administration says it needs to curb the spread of the Zika virus.
• On May 26, in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Rubio urged Senate leadership to immediately proceed to an official conference with the U.S. House of Representatives where they can reconcile differences for funding to combat the Zika virus and send a bill to the President’s desk as soon as possible.
• On June 3, Rubio and Congressman Carlos Curbelo held a joint press conference in Miami, Florida to urge their colleagues in Congress to pass funding for the Zika virus when they return to session.
• On June 9, Rubio urged Zika negotiators to push for full funding. He sent a letter to all 33 members of Congress appointed to the conference committee reconciling differences between proposals in the House and Senate.
• On June 15, Rubio questioned the CDC about its preparedness plan in the event of a locally transmitted Zika virus case in Florida during a Florida delegation hearing on Zika outbreak preparedness. He also asked the panel of Zika experts about diagnostic testing, necessary funding and the federal government’s role in aiding vaccine development for the virus.
• On June 28, Rubio commented after the U.S. Senate failed to advance funding to combat the Zika virus. Although Rubio voted for the funding, it failed to receive the 60 votes needed to advance.
• On July 13, Rubio chaired a subcommittee hearing to highlight Zika’s spread in the western hemisphere and the impact it is having on Florida and the U.S.
• On July 28, Rubio sent a letter to President Obama urging him to use the funds reprogrammed by the Administration to battle the Zika virus.
• On July 29, Rubio called on Congress to return to Washington to pass Zika funding.