NEW ORLEANS – On Thursday, May 12, 2016, Mayor Mitch Landrieu testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Steering and Policy Committee in support of the Obama Administration’s request of $1.9 billion in federal emergency supplemental appropriations funding to respond the threat of the Zika virus.
Mayor Landrieu appeared before the committee with Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Watch Thursday’s testimony here
On Feb. 22, 2016, President Barack Obama requested Congress commit $1.9 billion in federal emergency supplemental appropriations funding to respond to the threat of the Zika virus both domestically and internationally. Congress has not acted on this request for emergency funding.
Last month, the City of New Orleans released a comprehensive plan to provide direction for prevention and mitigation of Zika virus in Orleans Parish. At this time, there are no locally transmitted cases of Zika virus in New Orleans.
View the City’s Zika virus plan here
The following is a transcript of Mayor Landrieu’s testimony to U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Steering and Policy Committee:
Good morning, Committee Members, Director Fauci, and Dr. Schuchat.
Thank you for having me here today.
This is a very important topic of conversation; because really it is not a matter of ‘if’ there will be a Zika virus outbreak in the United States, but ‘when’.
The question is – will we as a nation be prepared?
In New Orleans, we know the importance of emergency preparedness, and like much of the southern United States, we are home to both of the mosquito species that transmit Zika virus.
We are also a center for tourism. Over ten million visitors per year, with big international conferences, huge sporting events, daily cruise ship dockings, and large festivals, which can attract half a million people in just one weekend.
So as our neighbors across the Caribbean, Central and South America continue to struggle with their own Zika virus cases and as summer approaches with mosquitoes soon reaching their peak season, we have a big time sense of urgency.
After all, local governments are the tip of the spear and will lead the Zika response on the ground. We are thankful that at this time there are no locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus in New Orleans and only four travel-related cases of Zika virus have been reported in Louisiana. Regardless, our mentality must be – it is not a matter of if, but when.
So we’re ready to respond to travel and locally transmitted cases of Zika virus if they develop.
Last month, in partnership with the CDC, Tulane University and the State, we released our comprehensive Zika plan and passed a local ordinance to upgrade our mosquito control standards.
We’ve also doubled down on our year-round mosquito control efforts, purchased new equipment and surveillance tools, and launched an aggressive education campaign to educate physicians regarding the virus, reinforce the CDC's travel recommendations, and stress the importance of removing standing water.
But like a General leading the battle in the field I am here to tell you – to have a truly robust response appropriate to this serious public health threat, we need more federal resources. And as Democrats, we know that efficient, smart government has a role to play in keeping us safe.
Knowing this truth, the President wisely requested $1.9 billion in emergency appropriations for Zika virus response.
This money will help to further support localities as they prepare to protect their people from Zika virus and mosquitoes or other similar threats to public health.
But just as importantly, these funds will do what local authorities cannot – like manufacture accurate diagnostic testing for the virus or develop potential vaccines.
We need to get ahead of this threat just like we would any other danger to the homeland, whether it is ISIS or Ebola.
For this fight, the name of the game is preparedness across the board, research and innovation. That is how we respond to the Zika virus, but it takes resources. At the local level, we are doing our part. Now, we need Congress to do its part and actually it is pretty simple.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and for situations like this it is either pay me now or pay me later.
So please urge your fellow lawmakers to approve the President’s request for funding.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
