WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today applauded passage
of legislation that could provide Illinois with federal dollars to help
prevent outbreaks of the West Nile Virus.
“West
Nile claimed numerous lives and caused a great deal of suffering in states
across the country, especially Illinois. Illinois experienced the
highest number of human cases of West Nile in the country, over 800 cases
and at least 55 deaths. Skokie and Evanston, cities in the heart
of my district, have been severely impacted as compared with the rest of
the state,” Schakowsky said.
Under
H.R. 342, the Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act, Illinois and
other states could receive federal grants to assist with programs to prevent
and control mosquito-borne diseases. The grant program would be administered
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However,
in order for states to begin receiving grants under H.R. 342, Congress
must first appropriate funding.
The
bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide
training and technical assistance to states and localities for the planning,
development, and operation of mosquito control programs.
“We
need to expand and improve federal efforts to assist states and localities
in battling West Nile and H.R. 342 is a good step toward meeting that goal,”
Schakowsky said.
The
legislation was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on
which Schakowsky serves, on January 29, 2003. The full House
approved the bill by a vote of 416 -9. |