U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) is again calling for collective action from all levels of government as well as citizen vigilance in the fight against Zika as Florida surpassed 1,000 reported cases yesterday. This is especially urgent after Hurricane Matthew left pools of standing water across Zika-impacted communities, which can serve as breeding grounds for Zika-carrying mosquitoes. On Friday, Murphy called on Governor Scott to request emergency federal assistance for mosquito co...
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Throughout Congress' September session, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) was hard at work putting Florida families first, bringing home several major victories for our waterways, the fight against Zika, Florida's citrus industry, Pulse victims, and our nation's veterans. Additionally, Murphy continued advocating for Everglades restoration funding, introduced legislation to repeal the health insurance tax for Puerto Rico that unfairly penalizes consumers on the island who do not bene...
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U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) made the following statement on Congress passing a stopgap funding measure to keep the government open past September 30th, which included $1.1 billion for Zika response efforts. Murphy has continually called on Congress to provide the necessary funding to combat Zika since the President's February request. "I am pleased to see Congress work together to pass legislation to keep the government up and running. Included in this bill were critical resour...
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Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) introduced the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Fairness Act, legislation repealing the health insurance tax (HIT) for Puerto Rico that unfairly penalizes consumers on the island who do not benefit from the Affordable Care Act. HIT is estimated to cost Puerto Ricans $200 million in 2016 alone, which further exacerbates the ongoing health care crisis on the island. (Please click here for a copy of the bill). "This repeal is about fairness. The Amer...
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Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) spoke on the House floor, urging Congress to take immediate bipartisan action to address the growing Zika crisis. Murphy has continually called on Congress to pass critical funding since February, most recently leading a bipartisan Florida Congressional Delegation letter to House and Senate leaders requesting a vote on a clean funding bill to provide the resources needed to fight the Zika virus. Watch here: Please find Congressman Murphy's ful...
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With Congress back in session, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) doubled down on his call for House and Senate leaders to immediately bring up a clean funding bill to combat Zika. It has been seven months since the President put forward a $1.9 billion emergency funding request, and Congress has yet to send him a bill to sign to address this growing public health crisis. Joining Murphy in leading this bipartisan push from the Florida delegation is U.S. Representative David Jolly (FL-1...
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U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) applauded the revised guidance issued today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommending Zika testing for the entire blood supply to better protect public health. This announcement follows a recent bipartisan push led by Murphy to expand blood testing in high-risk areas to prevent possible Zika contamination and blood shortages. The lawmakers also called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide reimbursements ...
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On July 29th, Florida health officials announced locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus. For the first time, Zika has been transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States, and it happened right here in our state. The World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency over the Zika virus back in February. At the time there were nine cases of Zika in Florida. As of today, there are well over 500 cases in our state alone. Zika is a serious health crisis that...
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Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell requesting assistance for researchers studying the Zika virus and its mutations for vaccine development with location-based live Zika samples to better study the virus and develop a vaccine. Local scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida recently met with Murphy to discuss their ongoing Zika research and vaccine development efforts, cit...
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Today, U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on the FDA to expand Zika testing for blood donations collected in high-risk areas in an effort to prevent possible contaminations and blood shortages. Current testing costs run from $7 to $10 per unit with a limited number of facilities able to conduct Zika screening. To fulfill the obligation of enacting Zika blood testing to protect public healt...
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