Coming off of a two-day trip to Honduras, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio joined forces with U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo at an event Friday to implore members of Congress to come to a speedy compromise on funding to fight Zika.
Congress is set to negotiate on a proposed 1.1 billion dollar spending package to combat the virus. President Obama already put on the table a 1.9 billion dollar plan.
Rubio shared his support for spending as much money as it takes, for as long as it takes, to stop the virus.
“Whether there’s a debate about 1.9 or 1.1, whatever the point is, we’ve got to get it done at some level so we can begin to act on this,” said the Florida senator.
Rubio said both political parties have made this a political issue when the U.S. is not immune to the effects of the virus.
“I don’t get it because mosquitoes bite republicans… and I know they bite democrats, and independents, and libertarians, and vegetarians, and Americans and everybody else,” Rubio said.
According to Rubio, it is more important for South Florida to set up of prevention programs like mosquito control for the hot summer months and heavy tourism season.
Curbelo was also worried about the effects incoming Zika could have on tourism in the state.
"Obviously, that is going to have very adverse consequences for our economy," Curbelo said.
Congress reconvenes next week.
