Carlos Curbelo and the Republicans Pat Themselves on the Back for Endangering South Florida Families

It took 220 days to secure funding for Zika, while Curbelo and fellow Republicans voted against Zika funds 9 times before passing emergency funds for South Florida.

Miami, FL—Today, former Congressman Joe Garcia issued a statement on the passage of funds to combat Zika after Republicans like Carlos Curbelo held those same funds hostage for 220 days because of extreme ideology. Garcia has been a vocal advocate for full funding since President Obama made his original budget request to Congress over seven months ago.

“I am pleased to see that after seven months of pressuring, demanding and pleading, obstructionists like Carlos Curbelo finally decided to do what they should have done long ago,” said Joe Garcia, candidate for Florida’s 26th Congressional District. “Carlos Curbelo personally voted nine times with Republican extremists in the House to block a fully funded emergency Zika bill that would have protected our businesses, our tourism, and our families from harm.”

Garcia has pushed for Zika funding  for months while congressional Republicans blocked funding in order to debate a woman’s right to choose. Garcia rallied community leaders and medical professionals in his call for urgency. When Congress decided to take a vacation in the middle of the Zika crisis, Garcia co-wrote a letter with Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) demanding congressional leadership get back to work and take immediate action.

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Joe Garcia served South Florida in Congress from 2013 to 2015.  He is currently running for election against Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo in a Congressional District that has been redrawn and favors Democrats. National and local Democrats have invested heavily in Garcia, with the DCCC placing more than $5 million in television ads that are currently running in the district.  Joe Garcia is leading Curbelo in the most recent poll.

Curbelo’s votes to block a fully funded $1.9 billion Zika bill: (2016 Vote #498, 2016 Vote #481, 2016 Vote #273, 2016 Vote #267, 2016 Vote #233, 2016 Vote #206,2016 Vote #201, 2016 Vote #173, 2016 Vote #168).

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