Rubio says Congress needs to approve Zika virus funding

MIAMI (AP) — Sen. Marco Rubio is pressing his congressional colleagues to approve nearly $2 billion to fight the Zika virus.

In an interview Tuesday with CNN’s Jake Tapper, the Florida senator said he’s disturbed that members of his own party are standing in the way of fully funding a response to what’s an emerging public health crisis.

Rubio backs President Barack Obama’s $1.9 billion request for emergency money to combat the virus, which causes serious birth defects. But Congress has not moved on it, and there’s no obvious path forward, despite a growing threat in the hot summer months and increasing public anxiety.

The administration has already transferred almost $600 million of unused Ebola funds and other money to fight Zika in the near term, but it says more is urgently needed.