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Congressman Darren Soto Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fight Zika and Other Mosquito-borne Viruses

March 2, 2017

A total of 13 lawmakers signed as co-sponsors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Darren Soto will introduce today the "Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act" or SMASH Act. This bill supports and expands programs for mosquito-borne and vector-borne disease, surveillance and control.

The SMASH Act supports the work of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local public health authorities in several ways:

• The bill extends through FY2023 CDC grants for mosquito control programs.
• The mosquito control grant program is expanded so that grants may be used to address emerging, infectious mosquito-borne diseases beyond Zika, and to improve existing control programs.
• The CDC must give preferences to applicants that have either (1) a public health emergency due to mosquito-borne disease; or (2) a control program that is consistent with existing state preparedness plans.
• The requirement for matching funds may be waived if the area covered by a grant applicant has an extreme need due to the size or density of the human population, the size or density of the mosquito population, or the severity of the mosquito-borne disease.

"During the recent outbreak of Zika, instead of strengthening this program, Congress decided to provide money solely for mosquito control to combat Zika. When that money runs out, that's it," Congressman Soto said. "Instead of waiting for another crisis necessitating another expensive one-off Band-Aid bill, we should make the urgent investments needed to maintain the tools we already have."

Congressman Darren Soto represents Florida's 9th Congressional District, which includes Osceola County, as well as parts of Orange and Polk counties.

Issues:Health