Statement from Deputy Mayor Palacio on Senator Rubio's Zika Comments

August 8, 2016

“I join many in dismay that Florida Senator Marco Rubio would exploit the troubling spread of Zika to 16 Miami residents to promote his political agenda. His comments follow Senate Republican attempts to enact politically-driven funding restrictions that attacked women’s reproductive health rights instead of focusing on addressing the urgent healthcare issue of Zika.

Here in New York City, we’ve committed $21 million in funding to pro-actively treat mosquito-dense areas, educate the public around the Zika epidemic, and provide those with Zika and Zika-related illnesses such as microcephaly with the healthcare and support they need. Although the mosquito most-associated with Zika has not been discovered here, we recognize that as an international city, we have a responsibility to protect both residents and visitors, which is why we’ve tested over 3,000 pregnant at-risk women to date.

Our federal elected officials must put the politics aside and stand with us in this fight. New York leaders such as Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer have answered that call, and Senator Schumer recently urged Congress to approve $1.9 billion in emergency funding needed to continue the fight against the Zika virus. On behalf of the de Blasio administration, I echo that appeal, and ask Senator Rubio to focus on the task at hand and respect that reproductive choices must remain confidential decisions between women and their healthcare providers.”