Republicans in Congress have refused to pass funding to combat the Zika virus so Rep. David Jolly (R-FL) tried to make the threat real for his colleagues on Wednesday by showing up on the House floor with 100 mosquitoes from Florida.
"This is the reason for the urgency, this is the reason for the fear," Jolly said, holding up a jar of mosquitoes capable of carrying the Zika virus.
"Mr. Speaker, it is time to act," the Florida Republican insisted. "The politics of Zika have gone on far too long. The politics of Zika are wrong."
Jolly explained that Floridians were scared and angry about congressional inaction.
"I brought these mosquitoes today to convey that fear and that anxiety of millions of Americans, of Floridians," he remarked. "Can you imagine the fear and anxiety in this chamber if these mosquitoes were outside this jar, not inside this jar."
"Members of Congress would run down the hall to the physician's office to be tested. They would spray themselves before coming down here. This is the fear of Floridians! Right here!"
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Senate blocked two bills that would fund a public health response to the Zika virus, with each party blaming the other for the impasse.
"Republicans were more interested in attacking Planned Parenthood and flying the Confederate flag -- can't make this stuff up, that's really the truth -- than protecting women and babies from this awful virus," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) asserted following the vote.
Watch the video below.
(h/t: Mashable)
