U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) applauded the revised guidance issued today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommending Zika testing for the entire blood supply to better protect public health. This announcement follows a recent bipartisan push led by Murphy to expand blood testing in high-risk areas to prevent possible Zika contamination and blood shortages. The lawmakers also called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide reimbursements ... Read more

On July 29th, Florida health officials announced locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus. For the first time, Zika has been transmitted by mosquitoes in the continental United States, and it happened right here in our state. The World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency over the Zika virus back in February. At the time there were nine cases of Zika in Florida. As of today, there are well over 500 cases in our state alone. Zika is a serious health crisis that... Read more

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell requesting assistance for researchers studying the Zika virus and its mutations for vaccine development with location-based live Zika samples to better study the virus and develop a vaccine. Local scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida recently met with Murphy to discuss their ongoing Zika research and vaccine development efforts, cit... Read more

Today, U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling on the FDA to expand Zika testing for blood donations collected in high-risk areas in an effort to prevent possible contaminations and blood shortages. Current testing costs run from $7 to $10 per unit with a limited number of facilities able to conduct Zika screening. To fulfill the obligation of enacting Zika blood testing to protect public healt... Read more

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) joined members of Florida's Democrat Congressional Delegation in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize NIH funding for the development of a Zika vaccine to help stop the spread of the virus and protect children from being born with Zika-related birth defects. (Please find below and attached a copy of the letter). "For six months, Congress has failed to act on critical emergency funding to fight Zika th... Read more

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) made the following statement regarding the Florida Department of Health's investigation into a case of non-travel related Zika in Palm Beach County. Murphy once again is calling for Congress to immediately return and pass emergency funding to combat this virus. "Today's announcement of a new Zika case in Palm Beach County is very concerning and speaks to the urgent need for action to combat this virus before it spreads further. Congress had si... Read more

U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) is calling on Congress to reconvene immediately and take action on emergency Zika funding as the number of locally transmitted cases in Florida jumped to fourteen after the first cases in the continental U.S. were identified on Friday. Today, the state requested an emergency response team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist with ongoing prevention and response efforts on the ground. "Since February, I have been calling... Read more

U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) made the following statement regarding reports of four locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus in Florida, the first in the continental United States: "Since February, I have called on Congress to take responsible action by passing emergency funding to combat Zika as the number of travel-related cases in Florida grew. Now that it appears the virus is being locally transmitted, the need to provide resources to respond to this public health crisis ... Read more

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) called on Governor Scott to direct the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to work with the Army Corps to accelerate the planning phase of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Joining Murphy in sending this request are U.S. Reps. Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Ted Deutch (FL-21), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and Lois Frankel (FL-22). Last week, Murphy doubled down on his call for the Administration and... Read more

U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) joined U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and several other members of Florida’s congressional delegation in writing to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency to raise their serious concerns with the state’s proposal to allow increased levels of toxic chemicals in Florida's waters. In addition to Murphy and Nelson, signers of the letter include U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-21), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Gwen Graham (FL-02), Alan Grayson (FL-09), Alcee... Read more