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

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

As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) led an effort calling for Congressional hearings into Donald Trump's comments on July 27th encouraging Russian cyberattacks targeting U.S. citizens and interference in our electoral process. Joining Murphy in this effort are Reps. André Carson (IN-07) and Eric Swalwell (CA-15). (Please find a copy of the letter below and attached). "Donald Trump's comments encouraging Russia to carry out cyberattacks a... 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

U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) is calling on the Social Security Administration to provide additional options for its new two-step authentication process to access the online “mySocialSecurity” account system. Amid growing concerns for cybersecurity in federal systems, the Social Security Administration adopted stronger identification verification systems to protect millions of beneficiaries’ personal information. However, limiting account holders to text message verification will... 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