Senate Democrats have sent a letter to Republican Senate leaders urging Congress to come back from recess in order to pass funding to address the Zika virus, a legislation that was stopped by the left before the break, Politico reported Thursday.
"The problems the American people confront do not disappear simply because Congress does," about 40 Senate Democrats wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan, according to the website.
"In the case of the rapidly expanding Zika crisis, the problem has grown significantly worse since the Republican-led Congress went on recess.
"We urge you to immediately cancel the remainder of the congressional recess and get back to work to help the American public, especially women and families, amidst this crisis."
Those same Democrats blocked the $1.1 billion funding package before the break because of a provision for Planned Parenthood, Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell, told Politico.
"While the House passed the funding bill already, it continues to be blocked by the signatories of the Senate Democrats' letter through the use of a filibuster," Stewart said.
"We would love for the people who wrote the letter to end that filibuster and pass the bill, but it doesn't sound like they're prepared to do that.
"Apparently, Senate Democrats thought an earmark for Planned Parenthood in the future was more important than preventing the threat of Zika now."
Senate Republican Marco Rubio of Florida has also urged Congress to come back to address the Zika bill as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning after the first local case of the virus in Miami, Politico reported.
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