U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says that if Congress does not act now on Zika prevention funding, lawmakers may have to return to Washington later for an emergency vote.
Rubio and fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo predicted Friday at a news conference that the Zika crisis will escalate over the summer if funding is not increased.
President Barack Obama has requested $1.9 billion, but the Republican-led Congress has been unable to agree on an amount. The money will go toward Zika research and developing a vaccine.
Florida currently has 162 Zika cases, the most in the U.S.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is also pushing the Obama administration to increase funding for insecticides, spraying equipment and prevention kits.
