Quorum call mr. Burr mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from North Carolina. Mr. Burr mr. President i ask unanimous consent to vitiate the quorum call. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Burr i ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Burr mr. President , i rise today to speak on the importance of fighting the zika virus and the urgency of being prepared for the full range of threats we may face, whether naturally occurring like zika or manmade. This may look to some like a grasshopper. Thats actually a mosquito. The question is prepared for all hazards . We still do not have answers to all the questions surrounding zika but we do know this. Zika is a very Serious Public Health threat and we need to act. Thats why i support the bluntmurray amendment to bolster our nations response to it. The c. D. C. Has indicated the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the virus could be found in a significant portion of the United States, including my state of North Carolina. What makes this virus particularly troubling is that is its potential to cause tragic birth defects in babies born to mothers infected with zika. The virus has alsoen linked with serious also been linked with serious neurologic conditions. The sad reported cases of microcephaly is an urgent call that this virus poses a very serious threat to pregnant women and their unborn children and we need to take action to help these women deliver healthy babies and to stop the spread of the virus. Its concerning that we do not have drugs to prevent or treat zika, and we will likely not have them until after the summer when mosquitoes are present in many of the communities back home. Zika underscores the importance of supporting a flexible all hazards approach and sponsoring work on the pandemic and all hazards preparedness act legislation i authored almost a decade ago to ensure our nation would be better prepared for the range of Serious Public Health threats that we might face like zika. It also underscores that Mother Nature always has the potential to throw us a curveball this time in the form of a virus with the potential for devastating birth defects transmitted through a simple mosquito bite. This mosquitoborne virus also highlights why we must be prepared with the appropriate tools to protect the health of america from situations in which Infectious Diseases are moving from animals to humans. Thankfully because of the pandemic and all hazards preparedness act we have a much better are much better prepared to respond to zika and other recent threats but this work is never done and we must always remain vigilant when it comes to medical and Public Health preparedness and response. The next threat may be naturally occurring or it may be the result of a deliberate attack. We need to be prepared for all of them. After 9 11 congress established the bioshields special reserve fund to encourage the development of countermeasures that meet specific requirements for use against chemical, biologic radiological and nuclear agents that the department of Homeland Security has determined posed a material threat against the United States population sufficient to affect our National Security. These are threats like anthrax ebola and smallpox. Like zika the American People expect us to be ready to respond to these threats. Unfortunately im not going to be able to support the amendment offered by my colleagues from florida because it would gut bioshield. The president s fiscal year 2017 budget proposed decreasing bioshield by 160 million and then weeks later with zikas emergence, the Administration Proposed raiding the bioshield fund. These actions do not instill confidence that the federal government is prepared to handle these threats and will be a committed partner in these publicprivate partnerships. Partnerships are crucial for defeating zika. I want to work with the administration to improve our nations biodefense preparedness and response, especially with regard to emerging Infectious Diseases but gutting bioshield is not the answer. I also want to take a moment and talk about the Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority or barta as barda as i call it. Barda is currently helping navigate by supporting advance research and development of medical Counter Measures and spurring innovation like platform technologies to ensure that were as nimble as possible when confronting the Serious Public Health threats. Barda is on the front line of combating zika because its a linchpin in advanced medical countermeasures. Its also critical that we support barda in fulfilling its mission. The Blue Ribbon Study Panel on biodefense recently issued a report that found that there are serious gaps and inadequacies that continue to leave the nation vulnerable to threats from nature and terrorists alike. We cannot lose our focus on preparing for the threats we have identified. By strengthening our work in this area, we will be better prepared for the next naturally occurring threat, regardless of the threat we know the American People expect us to protect them from it and to be prepared to combat it. Today this threat is zika. Two years ago the threat was ebola. The years before that it was a novel flu strain. Weve been here before. We dont know what the next threat will be or how it will arise but by staying focused on identified threats and being vigilant to finish what we start, well be better prepared for the next threat whether naturally occurring or the result of a deliberate attack. I strongly support the bluntmurray zika amendment because it will help protect women, babies, families threatened by zika in North Carolina and across the United States. It will also ensure that we continue to make progress against a full range of threats we may face in the future. I believe we must confront the threat of zika with the resources this tragic virus demands and the compassion and the compassion that women and children deserve. The bluntmurray amendment does both. And i look forward to supporting it and continuing to fight to ensure that americans are protected from zika and all other threats we might face. And i might add, mr. President while you and the chairman are here america is the worlds response. Were the ones that funded and initiated the cure for ebola. Were the ones that took the seasonal flu variations and modified them to reflect the greatest threat, and america will be the ones that for the world addresses a cure or a vaccine or a countermeasure for zika. The good news is that as a congress, over ten years ago we set up the architecture to be able to be ahead of things like zika and ebola. Quite frankly in different administrations under different control, we failed to fund the things that we recognized we needed to do. So as we have this crisis and we respond to it, lets also reassure the American People that were going to invest in that architecture, that were going to be ahead of novel diseases. I call it novel. Weve known about zika for over 40 years. And the fact is that technology now allows us to address these in a different way. Lets invest in those platform technologies. Lets make sure that weve got an architecture that allows advanced development for the vaccines or the countermeasures. Lets not let down the American People on the next disease or the next threat that we might face. I thank the presiding officer and the chairman. I yield the floor. The presiding officer under the previous order the Senate Stands in recess till its my hope that my testimony will help provide some heart to the head knowledge that you hear so frequently in these conversations. Sadly, my wife, family and i tragically know all too well the devastating impact of synthetic drugs. In july 2014, our 19yearold son kyle was a bright, vibrant young man with a full life ahead of him. It was what most have considered the allamerican young boy. He had a great job, was preparing to go back to college. He loved music, surfing, the outdoors. He had lots of friends and of course he was deeply loved by his family , his sisters, his mother and of course me, his father. This first photo was a family shot taken july 5 of 2014. It was the last time wed be together like this as a family. Eight days later, connor was with a new friend. He made the seemingly innocent decision. He agreed to try something called spice, synthetic poison and the result was a second photo there. After many days in the hospital with our son in a coma , he was ultimately declared braindead. Hunter died july 16, 2014. After one smoke of an illegal high purchased at a local store. At the time , we were unaware of nps when we made the decision to share our story publicly. It would be painfully transparent and naked with our tragedy with a watching world in the simple hopes that it might perhaps change one persons life. It might spur them and their family the horrific circumstances we were facing and that we now live with each day. Since the death of our son, 671 days ago, weve met far too many parents who have also lost a children to synthetic drugs like spice and through our outreach and education efforts over the last 371 days we communicated with literally hundreds of thousands of people through the United States and around the world. Weve lost loved ones or had their lives tragically destroyed by synthetic drugs. Unfortunately, what happened to connor is not unique. Far too many people have suffered irreparable harm including death as a result of trying or using these poisons. However, what is unique about his story is how it is received an overwhelming Global Response to what we shared publicly through social media and these interviews and Radio Broadcasts around the world. This story has through the racial, social economic, geographic and religious barriers typically encountered. We know that npss are affecting everyone everywhere. We are not just one voice. Connor is not just one face or some statistic. We represent the voice and the face of many others just like us. We had the opportunity to reach millions of people on this subject. Weve been interviewed by most of the major news and Media Outlets around the world and globally and with leveraged social media. We had individual unique facebook posts that have reached millions anytime with one reaching 37 Million People globally. Weve had the opportunity to speak in many studies and spoken to senators, legislators, Law Enforcement officials and many in government. We have met from the lord in the house of lords at in the uk as we were there on this subject. Weve worked with numerous organizations in an effort to educate and increase awareness on the dangers of synthetic drugs and report to change laws and remove from our streets, stores and communities but more must be done. The problem is getting worse. Hundreds of new synthetic drugs compounds have appeared around the world in the last few years, sometimes writing for weeks. And we are allowing these to come into our country. Illicit drug manufacturers are constantly working and changing the formulas developed in new chemical derivatives in order to evade the laws and frankly, they are working faster than we are. The issue of nps is needs to be addressed and needs to be done now. When this congressional gathering is ended, you return home. You will return to your families, your children , those you love and care for. When we return home, we return to a family thats been forever changed. Because of the death of our loved son as a result of synthetic drugs. And as long as the people around the world are pushing these poisons into our communities know there are little to no consequences for their actions and they do know this, we will continue to see the spread of synthetic drugs and the harm they are bringing to our families, youth and communities. You have the power to do something about this. Your positions of influence and leadership and we are pleading with you to please take action. Dont just talk about it and evade the issues. Bring about change that will give these substances out of our communities and deal appropriately with those behind the manufacturing and distribution of nps is locally. Thank you for your time and consideration on this. Thats a portion. You can see all of eckardts testimony from todays hearing online at cspan. Org. Kentucky and oregon hold their democratic primaries today and we sent her Bernie Sanders will hold his , actually make comments on the results of those primaries during his Campaign Rally in carson tonight. Californias primaries are tuesday, june 7. Bernie sanders rally is like night on cspan two. It starts at 11 pm eastern. Book tv has 48 hours of nonfiction books and authors every weekend and here are some of the programs to watch for. This saturday morning at 10 00, we are live or the basis for the festival. Authors include ej dionne wife with his why the right went wrong. Conservatism from cold water to the tea party and beyond. And gordon reed and peter onus on their book most less of the patriarchs. Thomas jefferson and the empire of imagination. Long williams with his book we the people the modernday figures who have reshaped and offer the Founding Fathers vision of america. James rising on his book pay any price greed, power and endless war. Kristin greene and her book something must be done about Prince Edward county a family, a virginia town, civil rights batter. Joann with her book lover, love or not. The hillary paradox. John noris on his book Mary Mcquarrie the first queen of journalism and marlene pressman talking about her book fair labor lawyer the remarkable life of new deal attorney and Supreme Court advocate bessie marlin. On sunday night at nine on afterwards. For me, the worst thing i ever done was committed an act of murder in 1991. Because the mayors death and it was one of the worst things you can do and you know, i made that unfortunate decision at the age of 19 and devastated a family , took somebodys husband , a son, brother, father and family and its one of those things that stays with you to this day and the reason that i do some of the work that i do in the city because ive never want another child to grow up with that type of burden because its one of those burdens that never goes away. Shop sar, honor of writing my rant discusses his 20 years in prison and life after. Go to booktv. Org for the complete weekend schedule. Us senators in recess right now so lawmakers may attend their weekly party meetings. Theyve been debating the next in a series of Appropriations Bills since the combined transportation housing military va ending bill. Lawmakers also took time to focus on the zika amendments that are part of the debate. Mister president , as a mother and grandmother i know that one of the most frightening questions and expecting parent has to ask their doctor is , is my baby safe . Too many parents are asking that question right now because of the zika virus. There are now more than 1200 reported cases of zika in the United States and its territories. More than 100 of these are pregnant women. And on friday, puerto rico announced its first case of zika related microcephaly. Unfortunately, those numbers are only expected to grow in the coming months so this really is an emergency and Public Health experts have repeatedly made it clear that as we get closer to the summer and mosquito season, we cannot afford to delay. We need to better control mosquitoes that carry the zika virus. We need to raise awareness to make sure families are informed about this disease. And we need to expand access to Family Planning services and accelerate the development of a vaccine. The president laid out a strong emergency funding proposal to accomplish each of those goals in february. I support that plan and i was very disappointed that instead of acting on it as quickly as possible, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle simply refused to even consider it. Instead, they found reason after reason to delay. They said the administration should just take funds from the ongoing evil in response to combat zika. Then they said they needed more information about the president s proposal even though zika has been discussed in the five congressional hearings. Even after briefings by n officials and even though the administrations 25 page proposal had been available or months for anyone to see. And now House Republicans have released a proposal that would provide a very meager 622 million third of what is needed for this emergency without any funding for preventative ou health care or outreach to those you are at risk of zika and they are still insisting in the house that funding for p this Public Health emergency be fully offset. In the face of all that partisanship and inaction and with Public Health experts making it clearer every day how much we need to ask before mosquito season is in full effect, i was encouraged that chairman blunt and others on the Appropriations Committee were willing to work with democrats on a first step to respond to this emergency. The agreements we have reached would have put a down payment on the president s proposal into the hands of our First Resp