Gov. Rick Scott is asking the Obama administration to put a rush on the money allocated for Zika funding, and a local congressman is echoing that plea.

  • Congress approved $1.1 billion for Zika funding 
  • Governor Scott says Florida is in serious need of its share
  • Congressmen Jolly agrees with Scott

Tuesday, the governor sent out a press release asking for the Sunshine State’s share of the $1.1 billion in federal funding Congress passed for the Zika fight.

While some may be asking if Zika is still an issue with the cooler temperatures, experts say it’s just as dangerous. It’s why Pinellas County Mosquito Control's  entomology and education support specialist, Rob Kruger, and his team aren’t letting up on the fight against Zika.

“Mosquito season for aedes aegypti really in Florida where we live in central, western Florida, pretty much is all year round,” Kruger said. “This is what the community wants from us. And so if they want us to take more of an aggressive action towards things like Zika, we would already do that but now we’re going to even do it further.”

Scott says the state is in serious need of its funding. Congressman David Jolly echoed those statements.

“I agree with the governor," said Jolly. "In fact when we passed the emergency bill after I took the mosquitos to the floor, I actually penned a letter to the administration saying please expedite the money and allocate it proportionately to the states that are most affected."

Back in September, Jolly took a jar filled with mosquitoes to the house floor. He said it was to show the urgency here in Florida. It’s something he said is just as important now.

So what’s the hold up with the funding?

“As a result of the governor’s letter today," started Jolly, " as a result of the administration articulating its position, I believe there’s a little bit of disagreement and so my job is to try to resolve that as best as I can. It’s why I engaged senior leadership in the House just today to say let's figure out the story between what the governor’s asking for and what the administration is saying. Let’s get this done and do what’s right for the people of Florida."

That Zika funding will help provide additional Zika prevention kits as well as research and support for the pregnancy risks associated with the virus.