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U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel speaks about Zika funding before heading D.C.

Rep. Lois Frankel (file photo)
Posted at 9:29 AM, Sep 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-06 23:25:23-04

Lawmakers are heading to the nation's capital on Tuesday to persuade Congress to pass $1.9 billion in funding to combat Zika.

RELATED: More Zika coverage

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel spoke with the media before departing West Palm Beach.

The state has spent more than $26 million this summer to fight Zika but has criticized the feds for failing to act.

Frankel said people need to put party politics aside, "I do not believe a mosquito knows what party you are when they're going to bite and so to me this should not be a partisan issue." 

"If I were to spend my money, I would spend it first on making sure the immediate protection of my populous was intact, to make sure an educational program reaches all that understand the disease and how you can track it," said OB/GYN Dr. Jeffrey Kotzen at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Congress has been on a seven-week recess. If approved, Frankel says the money will be disbursed to federal agencies and the states, they will decide how to use the money.