"West Nile has turned mosquitoes from a pest to a pestilence," McCotter explained. "Local municipalities need federal assistance in their costly fight against this threat to our community's health and wellness."

McCotter was co-sponsor of the Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act which was approved by Congress and signed into law last year - but has yet to be fully funded by Congress. The act uses matching grants for states and counties to help create mosquito abatement programs. Communities are able to use the grants to fill a variety of needs including the purchase of lab equipment, sprayers, or community education and awareness programs.

McCotter is working with several of his colleagues to make certain the program is funded and recently sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education expressing his support for the program.