Cicilline Helps Advance Ebola Emergency Response Act

Press Release

The House Foreign Affairs Committee today advanced the Ebola Emergency Response Act which outlines the steps needed for the U.S. government to effectively respond to the West African Ebola outbreak, especially in Liberia where the most Ebola cases have been reported.

The bill includes a provision U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, authored to acknowledge and thank medical professionals and volunteers for their extraordinary courage in responding to the Ebola outbreak.

"The Ebola outbreak is having horrific effects on individuals, families and public health infrastructure. This bill provides a comprehensive response strategy to stem the spread of this awful disease and prevent future outbreaks," said Cicilline. "I'm especially thankful to the health workers, military personnel, and volunteers who are risking their lives in responding to the Ebola outbreak and glad this bill honors their tremendous work and sacrifice."

Despite Ebola outbreaks historically having a case fatality rate of up to 90 percent, as of November 10, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has received nearly 4,800 self-nominated, non-vetted requests through the usaid.gov online registration portal for healthcare volunteers, and is passing these contacts to interested aid organizations working in the region for vetting, possible selection, and training. These volunteers face dangerous and life-threatening conditions and according to the World Health Organization, over 540 health workers in West Africa, including several Americans, have already been infected in the current outbreak. Cicilline's provision expresses the sense of Congress that "health workers deserve our profound gratitude and respect for their commitments and sacrifices in addressing the Ebola epidemic in West Africa."

In addition to Cicilline's provision, the Ebola Emergency Response Act:

Authorizes funding of the International Disaster Assistance account at the higher FY2014 level--an additional $500 million--to effectively combat Ebola.

Directs the President to coordinate with the governments of affected African countries, the private sector, regional and international financial institutions and international organizations, civil society, and nongovernmental organizations to implement a comprehensive Ebola control strategy and assist affected populations; and use U.S. influence at the United Nations (U.N.) to ensure that the U.N. Mission in Liberia is protecting individuals under its care and playing an active emergency response role, and ensuring that the U.N. Mission for the Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) is playing an effective role in aligning donors around a plan to detect, contain, treat, and deter Ebola's further spread.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should work with other donors, including international financial institutions, to encourage them to: (1) help the governments of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone mitigate the risks of economic collapse and related civil unrest by providing access to emergency grants and financing tools to address fiscal issues that are the direct result of the Ebola crisis; and (2) assist with post-crisis economic recovery.

Now that the bill has cleared the House Foreign Affairs Committee, it must be approved by the Full House.

Source