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Lowey statement on Ebola funding request

November 5, 2014
Press Release

 Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on President Obama’s request for emergency funding to address Ebola in Africa and public health preparedness in the United States.

“The Ebola epidemic has taken a tragic toll in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.  A wide-ranging and sustained response is required to bring an end to this suffering and to ensure it does not spread further in the United States and elsewhere.  I am pleased President Obama has requested Congress appropriate emergency funding to help meet this responsibility.

“The most effective way to defeat a public health threat like Ebola is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.   That is why we must invest in medical research, build our capacity to develop and produce vaccines and treatments, enhance screening and preparedness at hospitals and among other health care providers, and develop our domestic and international public health infrastructure.

“The health and development professionals working to meet severe human needs in the region deserve our thanks and praise, and funding requested by President Obama to manage Ebola treatment units and coordinate logistics and planning is critical to stem the tide of this outbreak and protect basic health services.  The Appropriations Committee has also already approved reprogramming of $750 million in unspent war funding so U.S. Armed Forces personnel can deploy to the region, build labs and clinics, distribute critical equipment and supplies, and support front-line health workers.

“In all this work, we must ensure other countries and international organizations continue to share this responsibility and that we coordinate our efforts effectively.

“I will work on the Appropriations Committee to ensure a Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations bill includes these emergency investments in domestic and international public health.”

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113th Congress