Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold (R-TX) will travel to Washington, D.C. Thursday evening to attend the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's (OGR) hearing on the Government's handling of Ebola. The Ebola crisis is the most serious health hazard to face the country in recent memory. The OGR hearing is scheduled for Friday, October 24 at 9:30 AM EST.
"This hearing is being held to address the confusion and misinformation surrounding measures taken at home and abroad to prevent further transmission of Ebola, attempt to make sense of the international and domestic response and to insure that going forward, government agencies maintain a streamlined and effective approach in eliminating the Ebola threat. Farenthold said.
Witnesses will also be questioned on how healthcare workers on the front lines - including Department of Defense personnel participating in Operation United Assistance in West Africa - are operating and if they have the necessary information and equipment to fight this disease.
"During a recent House Homeland Security Committee hearing I was disappointed to see federal agencies pointing fingers at each other instead of working together to deal with this deadly crisis. I want to know that what these agencies are doing is enough to protect the American people.
"I was also disappointed in the recent appointment of Ron Klein by President Obama. Klein is a career politician who is not a doctor and has no healthcare management experience to lead the Administration's effort to combat Ebola. It appears to me that this appointment is another attempt to politically manage a situation instead of effectively dealing with it. We need someone who is an expert in disease control and emergency management not another political spinner." Farenthold continued.
"Right now there is an overwhelming sense of distrust among the American people towards the United States government. I hope this hearing will answer the important questions I have and help the American people and I to gain some more faith in what is being done to contain the Ebola crisis and secure the safety of all Americans." Farenthold concluded.
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