IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 118 

Expressing 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 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2014 

Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Ms. BASS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. 

MCCOLLUM, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. KINZINGER of 

Illinois, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE of 

California, and Mr. LEVIN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing 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. 

Whereas the current Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Liberia, and 

Sierra Leone is the first Ebola outbreak in West Africa 

and by far the largest Ebola outbreak ever; 

Whereas the Ebola Virus Disease is a severe acute viral illness that has symptoms that are also common to other 


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viruses, such as fever, muscle pain, and intestinal problems, making it difficult to properly identify; 

Whereas Ebola outbreaks are characterized by human-tohuman transmission of the virus through direct contact 

with blood, body fluids, and tissues of infected people 

such as through needle sticks, unprotected care of infected individuals, and unsafe funeral preparation or burial ceremonies; 

Whereas Ebola outbreaks historically have a case fatality rate 

of up to 90 percent; 

Whereas there is currently no licensed vaccine for Ebola or 

treatment for Ebola other than supportive care; 

Whereas according to the World Health Organization, as of 

November 12, 2014, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone 

have reported 14,098 suspected, probable, and confirmed 

cases since December 2013; 

Whereas the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC) estimates that for every case reported an additional 1.5 cases are not recorded; 

Whereas second order impacts of the Ebola outbreak are 

threatening local public health systems, economic and 

food security, and political stability; 

Whereas the Ebola virus threatens to destabilize the nascent 

political systems in affected countries and disrupt the 

free flow of people and goods in a globalized world economy; 

Whereas the United States cannot truly protect itself from 

the Ebola crisis without ending the outbreak in West Africa; 


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Whereas the United States has addressed the crisis by disbursing over $414,000,000 to date, deploying a Disaster 

Assistance Response Team (DART) to coordinate the 

United States Government response in West Africa, sending United States military and broader uniformed services to support logistics, training, and engineering; 

Whereas the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015 included $88,000,000 to support the international response 

to the outbreak and to invest in the research and development of Ebola vaccines and treatments; 

Whereas at the time of the initial outbreak many health 

workers in West Africa did not have proper training or 

experience to recognize, diagnose, and care for Ebola patients and prevent transmission; 

Whereas the United States is helping to train health workers 

from member states of the African Union to directly respond to medical needs in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra 

Leone, but more trained workers are still needed; 

Whereas nongovernmental organizations such as Doctors 

Without Borders (MSF), the International Federation of 

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, American Jewish 

World Service, International Medical Corps, International 

Rescue Committee, Partners in Health, Samaritan’s 

Purse, Global Communities, and many more are responding to the crisis; 

Whereas the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Center for International Disaster 

Information operate a database for medical professionals 

in the United States who are willing to go overseas to 

fight Ebola; 


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Whereas, as of November 10, 2014, USAID has received 

nearly 4,800 self-nominated, non-vetted volunteers 

through the usaid.gov online registration portal for health 

care volunteers and passing these contacts to interested 

aid organizations working in the region for vetting, possible selection, and training; 

Whereas MSF has said what is needed most to fight the epidemic in West Africa is not cash contributions, but rather additional health workers; 

Whereas according to the World Health Organization, over 

540 health workers in West Africa, including several 

United States citizens, have been infected in the current 

outbreak and over 310 have died; 

Whereas 2 nurses contracted Ebola while treating a patient 

in the United States, and have since recovered; and 

Whereas the United States Government, in cooperation with 

international partners, must do everything possible to 

protect health workers who may come into contact with 

Ebola, such as by procuring additional units of personal 

protective equipment (PPE) and investing in research 

and development of better methods of protection: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes and honors the commitment, 

4 courage, and sacrifices made by medical profes5 sionals, national and community health care work6 ers, government officials, military personnel, non7 governmental organizations, members of civil society, 


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1 faith leaders, and volunteers engaged in the effort to 

2 combat and contain the Ebola Virus Disease, there3 by saving countless lives; 

4 (2) calls on research and development groups 

5 and medical device companies to develop better ways 

6 to protect health workers from Ebola infection; 

7 (3) remains committed to mobilizing the re8 sources and personnel necessary to help fight the 

9 spread of this disease to save lives and to protect the 

10 national security and global health interests of the 

11 United States; 

12 (4) calls on the international community to in13 crease its commitments of resources, services, and 

14 personnel to assist affected nations in addressing the 

15 current epidemic; and 

16 (5) recognizes the need to address long-term so17 lutions to the Ebola epidemic, including by helping 

18 to build resilient public health systems. 

Æ 


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