I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5710 
To authorize the provision of assistance on an emergency basis for countries 
affected by or at risk of being affected by the outbreak of the Ebola 
virus disease to effectively address such outbreak at its source, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 14, 2014 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Ms. BASS, and Mr. MEADOWS) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs 
A BILL 
To authorize the provision of assistance on an emergency 
basis for countries affected by or at risk of being affected 
by the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease to effectively 
address such outbreak at its source, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ebola Emergency Re-
sponse Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
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(1) the current outbreak of the Ebola virus dis-
ease in West Africa poses severe health, economic, 
and security threats to the countries affected by the 
outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, the United 
States, and the broader international community; 
and 
(2) the whole-of-government response taken by 
the United States provides unique capabilities that 
are critical to effectively helping contain the Ebola 
virus disease in West Africa, yet the United States 
alone will not succeed in containing the Ebola virus 
disease. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENTS OF POLICY. 
It shall be the policy of the United States to— 
(1) support a robust international response to 
the Ebola virus disease in West Africa by under-
taking a range of activities to immediately help de-
tect, contain, treat, and deter the further spread of 
the disease; 
(2) support the efforts of governments of af-
fected countries and of local, regional, and inter-
national nongovernmental organizations and civil so-
ciety organizations working on the front lines of the 
response to the Ebola virus disease; and 
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(3) work with appropriate security sector per-
sonnel engaged in the response to the Ebola virus 
disease in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as well 
as with civil society, regional organizations, and the 
United Nations to enhance border security and cre-
ate a secure operating environment for health work-
ers and other responders and the communities they 
are serving, including by repurposing, as necessary 
and appropriate, existing United States security as-
sistance provided to the affected countries to address 
immediate border security and law enforcement 
needs. 
SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE OUT-
BREAK OF THE EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE. 
In carrying out the policy under section 3, the Presi-
dent shall— 
(1) seek to coordinate with the governments of 
countries of Africa affected by or at risk of being af-
fected by the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease, 
other donors, the private sector, regional and inter-
national financial institutions, local, regional, and 
international organizations, civil society, and local, 
regional, and nongovernmental organizations, par-
ticularly organizations that possess experience in 
emergency relief and infection control, to devise and 
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implement a coherent, comprehensive strategy to 
control the Ebola virus disease and assist affected 
populations, utilizing all necessary and appropriate 
assets and capabilities of the United States Govern-
ment; and 
(2) direct the United States Permanent Rep-
resentative to the United Nations to use the voice, 
vote, and influence of the United States at the 
United Nations to— 
(A) ensure that the United Nations Mis-
sion in Liberia is fully protecting individuals 
under its care from exploitation and abuse, in-
cluding by soldiers serving under its command, 
and, within its capabilities and in the context of 
its mandate to help solidify peace and stability 
while protecting civilians in Liberia, plays an 
active role in the emergency response, including 
by providing logistics and engineering support, 
as well as securing border crossings, state insti-
tutions, and treatment facilities, as necessary 
and appropriate; and 
(B) ensure that the United Nations Mis-
sion for the Ebola Emergency Response 
(UNMEER) plays an effective role in aligning 
donors around a single strategic operating plan 
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civil society organizations, and faith-based and tradi-
tional leaders. 
(8) The development and deployment of Ebola 
diagnostics and surveillance tools, as well as vaccines 
and treatments as they become available and to the 
extent possible that such vaccines and treatments 
adhere to strictly enforced informed consent proto-
cols. 
(9) The provision of emergency food assistance, 
water and sanitation, shelter, and support for or-
phans and vulnerable children in communities af-
fected by the Ebola virus disease. 
(10) The provision of technical assistance to 
strengthen border control, including enhanced health 
screening at exit and entry points in the region, to 
be complemented by appropriate health screening at 
United States ports of entry. 
(11) Activities related to sustainable post-out-
break economic recovery and ensuring the stability 
of countries affected by the Ebola virus disease. 
(c) ALLOCATION
AND
REIMBURSEMENT
AMONG 
AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, 
the President, acting through the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Develop-
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ment, is authorized to utilize the services and facili-
ties of, or procure commodities from, any agency of 
the United States Government on a non-reimburs-
able basis, subject to the written consent of the head 
of such other agency, and notwithstanding any pro-
vision of law relating to limitations on the use of au-
thorities or funding of such other agency. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—The Ad-
ministrator shall notify the appropriate committees 
not later than 15 days after the date on which the 
authority under paragraph (1) is utilized. Such noti-
fication shall include the name of the other agency, 
the value of such services or facilities utilized, or 
commodities procured, the affected appropriations 
accounts, and a justification for the utilization of the 
authority under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT 
TO AVOID ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AND ASSIST 
WITH POST-CRISIS COUNTRIES DIRECTLY AF-
FECTED BY THE OUTBREAK OF THE EBOLA 
VIRUS DISEASE. 
It is the sense of Congress that the President should 
work with other donors, including international financial 
institutions, to encourage such other donors to help the 
governments of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone miti-
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gate the risks of economic collapse and related civil unrest 
by providing appropriate access to emergency grants and 
financing tools, as necessary and appropriate, to address 
fiscal issues that are the direct result of the Ebola virus 
disease crisis, and to assist with post-crisis economic re-
covery. 
SEC. 7. REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date on which the President determines that the Ebola 
epidemic in West Africa has been effectively contained, the 
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that assesses the United States co-
ordination and response to the Ebola epidemic, including 
how the authorities provided pursuant to this Act were 
utilized and lessons learned that may have applications in 
response to future epidemics. 
(b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Com-
mittee on Armed Services, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
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sions, the Committee on Armed Services, and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Presi-
dent to carry out section 491 of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292) $1,801,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2015. 
Æ 
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