Ebola Eradication Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-3085
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Introduced: 2019-06-04
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa

Congressional oversight

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Foreign aid and international relief

Infectious and parasitic diseases

World health
Latest action: action_date: 2019-06-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-06-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Ebola Eradication Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development to immediately provide assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other vulnerable countries to combat the Ebola outbreak that began in August 2018.</p> <p>In November 2018, the President restricted all non-humanitarian and non-trade-related aid to the DRC due to concerns that the country is not taking sufficient steps to combat human trafficking.</p> <p><br /></p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3085 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 4, 2019 Ms. Bass introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To authorize activities to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ebola Eradication Act of 2019 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which began in August 2018 in eastern Congo, is the second largest in history and has a reported 1,778 confirmed total cases, and 1,153 confirmed deaths. (2) Despite the use of preventive tools and new therapeutics, insecurity and community resistance to response efforts remain major obstacles to ending the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the outbreak continues to spread. (3) Hospitals, health clinics, and Ebola clinics have been repeatedly attacked by armed actors. (4) On February 28, 2019, Doctors Without Borders suspended its work in Ebola epicenters after two treatment centers were attacked. (5) On April 19, 2019, Dr. Richard Valery Mouzoko Kiboung, an epidemiologist from Cameroon deployed by the World Health Organization to eastern Congo to help stop the outbreak, was killed in an attack on Butembo University Hospital. (6) Healthcare workers responding to Ebola have expressed concerns about their ability to continue working on the response given the complex security situation. (7) If the outbreak is not brought under control, it risks spreading across the border to neighboring countries and endangering millions of people. (8) The Administration released a November 29, 2018, Presidential Memorandum implementing aid restrictions to most countries on Tier III of the 2018 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report that fully restricted non-humanitarian, non-trade related aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (9) Paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 110(d) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7107(d)(4) ) authorize the continuation of assistance in Tier III countries if such assistance is determined to be in the national interest of the United States. (10) Section 110(d)(5)(B) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7107(d)(5)(B) ) states, The President shall exercise the [waiver] authority under paragraph (4) when necessary to avoid significant adverse effects on vulnerable populations, including women and children. . (11) The President has not exercised the waiver authority provided for in section 110(d)(5)(B) of the Trafficking in Victims Protection Act of 2000 in relation to health, education, or community outreach activities essential to the success of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (12) It is in the national interest of the United States to help control and end the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before it spreads. 3. Authorization to address the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (a) In general Notwithstanding section 110 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7107 ), the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall immediately provide assistance, including multi-sectoral, non-humanitarian, and non-trade related foreign assistance, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other vulnerable countries to effectively combat the Ebola outbreak that began in August 2018. Subject to the availability of appropriations, such assistance shall be provided at levels commensurate with both the threat posed by the Ebola outbreak and an effective response. Activities to expand and improve access to communities heavily affected by the Ebola outbreak should be prioritized under this section. (b) Report to Congress Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report— (1) describing the actions the Administrator has taken and plans to take under section 3(a) to end the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; and (2) proposing any additional legal authorities required to improve the response to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.