Members of the Florida congressional delegation continue to try to find solutions to head off the Ebola threat.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Monday he will introduce a bill imposing a temporary travel ban on Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone nationals due to those nations being impacted by Ebola, shutting down any new visas.
Rubio plans to bring up the bill in November when the Senate reconvenes. The measure would end the ban until the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) clears those nations.
A similar bill is being launched in the U.S. House by U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., who serves in the GOP leadership as senior deputy majority whip.
Rubio explained the rationale behind his bill on Monday.
While Ebolas deadly reach has proven to be a complex and unique international challenge, the many uncertainties surrounding this virus continue to threaten U.S. national security, said Rubio. Our biggest priority is ensuring that sufficient safeguards are in place to limit the spread of Ebola, contain it at the source, and protect Americans.
We must take any and all necessary precautions to contain this virus and common-sense restrictions on travel from countries now confronting this epidemic is an important step, Rubio continued. The most effective way to combat this deadly virus is to address it at its source. This ban on issuance of visas does not mean we will be completely cutting off the affected countries from the outside world. We must continue to increase our assistance to those countries as they struggle to contain this outbreak. That is, ultimately, the only way we will be able to stop this outbreak and keep Americans safe from this horrible disease.
While U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., has supported the White Houses opposition to the travel ban, some leading Florida Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, have called for a travel ban.
U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., expressed support for a travel ban at the end of last week.
It is critical that the Centers for Disease Control and other federal, state, and local agencies take the necessary steps to ensure this disease not spread further in our country, Garcia said. As part of this effort, I believe the administration should impose travel restrictions to the United States from the West African countries impacted by the tragic Ebola epidemic.
It should also support the use of passenger database systems by airlines flying out of affected countries to better track passengers who may have been exposed, similar to those precautions currently being implemented here in the U.S., Garcia added. Both the administration and Congress have a responsibility to act aggressively to protect the American people and to stop the spread of Ebola, here and throughout the world.
Garcia, who is facing a major challenge from Republican candidate Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo in the general election, took part in a call with CDC and other health officials on Monday.
I have spoken with several health care professionals, local leaders, and CDC officials in order to understand the depth of our preparedness to deal with a possible Ebola case in South Florida, Curbelo said after the call. They have all relayed a committed effort to ensure health-care workers and the community are educated, vigilant, and prepared. In doing so, we must make sure our hospitals and health-care workers know what to look out for, that they have an adequate stock of protective equipment to deal with a possible case, and that every measure is taken to keep employees and the public safe.
The public should rest assured that the South Florida medical community is ready to step up, Curbelo added. We cant let ourselves be dominated by fear. Nigeria has eradicated Ebola. There is no reason to think the U.S. cant as well.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
