Marco Rubio Sponsors Ebola Travel Ban Bill

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., unveiled the Keeping America Safe from Ebola Act of 2014 which would enact travel bans to nations the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) list as dealing with that disease. Rubios co-sponsors include fellow Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Pat Roberts of Kansas and John Thune of South Dakota. The House version is being backed by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.

Imposing travel restrictions is a common-sense approach to protecting Americans from Ebola, said Rubio on Thursday. Over the past few months, weve seen Ebolas deadly reach, and air travel has proven to be its gateway to the United States.

A temporary visa ban aims to limit the spread of Ebola by placing strict limitations on travel to the U.S. from Ebola-affected countries and protect Americans from any potential threats of an outbreak, but it does not mean that our efforts to combat the virus will stop there, added Rubio. America must remain committed to this international challenge by addressing it at its source and increasing our assistance to countries that continue struggling to contain this deadly outbreak. America will not be completely safe from Ebola until the virus is contained at its source.

Rubios bill would suspend and revoke visas for individuals from what the CDC considers Ebola-infected or threatened nations excepting aid workers and military personnel.