DeLauro Statement on Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

May 12, 2017
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC (May 12, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding news that the World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"News that Ebola has returned to Africa is a devastating, yet not unexpected, setback in our fight against the disease. Last year, when President Obama requested funding to fight the Zika virus, Congressional Republicans refused to allocate the money and insisted on using funds set aside to battle Ebola. Despite repeated warnings that this action was a mistake, Republicans chose to move forward. As a result, we took money away from programs aimed at detecting and preventing future transmissible health threats like Ebola in developing countries.

"How many more people must die before we recognize the significance of this global health threat and do something? Congress should pass the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act, which I plan to reintroduce, to help fight the spread of life-threatening diseases. The greatest tool we have to save lives during an outbreak is a robust public health infrastructure, and funding programs ahead of time is critical for a rapid and immediate response. We prepare for disasters like hurricanes, and we must absolutely do the same for outbreaks of disease."

Last year, DeLauro repeatedly raised the issue of using funds allocated to fight Ebola for other global health crises, warning Congress more than a dozen times that it was a dangerous and misguided idea:

  • February 18, 2016: "The threat of Ebola is not over. The majority's suggestion to shift unobligated Ebola funds to confront Zika would rob Peter to pay Paul, and it would increase health risks both at home and abroad."
  • February 25, 2016: "Some of my colleagues have expressed a desire to shift unobligated funds that Congress provided for Ebola to respond to Zika. I strongly oppose that idea. The threat of Ebola is not over. I would be anxious to know what activities we would have to forgo if we shift funds away from Ebola to Zika. We need to be able to respond to multiple public health threats at the same time, and Congress must act quickly to protect Americans from the Zika virus."
  • March 16, 2016: "Some of my colleagues have expressed a desire to shift unobligated funds that Congress provided for Ebola to respond to Zika. I strongly oppose that idea."
  • March 23, 2016: "Speaker Ryan's comments that emergency aid to fight the ZIka virus should come from money set aside to fight Ebola are shameful. While the number of Ebola outbreaks has subsided, it still remains a major health threat to Africa and the global community."
  • March 23, 2016: "Some of my colleagues have expressed a desire to shift unobligated funds that Congress provided for Ebola to respond to Zika. I strongly oppose that idea because of the activities we would have to forgo if we shift funds away from Ebola to Zika"
  • April 1, 2016: "Ebola's continued presence in West Africa is another sign that we absolutely cannot divert funds away from fighting the disease."
  • April 6, 2016: "The Centers for Disease Control, the medical community, and experts around the country have warned us not to make this funding mistake, yet Republicans have thrown all caution to the wind."
  • April 13, 2016: "There are cases of Ebola in West Africa right now. Right now. That public health crisis has not gone away. And we know that. The threats still exist; the threats have not gone away; there are recent cases. And my point is, it is so short sighted and irresponsible of us to shift the funds to another crisis."
  • April 19, 2016: "Ebola is not over."
  • April 20, 2016: "Due to the majority's refusal to consider the emergency request, the Administration has been forced to redirect $510 million from Ebola to deal with an immediate Zika response. Let me be clear: these funds are being directed away from other critical and threatening global health risks and are being repurposed—shifted—only as a last resort, not because it's the right thing to do from a policy perspective. In fact, the White House has said that these funds will need to be restored because Ebola is not over. We cannot abandon our fight in West Africa where Ebola continues to flare-up."
  • April 27, 2016: "Let me be clear: these funds are being directed away from other critical and threatening global health risks and are being repurposed only as a last resort – not because it is the right thing to do from a policy perspective."
  • May 16, 2016: "Republicans are offering a paltry $622 million, using funds that were set aside to fight Ebola and help states respond to public health crises and emergencies. Republicans are robbing from one public health crisis to help pay for another, all while nickel and diming the states."
  • August 11, 2016: "This is a public health emergency. What does it take to get the Republican majority to act? First, they demanded that the Administration transfer funds intended to combat the Ebola virus and use it instead for Zika. The Administration complied. $589 million was redirected to fight Zika, in essence, robbing Peter to pay Paul."

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