,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #egaj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ad1 #bjad ,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,bass1 and ,mr4 ,meadows7 introduced the following bill2 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 source1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,ebola ,emergency ,response ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the current outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease in ,west ,africa poses severe health1 economic1 and security threats to the countries affected by the outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease1 the ,united ,states1 and the broader international community2 and 7#b7 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 ,africa1 yet the ,united ,states alone will not succeed in containing the ,ebola virus disease4 #c4 ,statements of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states to-- 7#a7 support a robust international response to the ,ebola virus disease in ,west ,africa by undertaking a range of activities to immediately help detect1 contain1 treat1 and deter the further spread of the disease2 7#b7 support the efforts of governments of affected countries and of local1 regional1 and international nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations working on the front lines of the response to the ,ebola virus disease2 and 7#c7 work with appropriate security sector personnel engaged in the response to the ,ebola virus disease in ,guinea1 ,liberia1 and ,sierra ,leone1 as well as with civil society1 regional organizations1 and the ,united ,nations to enhance border security and create a secure operating environment for health workers and other responders and the communities they are serving1 including by repurposing1 as necessary and appropriate1 existing ,united ,states security assistance provided to the affected countries to address immediate border security and law enforcement needs4 #d4 ,international efforts to control the outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease ,in carrying out the policy under section #c1 the ,president shall-- 7#a7 seek to coordinate with the governments of countries of ,africa affected by or at risk of being affected by the outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease1 other donors1 the private sector1 regional and international financial institutions1 local1 regional1 and international organizations1 civil society1 and local1 regional1 and nongovernmental organizations1 particularly organizations that possess experience in emergency relief and infection control1 to devise and implement a coherent1 comprehensive strategy to control the ,ebola virus disease and assist affected populations1 utilizing all necessary and appropriate assets and capabilities of the ,united ,states ,government2 and 7#b7 direct the ,united ,states ,permanent ,representative to the ,united ,nations to use the voice1 vote1 and influence of the ,united ,states at the ,united ,nations to-- 7,a7 ensure that the ,united ,nations ,mission in ,liberia is fully protecting individuals under its care from exploitation and abuse1 including by soldiers serving under its command1 and1 within its capabilities and in the context of its mandate to help solidify peace and stability while protecting civilians in ,liberia1 plays an active role in the emergency response1 including by providing logistics and engineering support1 as well as securing border crossings1 state institutions1 and treatment facilities1 as necessary and appropriate2 and 7,b7 ensure that the ,united ,nations ,mission for the ,ebola ,emergency ,response 7,,unmeer7 plays an effective role in aligning donors around a single strategic operating plan to detect1 contain1 treat1 and deter the further spread of ,ebola1 and that the associated costs for its work are offset by decreases elsewhere in the general budget of the ,united ,nations4 #e4 ,assistance to countries affected by the outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease 7a7 ,authorization ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 and consistent with the authorities of section #dia of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbib71 the ,president is authorized to provide assistance on an emergency basis to countries directly affected by or at imminent risk of being affected by the outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease to effectively address such outbreak1 by supporting the activities described in subsection 7b74 7b7 ,activities supported ,activities supported by assistance under subsection 7a7 are the following3 7#a7 ,the construction1 staffing1 and equipping of patient isolation and treatment facilities in sufficient numbers to treat infected persons at the most appropriate locations4 7#b7 ,the construction and equipping of laboratories in sufficient numbers to ensure accurate testing for the ,ebola virus disease and other infectious diseases1 as necessary and appropriate1 in as rapid a time frame as possible4 7#c7 ,the provision of vital medical supplies and equipment necessary to contain the outbreak4 7#d7 ,the recruitment and training of local and international staff on effective disease identification1 isolation1 contact tracing1 and care with respect to the ,ebola virus disease1 especially the proper use of universal precautions1 personal protective equipment1 and other infection control measures1 to minimize transmission4 7#e7 ,the recruitment1 training1 and equipping of safe burial teams1 as necessary1 to reduce transmission of the ,ebola virus disease4 7#f7 ,the provision of medical evacuations1 on a reimbursable basis1 for medical and other personnel engaged in the response to the ,ebola virus disease who become infected with the disease1 as necessary and appropriate4 7#g7 ,the development of an effective public information campaign to help limit the transmission of the ,ebola virus disease1 utilizing all appropriate means of communication1 including digital1 print1 broadcast communication1 and communications through local health care workers1 media1 schools1 civil society organizations1 and faith-based and traditional leaders4 7#h7 ,the development and deployment of ,ebola diagnostics and surveillance tools1 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 protocols4 7#i7 ,the provision of emergency food assistance1 water and sanitation1 shelter1 and support for orphans and vulnerable children in communities affected by the ,ebola virus disease4 7#aj7 ,the provision of technical assistance to strengthen border control1 including enhanced health screening at exit and entry points in the region1 to be complemented by appropriate health screening at ,united ,states ports of entry4 7#aa7 ,activities related to sustainable post-outbreak economic recovery and ensuring the stability of countries affected by the ,ebola virus disease4 7c7 ,allocation and reimbursement among agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out this section1 the ,president1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 is authorized to utilize the services and facilities of1 or procure commodities from1 any agency of the ,united ,states ,government on a non-reimbursable basis1 subject to the written consent of the head of such other agency1 and notwithstanding any provision of law relating to limitations on the use of authorities or funding of such other agency4 7#b7 ,congressional notification ,the ,administrator shall notify the appropriate committees not later than #ae days after the date on which the authority under paragraph 7#a7 is utilized4 ,such notification shall include the name of the other agency1 the value of such services or facilities utilized1 or commodities procured1 the affected appropriations accounts1 and a justification for the utilization of the authority under paragraph 7#a74 #f4 ,sense of ,congress on international support to avoid economic collapse and assist with post-crisis countries directly affected by the outbreak of the ,ebola virus disease ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,president should work with other donors1 including international financial institutions1 to encourage such other donors to help the governments of ,guinea1 ,liberia1 and ,sierra ,leone mitigate the risks of economic collapse and related civil unrest by providing appropriate access to emergency grants and financing tools1 as necessary and appropriate1 to address fiscal issues that are the direct result of the ,ebola virus disease crisis1 and to assist with post-crisis economic recovery4 #g4 ,report 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #f months after the date on which the ,president determines that the ,ebola epidemic in ,west ,africa has been effectively contained1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that assesses the ,united ,states coordination and response to the ,ebola epidemic1 including how the authorities provided pursuant to this ,act were utilized and lessons learned that may have applications in response to future epidemics4 7b7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions1 the ,committee on ,armed ,services1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate4 #h4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,president to carry out section #dia of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbib7 #a1hja1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjae4