Calendar No. 102
116th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To authorize activities to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes.
May 7, 2019
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Isakson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 3, 2019
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
To authorize activities to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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, has resulted in 1,554 total cases, and 1,029 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.
(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) In the wake of Dr. Kiboung’s death, healthcare workers responding to Ebola have threatened to go on strike unless the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo takes steps to improve security.
(7) The Administration released a November 29, 2018, Presidential Memorandum implementing aid restrictions to most countries on Tier 3 of the 2018 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report that fully restricted non-humanitarian, non-trade related aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
(8) 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.”.
(9) 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.
SEC. 3. Authorization to address the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
(a) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development is authorized to provide assistance for efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, to the extent necessary, in other countries, including assistance intended to lower community resistance to interventions that the Administrator assesses will facilitate efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak.
(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.
This Act may be cited as the “Ebola Eradication Act of 2019”.
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 resulted in over 1,600 cases and 1,000 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.
(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) and (5)) 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.
SEC. 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—
Calendar No. 102 | |||||
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A BILL | |||||
To authorize activities to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and
for
other purposes. | |||||
June 3, 2019 | |||||
Reported with an amendment |