U.s. congressman Rodney davis proudly representing the 13th district of illinois

U.S .Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) today led a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Aviation Administration urging for the implementation of stronger travel restrictions and safeguards between counties in West Africa impacted by Ebola and the United States.

In the letter, the signatories write, “We understand that there are screening measures occurring in West Africa, however the fact that an individual with Ebola entered the United States through air travel is concerning and we must do all that we can to stop this disease from spreading. Our constituents are interested in what the government is doing to prevent further spreading of this disease as well. We believe our duty of keeping our citizens safe merits restricting travel between the United States and countries in West Africa impacted by Ebola. The health and wellness of our citizens and the flying public is our top priority.”

Other signatories to the letter include Reps. David Jolly (R-Fla.), Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), David Joyce (R-Ohio), Steve Southerland (R-Fla.), Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Gary Miller (R-Calif.), Curt Clawson (R-Fla.), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Lee Terry (R-Neb.).

The full text of the letter is as follows:

Dr. Tom Frieden                     Michael P. Huerta
Director Administrator
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Federal Aviation Administration
1600 Clifton Road 800 Independence Ave, SW
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 Washington, DC 20591

Dear Director Frieden and Administrator Huerta,

We write with obvious concern over the Ebola virus and the recent confirmed travel-related case of this virus in the United States. We believe it is important to remain calm yet vigilant on ways to defeat this terrible disease in West Africa and prevent its further spreading to the United States. Therefore, we ask that you implement stronger travel restrictions and safeguards between countries in West Africa impacted by Ebola and the United States while still allowing a way for rescue and aid workers combating this virus to travel to and from these countries.

In an October 3, 2014 statement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it was stated that any decision to restrict flights would be an interagency decision involving the Departments of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control, State, Homeland Security, and Transportation. As these agencies meet we ask that you keep us updated on proposals and criteria for making such a decision, as well as information on FAA’s readiness to implement such restrictions.

Finally, it has been reported that the Dallas Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, allegedly misled health screening officials in Liberia by failing to disclose on a screening form that he had had contact with an Ebola patient prior to departing the country. Beyond questionnaires, please share with us other methods, restrictions, and safeguards that can be developed both abroad and at airports here in the United States that will increase our chances of successfully stopping the spread of this virus.

Again, thank you for your efforts to provide information and defeat this terrible virus. We understand that there are screening measures occurring in West Africa, however the fact that an individual with Ebola entered the United States through air travel is concerning and we must do all that we can to stop this disease from spreading. Our constituents are interested in what the government is doing to prevent further spreading of this disease as well. We believe our duty of keeping our citizens safe merits restricting travel between the United States and countries in West Africa impacted by Ebola. The health and wellness of our citizens and the flying public is our top priority.

Sincerely,