Four Things Some DC Lawmakers Want Obama to Do About Ebola

ABC News(WASHINGTON) — There is a growing political drumbeat for the Obama administration to take bold new steps on Ebola, as two Dallas health care workers are being treated for Ebola this week.

Facing pressure from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, President Obama on Friday appointed Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Al Gore, to lead the administration’s Ebola response.

But there are other proposals that lawmakers are pushing the president to consider, including travel bans and firing the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here’s a look at some of the latest steps some lawmakers in Congress want Obama to take:

1. MANDATORY QUARANTINE

In a letter sent to Obama Thursday, Rep. Tim Murphy, the Pennsylvania Republican who chaired Thursday’s Ebola hearing in the House, called on the administration to implement a mandatory 21-day quarantine order for any American who has treated an Ebola patient or anyone who has traveled to and returned from an Ebola-stricken country. This would include “a prohibition of domestic public travel regardless of assumptions that the treating professionals wore or removed all personal protective equipment properly.”

2. TRAVEL BAN & VISA RESTRICTIONS

The most popular idea being floated around by Republican lawmakers is restricting entry for passengers coming from West African countries dealing with Ebola. According to a rough and unofficial whip count, at least 55 members of the House (six Democrats, 49 GOP) and at least 11 senators (one Democrat, 10 Republicans) want some kind of travel restrictions. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio is the highest ranking Republican asking Obama to consider a travel ban. In a phone call Thursday night, Texas Gov. Rick Perry pressed Obama to implement a travel ban, exempting medical workers.

Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., says he will introduce legislation next month that would “restrict all commercial flights from traveling to and from Ebola affected countries until the virus is declared to be contained and no longer a threat.”

But many lawmakers, primarily Democrats, have come out in opposition to a travel ban. The White House says a ban is off the table.

Several lawmakers, all Republicans, are suggesting the State Department halt the issuance of visas for non-nationals coming from Ebola-stricken countries. But some have said there should be exceptions. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who supports implementing visa restrictions, said health workers coming to the United States to seek medical training should still be eligible for visas.

3. FIRE FRIEDEN

There is pressure from a small group of lawmakers for CDC Director Thomas Frieden to resign amid criticism of the administration’s handling of Ebola in this country. Such lawmakers include Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Reps. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Pete Sessions, R-Texas.

4. EMERGENCY SESSION OF CONGRESS

Congress is out of session until after the November midterm election, but Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, thinks congressional leaders should call Congress back to Washington for an emergency session to examine a temporary Ebola travel ban.

“The top priority should be to protect health and safety of American citizens,” Cruz said on Fox News Thursday night. “We need to do more, we’re not doing enough. If the president won’t act, then Congress should reconvene and Congress should act to protect the American people.”

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