Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERA. Mr. Chairman, as a doctor, I know that understanding and managing infectious diseases is one of the most important parts of our security and our national security. The intelligence community has found that a country's health is directly linked to their stability and their well-being. We are reminded of this every few years through mass pandemics that are not going away.

In 2014, we saw the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and just 2 years ago, we witnessed the Zika outbreak in Central and South America. And, unfortunately, as a doctor, I know we are going to continue to see these and other diseases again and again, and we need to be prepared.

So we offer this amendment as a way of getting the intelligence community to help us with that preparedness, to inform us and make sure we are not just protecting lives overseas, but we are also protecting our national interests and our national security.

Mr. Chairman, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

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