Rep. Kelly Calls on President Obama to Enact Bush-Era Proposal to Update Nation's Quarantine Rules

Press Release

U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today, in light of the ongoing Ebola crisis, calling on President Obama to finalize a rule proposed under the Bush administration in 2005 (Vol. 70, No. 229, 71892) to update and revise regulations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to "prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States from one State or possession into another." According to the federal register, the code of federal regulations that deals with foreign arrivals has not been updated since 1985. According to the summary of the 2005 rule proposal, "Having updated regulations in place is an important measure to ensure swift response to public health threats."

Statement by Rep. Kelly:

"It is both frustrating and shocking that there has not been a significant update to our nation's quarantine laws in nearly 30 years. In that time, there has been a dramatic increase in international travel as well an increased likelihood in the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases into America. Even though the world has changed, we're still relying on rules written when the Berlin Wall was still standing. This is totally unacceptable. Just as an army cannot succeed with outdated weapons, an effective war on Ebola cannot be waged or won with policies from three decades ago. I call on President Obama and his administration to get over its concerns for political correctness and finally enact the 2005 proposed updates for the sake of the health and security of all Americans. It's time to put America first."

Source