Newsletter: Shelley's Weekly Update - President Must Enact Ebola Travel Ban

Statement

Dear Friends,

Many of you have been following the news closely regarding the latest on Ebola and the federal government's response, and I'd like to share my thoughts with you on how we can work to keep Americans safe from this devastating disease.

One month ago, the president told the nation that the odds of an Ebola outbreak in the United States were extremely low. Since that time, Thomas Eric Duncan traveled from West Africa to Texas, where he was diagnosed with Ebola and later died.

At least two health care workers who treated Mr. Duncan have been infected, and one reportedly flew on a commercial airline along with 132 other passengers just hours before she was hospitalized and diagnosed with Ebola. The Centers for Disease Control now says the patient should not have flown after having an elevated temperature after treating Duncan. As we have seen in recent weeks, just a handful of travelers infected with Ebola have the potential to spread this gruesome illness throughout the United States.

Our hearts go out to the nations suffering from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and the United States should provide humanitarian aid to help local governments and medical professionals treat and contain Ebola.

However, we must work to protect our homeland and the health of Americans, which is why I've called on President Obama to protect the American people from this devastating disease by banning travel to the United States from West Africa for the duration of this crisis and establishing concrete protocols to stop the transmission of Ebola within our country.

DUPONT WASHINGTON WORKS

Earlier this week, I visited the DuPont Washington Works plant near Parkersburg. The plant employs about 1,500 people, and the materials made in West Virginia are used in a wide range of products such as paint brushes, toothbrushes and suspension fabrics. I met with employees in the filament department and took their questions on issues such as education, national security and government regulation. I also discussed regional economic development opportunities that would be spurred by the proposed ethane cracker, which would be located on property adjoining the Washington Works facility.

Thank you for reading my weekly e-newsletter, and as always, you can join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,

Shelley Moore Capito

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