Chattanooga area lawmakers support Ebola travel ban

photo This photo provided by the CDC shows an ebola Virus.

"The president already has too many White House staff 'czars' who are not accountable to Congress. I urged the president two weeks ago to designate immediately an individual to coordinate a more urgent Ebola response. I had in mind a cabinet-level official with the skills of a four-star general or admiral who had a broad public health background and would be accountable to Congress. That kind of action would give Americans confidence about our government's response to Ebola."

-- U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

"We have an obligation to protect American citizens first as we continue to work with other countries to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. Until the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is under control, the United States should, as part of a robust, comprehensive response, restrict tourism and nonessential travel from the affected region to the United States."

-- U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

"I share the deep concerns expressed by many Georgians about the risk this deadly virus poses to our public health. ... I support implementing travel restrictions from Ebola-affected nations in West Africa to the United States. I believe exceptions can and should be made for essential personnel to carry out our mission of stopping the spread of Ebola at the source. ... I urge the administration to put in place a proactive and carefully thought-out plan to protect the American people from the spread of this virus."

-- U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.

"As a member of the Senate health committee, I believe that, given the transmission of Ebola in Dallas that originated from a passenger flying from West Africa, we need to temporarily restrict nonessential travel to the United States from Ebola-affected countries. ... I take this situation very seriously and believe it is an urgent priority for the United States to contain this outbreak at its source, as well as to ensure that any additional cases that arise in the United States are quickly isolated."

-- U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

"Ebola is a serious crisis and calls for a serious response, which is why the House appropriated more money for the CDC than requested. I urge the president to keep all options on the table, including a travel ban. My heart goes out to the Americans and all people who have been impacted by Ebola, and I will implore the administration to use every tool possible to combat this virus and keep Americans safe."

-- U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.

"Unfortunately, we are seeing the results of drastic government cost-cutting in the name of 'smaller government' as well as the results of years of congressional gridlock. The CDC was working on an Ebola vaccine but had to discontinue that effort because of repeated cost-cutting. If that vaccine was available, this entire health crisis might not exist. ... Many mistakes that were made might have been avoided if we had a surgeon general in charge, but we don't have one and have not had one since July of 2013 because Dr. Vivek Murthy's nomination got tied up in politics. ... We need the Senate to do its job and confirm a surgeon general."

-- Dr. Mary Headrick, Democratic candidate for 3rd Congressional District

"As we have already witnessed, lax restrictions on international travel from countries laden with the disease have resulted in the infection of two American citizens on U.S. soil. In order to prevent any further spread of the Ebola virus here in the United States, it is critical we restrict all travel to and from the countries currently experiencing large-scale Ebola outbreaks with the exception of medical aid workers. I call on the president to move swiftly and without hesitation in placing travel restrictions between the United States and the West African nations plagued by this infectious disease."

-- U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn.

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