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1 [1] (November 7, 2014)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthaaaye0001 and id is 1 raw text is: CRS Insights The Administration's Supplemental Request for Ebola and Other Infectious Diseases Sarah A. Lister, Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology (ssiter@crsjoc.gv, 7-7320) Novmbe 7,2014 (IN10176) On November 5, 2014, the Administration submitted to Congress its FY2015 emergency for $6.18 billion to prevent, prepare for, and respond to [thecurrent EbDIa outbreak] or other infectious diseases domestically and internationally. The currentcontinuing resolutrn_(R), which runs through December 11, provided $88 million to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Ebola response. During September and October, the spread of Ebola virus disease (V)inW Afrc worsened, and cases of EVD in the United States tested the readiness of the nation's public health and health care systems. Senior appropriators have signaled their intent to consider the Administration's request and the merits of additional funding for the Ebola response among their appropriations activities in the final weeks of the 113th Congress. The Administration proposes that $4.64 billion of the requested amount be provided for a number of specified immediate needs, and the additional $1.54 billion be provided as contingency funding for evolving needs, both domestically and internationally. Transfer authorities are requested for both immediate needs and contingency funds, including authority for transfer to other federal departments as long as funds are used for the broadly stated purposes of the request. Contingency funds would be provided to existing accounts at HHS and the State Department and made available for obligation only upon prior notice to Congress by the President. (As the request notes, in 2009 Congress provided contingency funding, along with immediate funding, in the emergency supolemental for the response to the HiIt influenza-pandemic.) The Administration proposes that all requested funds be designated as emergency requirements, and therefore not subject to budget caps. Amounts requested by the Administration are presented in Table.1. Funds are requested for domestic and international activities. Much of the funding would support ongoing activities-domestic outbreak control, international assistance, and development of vaccines and treatments-including: * Establishing over 50 domestic Ebola Treatment Centers (ETCs). The Administration proposes waiving the prohibition on using HHS grants to renovate privately owned facilities. This would allow the HHS Secretary to improve selected hospitals to serve as designated treatment facilities for persons with EVD or other serious communicable diseases. * Procurement of additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Strategic National StoCkpile. * Increased support for monitoring of ravelers at U.S. airports. * Advancedclinical trials and regulatory review of experimental vaccines and treatments. * Continued logistical support for Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and other countries to improve disease detection and control capacity. * Reimbursement of State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) accounts for funds previously expended on Ebola response. * Estimated U.S. contributions to the new United Nations Mission for Ebola Emeroency Response (UNMEER) and the Wr H ranizatin(WHO). Table 1. Administration's Emergency Appropriations Request for Ebola and Other Infectious Diseases Amounts are U.S. dollars in millions. Department/ Agency and/or Account Amount Purpose(s), (page of request) HHS/CDC 1,830.0 Various domestic and international activities through CDC accounts. (pp. 1-2)