WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) is calling for tighter travel restrictions on countries affected by the outbreak of the Ebola virus.
The lawmaker specifically calls for a temporary travel ban on citizens of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Coat’s proposal came on Wednesday, the same day the federal government ordered any travelers arriving from Ebola-affected countries to enter the U.S. in one of five airports.
Those international airports are JFK in New York, New Jersey’s Newark, Washington Dulles, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Chicago O’Hare.
Coat’s remarks regarding his call for increased travel bans:
“As Americans, we are blessed to live in a nation with world-class hospitals, medical professionals and technologies designed to deal with complex health care challenges. The outbreak of the Ebola virus is a serious health issue for our country, and the United States needs to aggressively prepare to respond to the threat Ebola poses.
“Given the seriousness of this situation, the United States should temporarily enact a visa ban on nationals from Ebola-affected countries. Ensuring that citizens from these countries cannot enter the United States is a common-sense step to contain this virus and protect American citizens.”
