[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3606-S3607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6483. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1210. PROTECTING GLOBAL HEALTH.

       (a) Short Titles.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Epidemic Barrier and Outbreak Leadership Act'' or the 
     ``EBOLA Act''.
       (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics pose 
     significant threats to the national security, public health, 
     and economic well-being of the United States.
       (2) The 2026 Ebola Disease outbreak in Central and Eastern 
     Africa has rapidly spread across international borders and 
     resulted in more than 1,000 cases of the disease.
       (3) According to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention's model scenarios, without a strong public health 
     intervention, the current outbreak could become larger than 
     the outbreak in West Africa from 2014 to 2016 in which more 
     than 11,000 people died.
       (4) Despite the need for continued reforms, the World 
     Health Organization serves as the principal international 
     body for disease surveillance, outbreak response 
     coordination, and public health information sharing.
       (5) Participation in the World Health Organization enhances 
     the ability of the United States to monitor emerging 
     infectious diseases, coordinate with international partners, 
     and protect the health of the American people.
       (6) On January 20, 2025, President Trump initiated the 
     withdrawal of the United

[[Page S3607]]

     States from the World Health Organization through Executive 
     Order 14155 (90 Fed. Reg. 8361), which was completed on 
     January 22, 2026.
       (7) In previous public health emergencies of international 
     concern, the United States has consistently communicated with 
     representatives of the World Health Organization, other 
     multilateral health agencies, and the governments of other 
     countries to ensure United States global health funding was 
     targeted, coordinated, and efficient.
       (c) Participation in the World Health Organization.--The 
     President, in coordination with the Secretary of State, 
     shall--
       (1) take all necessary steps for the United States to 
     rejoin the World Health Organization not later than 30 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (2) immediately collaborate with the World Health 
     Organization to respond to the Ebola Disease outbreak in 
     Central and Eastern Africa.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section, including--
       (1) paying assessed contributions and any other financial 
     obligations to restore United States membership in the World 
     Health Organization; and
       (2) supporting the response effort of the World Health 
     Organization and other United Nations entities to the Ebola 
     Disease epidemic in Central and Eastern Africa, including 
     through voluntary contributions and programmatic support, in 
     order to prevent global transmission of the virus, including 
     transmission to the people and territory of the United 
     States.
                                 ______