I do not think the President has put a significant amount of importance on this.

Without objection. Just for the record, I submitted a letter along with Senator Cornyn to the Secretary asking the same request.

I certainly understand what he is saying, and I certainly understand, Dr. Giroir, the position that you are in.

We have to fight this aggressively, and, most importantly, over in the countries involved in West Africa.

I think the numbers around the CDC budget over the past few years reflect that prioritizing public health and addressing world-wide health emergencies have not been our top priority.

This should be treated, I think, as a public health issue.

It is obvious that people are affected by it. It is very obvious that people are concerned by it.

I would love to get your answers to those in a little more specificity.

What are the audit and accountability mechanisms for CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grants?

For Dr. Merlin, my understanding is that there are experimental treatments for Ebola...

What are the threats at our other ports of entry, sea ports and land ports, from a public health perspective?

It is incumbent upon us to work with our international partners to eradicate the virus at its origin in West Africa.

I hope that our discussion today can yield a step in this direction, and I also support the Chairman's comment that this disease does not see party or anything.

I often urge my colleagues not to use our positions of influence to promote fear in the public.

I also want to extend my condolences to the family of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola on American soil.

the value of our public health infrastructure and the cost of maintaining it.

I want to thank the Chairman for holding this timely hearing on our efforts--both domestic and international--to contain and prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.

I think it is an excellent idea, and we have learned a lot from hearing what Texas has done.