Political Quotes

“I thank my good friend from California for his leadership in this very important amendment, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor with him. This amendment would require an intelligence briefing on the anticipated geopolitical effects of emerging infectious diseases and pandemics. These threats have serious implications for the national security of the country. Just ask Director of National Intelligence, Daniel Coats, who earlier this year warned that the increase in the frequency and diversity of reported disease outbreaks probably will continue, including the potential of a severe global health emergency that could lead to major economic and societal disruptions, strain governmental international resources, and increase calls to the United States for support. An outbreak in a remote village can spread to major cities in all six continents in less than 36 hours. Such an event can lead nations to close borders, disrupting the flow of people, goods, and services, and incurring grave economic, social, political, and security costs. Nearly 70 percent of the world's nations are underprepared to manage and control such outbreaks. These are not just hypotheticals. SARS, for example, spread across four continents, infected 8,100 people, killed more than 700, and cost the global economy $40 billion between February and July of 2003. The Ebola and Zika outbreaks cost the American taxpayers more than $6 billion. Understanding the ability, Mr.…”