Obama Seeks $6 Billion for Ebola Fight [View all]

[bananas]

Source: NBC

President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $6 billion to fight Ebola both in the United States and in West Africa, administration officials said Wednesday.

If he got the money, it would be an overwhelming boost to the U.S. efforts to fight the virus, which has infected at least 13,000 people and which is killing 70 percent of them.

Obama is asking the lame-duck Congress to approve the funding. Republicans took the Senate in Tuesday’s elections and strengthened their hold on the House, but lawmakers have just under two months to take action before the new legislators are sworn in.

House Speaker John Boehner said the appropriations committee would review the request.

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Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/obama-seeks-6-billion-ebola-fight-n242181

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Obama should also issue an executive order mandating proper equipment and policies at hospitals,
as the nurses are petitioning him to do (and I hope everyone here supports the nurses):

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/rn-ebola-strike-national-day-of-action-for-ebola-safety-standards/

RN Ebola Strike, National Day of Action for Ebola Safety Standards Coast to Coast Nov. 12

Press Release, 10/30/14



Actions Include Strike by 18,000 Kaiser California RNs, Strike by Washington DC RNs, Events in at Least 14 States

Registered nurses from California to Maine will hold strikes, picketing, and other actions Wednesday, November 12 in 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia – with possible support actions globally – as National Nurses United, the largest U.S. organization of nurses steps up the demand for tougher Ebola safety precautions in the nation’s hospitals.

One centerpiece of the actions will be a two-day strike by 18,000 RNs and nurse practitioners at 66 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics who have been pressing the HMO giant for weeks to put in place proper safety protocols and training with optimal personal protective equipment. Kaiser has repeatedly dismissed the nurses’ concerns. In California alone, strikes, pickets and other actions will involve at least 50,000 RNs.

A strike will also occur at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. affecting 400 RNs.

In addition, Ebola safety actions are tentatively set for Augusta, Ga., Bar Harbor, Me., Boston, Chicago, Durham, N.C., Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lansing, Mi., Massilon, Oh., Miami, St. Louis, St. Paul, Mn., St. Petersburg, Fl., and Washington DC, as well as a number of other California locations. Additional details on exact sites of the actions will be announced soon.

NNU says it anticipates actions in many other states as well, as nurses are contacting NNU across the country and it is highly likely the national day of action will spread widely.

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