A short-term continuing resolution, introduced by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) Tuesday (Sept. 9), incorporates new provisions to address the Ebola crisis, including additional funding to accelerate HHS research on therapies, and funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's response to the outbreak in Africa.
The House Ebola rider comes as the Senate health and Appropriations committees gear up to hold a joint hearing next Tuesday (Sept. 16) to explore the U.S. role in the global Ebola public health threat.
Rogers' short-term spending bill would provide HHS' Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund with $58 million to support the acceleration of research on Ebola countermeasures and therapies. It also would set aside $30 million to support CDC's response to the African outbreak.
The legislation would continue funding for government programs at the current annual cap rate of $1.012 trillion until Dec. 11, or until Congress approves appropriations legislation for 2015.
“This bill is free of controversial riders, maintains current levels, and does not seek to change existing federal policies,” said Rogers in a statement. “However, this is a temporary, imperfect measure that does not reflect the changing needs of the nation or new budget priorities.”