Marco Rubio Announces Bill To Impose Travel Ban Over Ebola

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during the leadership forum at the National Rifle Association's annual convention Friday, April 25, 2014 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) announced on Monday he will introduce legislation banning travel to the U.S. for nationals of Ebola-stricken African countries once Congress returns the week after the Nov. 4 elections.

The bill would immediately ban U.S. visas for nationals of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, to be lifted once the Centers for Disease Control certify that the outbreak has been contained. It would also subject other countries where the Ebola outbreak reaches “significant levels,” Rubio’s office said.

“We must take any and all necessary precautions to contain this virus – and common sense restrictions on travel from countries now confronting this epidemic is an important step,” the Florida senator said in a statement. “The most effective way to combat this deadly virus is to address it at its source.”

The move comes two weeks before the midterm election, as many Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats have called for a travel ban over the Ebola virus. The White House opposes such a ban, and public health specialists have warned that it would be ineffective or counterproductive by making it harder to track infected individuals and by reducing the flow of aid to the most affected countries.

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  1. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    Is the Senate/House even in session?

  2. “Unproductive” is what experts call an Ebola travel ban. Unfortunately, unproductive is Marco Rubio’s (and the TGOP’s) middle name.

  3. Avatar for korvu korvu says:

    Still trying to claw his way back from oblivion.

  4. Ol’ Rube Rubio cannot get anything right.

  5. Avatar for meri meri says:

    Ooooh! Ooooh! Remember ME?!!?!? Remember when a bunch of gullible dumbasses put me on the cover of Newsweek?!!?!?

    I’m IMPORTANT!!!

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