WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, flew to Liberia on Thursday night to visit with American troops deployed there and to review international efforts to stop the spread of Ebola and ensure that future flare-ups can be avoided.
“Ebola has claimed the lives of almost 7,000 men, women, and children, and is still ravaging West Africa,” Senator Coons said. “There are more than 2,000 U.S. troops currently serving on the front lines of our fight against Ebola, building hospitals and field clinics, but no Member of Congress has visited them yet. I think it’s important to show them our support, especially during the holiday season while they’re away from their loved ones. Congress also just approved more than $2.5 billion in emergency funding to fight the spread of Ebola in West Africa, and to ensure the virus does not overrun the region again. It’s Congress’ job to perform responsible oversight of that investment.”
Senator Coons departed for Liberia on Thursday evening and will arrive home in Delaware on Tuesday afternoon. During the four-day trip, the Senator will meet with the U.S. team leading our efforts against Ebola on the ground; the military leadership of Operation United Assistance; leaders from the Liberian government, the United Nations, and African Union; and aid workers from non-governmental organizations. He will also meet with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and will sit down with fellows from the State Department’s Mandela Young African Leaders Initiative.
Senator Coons is bringing with him boxes of Tastykakes and Dolle’s saltwater taffy to bring a taste of home to U.S. military personnel deployed there.
The trip has been carefully designed to ensure the Senator’s risk of exposure to the Ebola virus is extremely low, and he will not interact with any patients currently being treated for the virus. When he returns, Senator Coons will follow the self-monitoring protocols prescribed by the World Health Organization for people with his low level of risk, checking his temperature several times each day and carefully monitoring for other symptoms of infection during the virus’ 21-day incubation period.
This is Senator Coons’ third trip to Liberia. In January 2012, he traveled with former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as part of the United States’ official delegation to President Sirleaf’s second inauguration.