Obama Requests $6.18 Billion in Emergency Funds to Fight Ebola

President Barack Obama has reportedly asked to use $6.18 billion in emergency funds to fight the international Ebola outbreak. 

The Obama administration said, "The funding is needed immediately to strengthen and sustain our whole-of-government response to strengthen preparedness in the U.S. and to help end the Ebola epidemic at its source in West Africa, and to prevent disease outbreaks, detect them early, and swiftly respond before they become epidemics that threaten the American people.”

"It's in situations like this one, when activities surpass the current level of funding, that the request is deemed an emergency,” the administration added. 

In a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner, the White House wrote, "Because of our skill, our determination, and our passion, Americans are uniquely suited to lead this international response. The emergency funding will ensure that we can fulfill our leadership role and also ensure that we are taking important steps to strengthen preparedness here in the U.S.”

Boehner has said that Obama’s request would be considered. 

According to The Christian Post, the U.N. has announced that it does not have the funding to combat the virus. 

Publication date: November 6, 2014