Dems turn to Approps chairman for Ebola hearing

Democrats on a congressional panel responsible for funding the government’s health agencies are intensifying their push for a hearing to assess funding for the Ebola response.

On Friday, the Democrats wrote to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) asking that he push his Republican colleague to convene a health subcommittee hearing immediately. 

“Please direct Chairman Jack Kingston to convene a Subcommittee hearing this month to gather information we need to make informed decisions,” the letter said.

{mosads}The letter was signed by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrat on the health subcommittee, and Reps. Nita Lowey (N.Y.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (Calif.), Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Mike Honda (Calif.). 

Just days earlier, the Democrats questioned why they had not received a response from Kingston, whom they wrote to a week ago. 

House Appropriations Committee spokeswoman Jennifer Hing said, “The Committee currently has no hearings scheduled as the Congress is in recess.” Other congressional committees, however, have held hearings on Ebola during the congressional recess.

On Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) echoed their calls and demanded the committee “return to Washington immediately.”

The White House, meanwhile, has suggested the administration might ask Congress for even more money as health officials scramble to prevent the disease from spreading.

After lawmakers return to Washington next month, appropriators aim to pass an omnibus spending bill that would fund the government through the rest of fiscal 2015. Any additional funding for the Ebola response could be included in that legislation.