A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to release family planning assistance for women and girls affected by an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Lisa Murkowski sent a letter to Rubio asking the administration to unlock funding and related supplies connected to family planning efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Both lawmakers argue that women affected by Ebola face heightened risks and that timely support is necessary as the outbreak continues.
According to reporting, the senators’ request focuses on releasing $608 million in family planning funds. The senators point to the broader impact of Ebola in the region, including risk to women and children. Their letter also calls for administrative action to remove barriers that are preventing the assistance from reaching affected communities.
The articles describe the senators as bipartisan partners—Shaheen, a Democrat, and Murkowski, a Republican—who are seeking direct government release of resources tied to family planning and humanitarian support during the health emergency.
