Wnited States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 March 10, 2020 ‘The Honorable Mike Pence Vice President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Vice President Pence: We write regarding the concerning reports that individuals traveling to the United States from countries with high volumes of confirmed cases of COVID-19 are not being sereened for the illness at ports of entry. On January 17, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that they would be screening travelers from China at three airports in the United States—IFK Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport.! On January 28, 2020, the CDC expanded screenings for travelers coming from China to an additional 17 airports in the United States, including Newark Liberty International Airport, in an effort to better screen for potential cases of novel coronavirus. On March 2, 2020, recognizing the increased number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iran, the U.S. expanded screenings through approved airports for individuals traveling from Iran? However, inereases in the number of COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in other parts of the world, most notably in South Korea and Italy. In response to these increases you announced that the U.S. State Department would be issuing its highest travel advisory, “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” for regions of both countries.* At the time of your announcement there were over 1,100 cases in Italy and 3,100 cases in South Korea. Despite these increased travel advisories, there have been several troubling reports of individuals who recently traveled from Italy and South Korea to airports across the United States, including Newark Liberty International Airport, and were not screened at any point, either leaving their Cohen, Elizabeth, “CDC to soreen at three US igports for signs of new virus from China” CNN, 17 Jan, 2020, Iinps./6ww-cnn,com/2020/01/1 TMhealth/wuhanevirusus-irportscreenings-china-bn/index html Aratani, Lori & Berger, Miriam, “Iere are the 20 U.S, airports where health officials ae screening for coronavirus” Washington Post, 30 Jan, 2020. hps:/www.washingtenpost com transportation/202001/30 us-ealth-olicals-expand= screening-new-coronavirus-20-atports) “Travelers will face new restrictions and cancellations as coronavirus eases grow in the US" CNN 2 Mar. nn comtravelanile/eoronavirus-ravel-restrictionsindex hum S expands Ita travel restrictions over coronavirus, eases advisory for South Koree and Italy” CNBC, 29 Feb. 2020. htps:/ww.enbe.cont/2020102/29/us-expands-irantravel-restrictions-over-coronavirus-rises-advisory-forrepions> in-south-kores-and-italy.himlcountry of origin, or entering the United States. °©7*° Travelers report not being screened or even asked whether they had traveled to areas with high rates of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. If we hope to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus, it is imperative that officials screen travelers entering the country from locations with a significant number of COVID-19 cases. In an effort to better understand the Administration's screening efforts related to the novel coronavirus we request answers to the following questions no later than March 20, 2020: 1, During a press conference on February 29, 2020, you stated that the U.S. State Department would be coordinating with South Korea and Italy to conduct screenings in those countries for people traveling to the United States. !° i. Have those screenings begun? If so, when? If not, what is the timeline for implementing them? Are individuals traveling to the United States being screened at all airports in those countries or only airports in regions within the State Department level 4 designation? iii, Will South Korea and Italy be screening individuals whose final destination is the United States or only those on direct flights to the United States? iv. How are screenings results being communicated to the United States from the South Korean and Italian governments? 2. Other countries are also beginning to see increases in the number of presumptive-positive COVID-19 cases. Germany and France have each reported over 1,200 cases thus far. i, As this global health threat continues to spread, both internationally and domestically, do the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plan to expand screening to travelers who enter the United States and have been in any high-risk areas in the past 14 days? ii, In January, 20 airports across the country were given additional resources to sereen passengers who had recently traveled from Wuhan, China. However, as of this month, travelers from China and Iran are being directed to 11 airports for COVID-19 screening. To what extent, if at all, is increased screening still being § Lambert, Ben. “Quinnipiac student says she was not screened for coronavirus at JFK after retuen from Italy” New Haven Register, 4 Mar. 2020. hps(/www.nbregster com/newslartcle! Quinnipiac-studen-says-she-was-naotscreened-for- 15105497 php 60"Hare Airport Isn't Screening Travelers From Italy of South Korea, Officials Say” NBC Chicago. 5 Mar. 2020, hhups:/ww.nbechieago.com/news!ocal/ohare-stport-isntscreeningetravelers-rom-itl)-or-south-koreaofficials-say/2231733/ * Kennedy, Jamie, “Coronavirus Containment: Who is being sereenod at Atlanta's aitpor’”" CBS, 3 Mar. 2020. bps:/w.cbs46.comnews/coronavirus-containment-who-is-being-sereened-aratlanta-s-aitporvarticie_leSede6a-Sde7-I Lea od 3f0d27005 hum] “Coronavirus Precautions: International Travelers Arriving At NYC Airports Concemed By Lack Of Screenings” CBS New York 27 Feb. 2020, hits:newyork.cbslocal.com/202002/27/coronavirus-ravel-advisories! uta, Sarah. “CMU studeat returns 1o West Michigan from Ialy study abroad program amid coronavitus fears” ABC. 6 Mar. 2020, nips www. 22m 3,comvartielenews/healWery-student-reurms-t-west-michigan-Irom-italy-study-abroad-program- ami-coronavinus-fears69-23ale13-435-15ae-a04d-febbOSecO3 1d 10 huipss/ wwe whitehouse gov/briefingsstatementsremarks-president-tramp-vice-presidentspence-members-coronavirusstask- force-press-conference-2/conducted at additional airports outside of the 11 designated sites, and at which airports? iii, At the 11 designated airports, is any additional screening being conducted for travelers coming from high-risk areas outside of China and Iran? iv. What support or resources are embassies and consulates in countries with high volumes of confirmed COVID-19 cases providing American citizens or permanent residents living in, or visiting those countries? 3. In January, CDC provided travelers ftom Wuhan, China with information about the novel coronavirus and steps to take if they believe they had contracted COVID-19."" i, Will the CDC and DHS coordinate with states and localities to send notices to individuals who may have come in contact with individuals infected with the novel coronavirus? ii, Is the CDC providing information to individuals traveling in the United States from other high-risk areas? iii, If s0, will this information about the novel coronavirus, include symptoms to be aware of, how to minimize risk of becoming infected, and what steps to take in case a traveler believes they have contracted COVID-19? Will CDC provide this information in multiple languages and in ways that are accessible to individuals with disabilities? 4 Has CDC or DHS provided airport and airline workers, Transportation Security Administration officers, or Customs and Border Protection officers with equipment, information, or training to minimize the risk of contracting and spreading novel coronavirus? ‘Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and we look forward to your response. Sincerely, Robert Menendez United States Senator United States Senator "" Aratani, Lori &Sun, Lena. “Travel ban halts flights between Wuhan and U.S.,as airports prepare to screen passengers for coronavirus” Washington Post, 23 Jan, 2020, hips2/ww.washingtonpost.comvocal/raffieandcommuting/travel-ban-halts- flights-between-wuhan-and-us-a-airpors-prepare-lo-sereen-passengers-for-voronavirus!2020/01/23/00eI 1 20-3¢22-1 lee-haca- cebTaceda3455_story-himl