Transcripts For CSPAN Drs. Fauci Redfield Adm. Giroir Testify On National Strategy To Combat... 20240712

Talking] rep. Clyburn good morning. Let me welcome everybody. Today our select subcommittee is holding a hybrid hearing, where some members will appear in person and others will appear remotely via webex. Since some are appearing in person, let me first remember to everyone pursuant to the latest guidelines by the house attending physicians, all individuals attending this hearing in person must wear a Face Covering. Members who are not wearing a Face Covering are not permitted to remain in the hearing room and will not be recognized to speak. Let me also make a few reminders about hybrid hearings. At once and what is known as webex as grid view mode. On the other monitor, you will see each person speaking during the hearing when they are speaking, including members who are appearing remotely. For those members appearing remotely, you can also see each person speaking during the hearing whether they are in person or remote, as long as you have your webex set to active speaker mode. If you have any questions about this, please Contact Committee staff immediately. Let me remind everyone of the house procedures that apply to hybrid hearings. For members appearing in person, a timer is visible in the room directly in front of you. For those who may be remote, we have a timer that should be visible on your screen when youre in the active speaker with thumbnail mode, and you have the timer pinned. For members who may be appearing remotely, a few other reminders. The house rules require that we see you, so please have your cameras turned on at all times. Not just when youre speaking. Members who are not recognized should remain muted to minimize background noise and feedback. I will recognize members verbally, and members retain the right to seek recognition verbally. In regular order, members who will be recognized in seniority in seniority order for questions. If you are remote and want to be recognized outside of regular order, you may identify that in several ways. You may use the chat function to send a request. You may send an email to the majority staff. Or you may unmute your mic to seek recognition. Obviously, we do not want people talking over each other, so my preference is that members use the chat function or email to facilitate formal verbal recognition. Committee staff will ensure that i am made aware of the request, and i will recognize you. As members of the committee are likely aware, we expect votes to be called in the middle of this hearing. Out of respect for members and witnesses time, and because of the Long Duration of each vote during this Public Health emergency, i do not plan to reset the hearing at any time. Committee members, including those who are recognized for questions while the vote is ongoing, will have sufficient time to step out of the hearing, cast their vote, and return to the hearing. We will begin this hearing in just a moment when they tell me they are ready to begin the live stream. [no talking] [no talking] rep. Clyburn we are having some audio problems with the live stream, and were trying to get that straightened out before we begin. [no talking] rep. Clyburn good morning. Good morning. I think weve gotten it straightened out. Ladies and gentlemen, our nation is in the midst of a Public Health catastrophe. As of this week, more than 150,000 americans are dead from the coronavirus. By far, the most of any country in the world. As the virus is still spreading rapidly across our country, it took nearly three months for the United States to go from one infection to one million. Now we are at more than four million with at least a million americans infected in just the last two weeks. Hospitalizations and deaths are unacceptably high. Hospitals in some states are at risk of running out of beds, and some hospitals have reported that they may be forced to choose which patients to treat and which to send home to die. On our recent on our current course, experts predict another 150,000 americans could lose their life from the coronavirus by the end of this year. My goal today is simple. To hear from our nations top Public Health experts on what steps do we need to take to stop the unnecessary deaths of more americans. To improve our response, we need to identify and correct past failures, especially those that are ongoing. Regrettably, nearly six months after this virus claimed its First American life, the federal government has still not developed and implemented a National Strategy to protect the American People. The administration has failed on testing. While they were given warnings, including from this committee, that millions more tests were needed. At least 11 states, including my home state of south carolina, are currently conducting less than 30 of the tests they need to control the virus. The state cases surging. States now face severe testing shortages, wait times are a week or longer in many places, and some states have been forced to ration scarce tests, limiting them to only the sickest patients. Without widely available Rapid Testing, it is nearly impossible to control the spread of the virus and safely reopen our economy. Yesterday it was reported that back in april, the administration considered implementing a National Strategy to coordinate the distribution of test kits and Contact Tracing infrastructure, but they decided not to do so because at the time the virus was primarily spreading in blue states. Since the earliest days of this crisis, the Trump Administration has also refused to call on americans to take simple steps to stay safe, like wearing a mask and social distancing. Instead, the president has downplayed the severity of the crisis, claiming the virus will disappear, sidelining Government Experts who disagree and seek to legitimize discredited remedies. When the Public Health agencies contradicted the white houses political message, for example, when the cdc warned that fully reopening schools presented the highest risk for spreading the coronavirus, the white house pressured the agency to change their advice. The result of these decisions is that the virus has continued to rage out of control, and our nations economic misery has continued. And that brings us to todays hearing. It is clear that the administrations approach of deferring to the states, sidelining the experts, and rushing to reopen has prolonged this virus and led to thousands of preventable deaths. In fact, the United States response stands out as among the worst of any country in the world. My question is where should we go from here . Today i am calling for the administration to finally give america a comprehensive National Plan that prioritizes science over politics. That plan should include buying and distributing enough tests and protective gear for every american who needs them, and it should include clear Public Health guidance to every american to help curb the spread of the virus. I am looking forward to hearing from our panel what common sense steps we can take as a country to control this virus and how the administrations plans to accomplish this goal. Todays witnesses have long, distinguished careers under both republican and democratic president s. Public health is not a partisan issue, and i hope that all members of the committee will join me in seeking the best Health Advice for the American People not fighting partisan political battles. We do not need to lose another 150,000 american lives, but if we do not make drastic changes now, this tragic outcome is well within the realm of possibility. The chair now recognizes the distinguished Ranking Member for his Opening Statement. Rep. Scalise thank you, mr. Chairman, and thank our witnesses for being here. Before i open, i do want to mention, mr. Chairman, this is our first meeting that weve had since the passing of our dear friend and colleague john lewis. I know you personally were friends with him for roughly 60 years, and we all feel that loss. Very fitting tributes yesterday, and he was a dear colleague, but he was also a key, important part of the movement that has made america an even greater nation. Very fitting that our country has been paying a great tribute to a dear friend and icon in the civil rights movement, our friends john lewis. Thank you, mr. Chairman, too, for having this hearing. I want to thank the witnesses, and i also want to thank your teams because you represent what is on the front lines of President Trumps plan to combat the Coronavirus Crisis. For anybody to suggest that theres not a plan, in fact, when you look at the title of todays hearing, urgent need for a plan, thats not the title of a hearing. Thats a political narrative, and a false political narrative at that. You wouldnt even be here today if there wasnt a plan, because you are the people tasked with carrying out the plan. In fact, if you were sidelined, you wouldnt be here either. And i know some people want to suggest that, but maybe they havent spent time reading different components of the plan. These are just a few, by the way, a few of the documents that your agencies have published to show states how to safely reopen. To show schools how to safely reopen. To show Nursing Homes how to care for their parents, which, by the way, if all governors would have followed those guidelines, thousands more seniors in Nursing Homes would be alive today if just five governors would have followed your plan that was developed by President Trump, and is being carried out by you and your teams effectively every day. So, again, let me thank you on behalf of the millions of American People who are alive today that wouldnt be alive if you werent carrying out President Trumps effective plan to keep americans safe, as we learn about this virus, as we work to get a cure for this virus, and by the way, the cure operation warp speed is part of President Trumps National Plan, and i think weve all seen just how close we are to a vaccine, which is revolutionary. Revolutionary in modern time to be this close to a vaccine. We wouldnt be here that close to a vaccine without President Trumps leadership and without the work of you and your teams to carry out that plan. So, again, i appreciate the work that you continue to do. Every day we learn more about a plan, like any plan, whether its a military plan or a football plan. You start the first play with a plan, and then the plan has to change as things change along the way, and were seeing that play out daily. When you look at the work thats been done, i think we talk about different parts of the guidance. Weve not always been in agreement on each part of them, but weve had a number of hearings where weve talked through how to improve testing. In fact, one of the first hearings we had in this committee on testing was back when america was maybe conducting less than 200,000 tests a day. Today, because of the work that yall have been doing and because of the president s plan, were at over 800,000 tests per day, and that number continues to grow. Nobody is stopping. Nobody is resting on their laurels, but when you look at that trajectory, again, going from a virus that no one even knew about just six months ago, china lied about during that period, where we could have learned a lot more, where we could have saved more lives while china was lying i wish wed have hearings on that, because thats a real fact. Thats not a political talking point. Not only did china lie, but they corrupted the World Health Organization, and they were perpetuating that. Made it harder for us. I remember being in a meeting at the white house with dr. Fauci months ago before it was a global pandemic, and a desire to get some of our medical experts into china to find out what was really going on. And they wouldnt let you in. The Chinese Communist party wouldnt let you in when President Trump wanted to send medical experts into china before it spread to the United States. That cost lives. Why arent we having a hearing about that . Clearly we talk about some of the Different Things done to stop the spread. The president actually did develop an early plan called 15 days to stop the spread. Its one of the first real organized plans to encourage states to pull back. Wasnt an easy plan for the president to have to issue, but it was necessary, and in fact, there were meetings in the white house. I think dr. Fauci and dr. Birx were there as the plan was out, and we determined maybe we need to go longer 30 more days. By going 30 more days, you could save one million, maybe two million more lives, and then President Trump announced that plan and did save those lives. The Trump Administration then released a plan called guidelines opening up america again, on how states could safely reopen and this is part of the plan. Maybe some people are so busy reading tweets they havent actually read the plan. Its good guidance issued by some of the most recognized International Experts on disease prevention. Some of you here today represent parts of this plan, and so in opening up america again, showed how states could safely reopen. The plan was developed by Public Health experts. Some complain that President Trump didnt have the power to force states to reopen, so the administration actually released guidelines so that states had discretion. Each state, we all understand how the 10th amendment work each , governor is in charge of their states. Nursing homes are actually regulated by the state, not the federal government, but we give guidance, and it has been really good guidance and that saved lives. We hear cities, people talking about the cries for the need for testing. So, lets talk about what hhs has done the lead on testing. Zero tests. Zero tests to now over 800,000 tests a day, and in a matter of just months, over 52 million tests have been conducted nationally. And again nobody is slowing down. Were increasing that number. We will be over a million tests a day, and maybe well have a hearing how much progress we have made there, and we want to continue to have progress. I know admiral giroir was with me in baton rouge to talk about what were doing to increase testing and limit the goal, seven days for anybody to get results. That number has narrowed dramatically. Now more than half of americans who get tested get their results in less than 24 hours because of the rapid work that this team has done carrying out the president s plan. Testing is not just about numbers. Its about targeting testing to the right people at the right time. And that point, the Trump Administration Rapid Testing in Nursing Homes. Ive talked to Nursing Homes heads recently who said that decision by the Trump Administration to purchasing a testing kit for every one in more than 15,000 Nursing Homes. Each will have their 15minute test. That will save lives. That is part of the plan. On may 5, 2020, President Trump announced operation warp speed, again part of a direct and National Plan to combat this deadly virus. Operation warp speed is a Publicprivate Partnership between several different agencies for the production of a vaccine and others for the specific goal of delivering 300 million doses of a safe, effective, fda proven vaccine for covid19 by january 2021, and were seeing that happen at remarkable speed. In fact, we are not just going to wait for fda approval. Theyre mass producing so if there is one of those vaccines approved by the fda, its ready to go. We dont start manufacturing at that point and cost us more weeks. Were ready to go. Some of that money was money we passed on the cares act that President Trump has used effectively to be ready as the vaccines are being developed in testing phases. Dr. Fauci, ill look forward to learning more about the stunning progress that weve seen researchers make on cures and vaccines. I know you have been involved in researching some of the most awful deadly viruses that we , have known in the world. Hiv, ebola, of course now corona. We still dont have a vaccine for hiv. There has been over 10 years of work, and youve done remarkable work to at least give therapy so people can extend their lives, but not a proven vaccine for so many of these diseases years and years later, and here we are six months into corona, and were this close to a vaccine. So you look at where weve seen the chinese government. We hopefully will get into conversations about how costly it was. How many lives were lost because the Chinese Communist party lied to the world not just the united , states, but the world, to give getting the World Health Organization to give false information in those early critical days. But why dont we now talk about moving into august . A lot of work is being done to talk how to safely reopen schools. In fact, more guidance was just given as part of this plan by cdc to safely reopen schools. We saw, of course, the American Academy of pediatrics gave great guidance on how to safely reopen schools and went further and talked about the damage to children when you dont reopen schools. So much damage being done to our children in those systems where theyre talking about not reopening. Hopefully we can shine some light and show those other School Systems how they can safely reopen and serve those children millions and millions , of children counting on us to get it right. Those School Systems have to get it right. Theres money, by the way, Still Available at every state for sanitizer, for masks, we have the money, the will, the desire to do it. We have the will, youve had the will. Youve been carrying out the president s plan. Every day we will learn more. Every day we will continue to strive to address the new challenges, but lets not forget the things that have already been done as part of this plan that have saved millions of lives. We mourn every loss, but lets also recognize the lives that would have been lost if you werent on the job carrying out President Trumps plan to contain this, to find a vaccine, which were on the brink of, and to help safely reopen our economy, safely reopen our schools so we can get back to our way of life as we combat this deadly virus. With that, ill look forward to hearing from our witnesses, thank you, mr. Chairman, i yield back. Rep. Clyburn thank you, mr. Ranking member. I would now like to introduce our witnesses. Today the select committee is pleased to welcome dr. Anthony fauci, the director National Institute of allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of health. We welcome back admiral brett giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the department of health and Human Services. And finally we welcome dr. Robert redfield, director for director of the centers for Disease Control and prevention. Thank you to all of our witnesses for being here today. Will the witnesses please stand so i may swear them in . Please raise your right hands. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you god . You may be seated. Let the record show that the witnesses all answered in the affirmative. Without objection, your written statements will be made part of the record. Dr. Fauci, you are recognized for your Opening Statement. Dr. Fauci thank you very much, mr. Chairman, Ranking Member scalise, members of the committee, thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss with you today the role of the National Institutes of health in the Research Endeavor to address covid19. Our strategic plan, which we put together several months ago, implies embarks on four separate points. The first is to improve fundamental knowledge of the virus and the biology of the virus and the response to the virus. This has led to a delineation of the cryo em structure of the famous now spike protein, which is the target of virtually all of the vaccines that are being produced today, in addition to delineate the receptor in the body to which the virus binds, very important in understanding the pathophysiology and pathogenesis. In addition a number of Natural History studies, including a study that was started in may to understand better the role of infection in children and what role they play in spreading the virus. In addition weve been involved in the second component which is the development of diagnostic s and assays, one of which i will point out to you is the nih rapid acceleration of diagnostic s, referred to as radx. Including that its aimed at underserved populations, with a very large investment of money to develop point of care diagnostics to facilitate even more diagnostic capability. Next is the characterization and testing of therapeutics. It is well known now over the past several weeks there have been two therapeutics have that passed randomized placebo controlled trials for those in late in the disease. One of these is remdesivir, a trial run by the nih, which has shown significant statistical improvement in the time to survival in individuals who are hospitalized with pulmonary disease. That has now been part of the standard of care in individuals with moderate to advanced disease. In addition, a placebo controlled randomized trial of dexamethasone showed an improvement in death rate in a highly significant manner in individuals on respirators, as well as those requiring oxygen. And then finally, the development and testing of effective vaccines. Several months ago, we put together what we call a strategic approach to covid19 Vaccine Research and development. And the reason we did this is because there were multiple candidate vaccines that are moving along at a very rapid pace, and we wanted to make sure that they learned from each other. So we made standardized protocols, common data and safety monitoring boards, common primary and secondary end points, and common individual laboratory tests. There are three separate platforms that are being pursued with Government Health nucleic acid including the mrna of viral vectors, such as adeno vectors and protein subunits. One of these is a trial that started last monday, this past monday, the 27th, to beginning in a phase three trial. Its a trial that will go over several months involving 30,000 individuals. We hope that as of the time we get into the late fall and early winter, we will have, in fact, a vaccine that we can say would be safe and effective. One can never guarantee the safety or effectiveness unless you do the trial, but we are cautiously optimistic that this will be successful, because in the early studies in humans, the phase one study, it clearly showed that individuals who are vaccinated mounted a neutralizing antibody response that was at least comparable and in many respects better than what we see in convalescent serum from individuals who have recovered from covid19. As i mentioned, the phase three trial has already started, 30,000 individuals were already starting to enroll. I might also conclude, members of the committee, to point out that there is a website called coronaviruspreventionnetwork. Org where individuals can actually indicate their willingness to participate in the Clinical Trials, and to make sure that we have a diverse representation. Already as of last night, there have been over 250,000 individuals who have registered their interest in being in these trials. And i just want to use my last couple of seconds to urge anyone who is listening, who wants to participate, to please go to that website and register so you can be part of the solution of this terrible scourge. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Rep. Clyburn thank you very much, dr. Fauci. We will now hear from dr. Giroir or admiral giroir. [laughter] adm. Giroir both are fine. Chairman, Ranking Member scalise and distinguished members of the committee, its good to see you again. Testing is an essential element of americas response to covid19. Testing enables clinical decision making. It heralds impending outbreaks, it informs resource allocation and it assists in minimizing economic and social disruption, but we cannot test our way out of this or any other pandemic. Testing does not replace personal responsibility. It does not substitute for avoiding crowded indoor spaces , or washing hands, or wearing a mask. A negative test does not mean that you wont be positive tomorrow. A negative test does not substitute for avoiding crowds, or wearing a mask, or protecting the vulnerable with your actions. All of that being said, as of this morning, the nation has performed over 59 million covid19 tests, now averaging over 820,000 tests per day, up from 550,000 tests per day, when i appeared before this Committee Just earlier this month. Since march 12, we have increased our daily testing over 32,000 percent. Half of those tests are done in either point of care technologies with results in 15 minutes or less, or at local hospitals for which the turnaround time is generally within 24 hours. Because of unprecedented demands, large commercial labs that do approximately half of the nations testing have become strained, but because of expanded capacity and newly authorized techniques like novel extraction methods turnaround times are , improving, announcing two to three days. But numbers dont tell the complete story because this is not only about numbers. Its about getting the right tests at the right time to the right person with timely and actionable results. So we will continue to execute in according with our National Testing plan. This plan was initially outlined in the testing blueprint opening up america again and the addendum to that blueprint. It was operationalized in the federal requirements for each states testing plan. Our plan was further detailed in the administrations testing strategy report provided to congress may 23. In short, we are, one, identifying newly emergent outbreaks early to facilitate Swift Community action, two, diagnosing covid19 rapidly in hospitalized patients to accelerate receipt of those proven treatments. Three, protecting the vulnerable, both the elderly and high risk racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic minorities. Four, enabling identification and isolation of those who are infectious coupled with Contact Tracing. Five, advancing state testing plans to achieve Overall National object as well as state specific goals. And six, supporting reopening of schools and businesses through surveillance testing that does impinge on the clinical diagnostic system. With a limited time i have remaining, i want to highlight two of these objectives. Protecting the elderly has, is, and will continue to be a foremost priority for this administration. So on july 14, we announced every single nursing home in the nation would receive a point of care instrument and enough tests for their residents and staff to be tested. Were delivering on this promise. By the end of this week, we will have delivered, according to schedule, nearly one million point of care tests to 1,019 of the highest risk Nursing Homes with another 664 Nursing Homes scheduled for next week. My next point is about surveillance testing. We should separate the clinical diagnostic system from the Public Health surveillance system. Diagnostics are for those who hospitalized, symptomatic or high risk exposure. Surveillance testing can be for College Students or potentially students in k through 12, or work environments that are not high risk, or other similar situations. Labscan occur in nonclio Like University Research Labs or veterinary diagnostic labs outside of the fda authorization system at low cost and very high throughput. Were working close with states and universities to implement this type of system, and many of them, like lsu, already have. We have all the tools, the supplies, and the Regulatory Framework to enable a robust system throughout the nation. In closing, we know how to flatten the curve, slow the spread, and save lives. Wear a mask, practice physical distancing. Avoid crowded indoor spaces. Practice good hygiene by washing hands frequently. If you feel sick, stayathome. Protect the vulnerable populations through your actions. I look forward to your questions, and thank you for the opportunity to provide these remarks. Rep. Clyburn thank you, admiral dr. Giroir. Dr. Redfield. Dr. Redfield good morning, chairman clyburn Ranking Member , scalise, and thank you for being here on behalf of my colleagues. Thank you for the opportunity to be here with my interagency colleagues. On behalf of my agency i want to , extend our sympathies to the loss of john lewis. Our members will remember him for his courage, conviction, is patriotism, and his commitment to equity for all. Cdc also remembers him as a fierce advocate for Public Health. Working together were to honor we are positioned to honor his lifelong commitment to social justice and mitigating the racism on Public Health in our nation. The three of us are united in critical delivery to stop the spread of covid19 to protect all americans while dedicating even greater attention to overcoming the Health Disparities experienced by populations at increased risk for this disease. We are seven months into this global pandemic, and it is with great humility that i share with you, this is the most complex Public Health response this nation has undertaken in more than a century. This virus is indiscriminate regarding whom and when it strikes. We continue to learn its characteristics, its behavior and its effects on americans across the spectrum. We are operating in a highly adaptive environment. Were pushing for strategies and solutions to confront this Unprecedented Health crisis. While im optimistic and look forward to discussing the promise of the covid19 vaccine, i want to strongly emphasize that we are not defenseless now. We have powerful tools, and if all of us, not just some of us, but all of us embrace these tools, we will get a handle on this pandemic. I am appealing to all americans to be part of the Public Health solution. Wearing a simple mask properly, its critical to limiting the transmission. Be smart about social distancing and being in crowded spaces. Stay six feet apart from others if possible, and be vigilant about hand hygiene, and together, we can turn the tide of this pandemic. With emergency funding, cdc has distributed more than 12 million to the state, local, and Tribal Health departments to help building the infrastructure that this nation needs, but more importantly that our nation deserves. This system has been underinvested in for decades, and needs to be put on a path for sustained funding now. Data modernization is underway to ensure realtime actual data and Data Analytics and to include predictive data analysis. Areic health labs instituting the necessary resilience to rapidly respond to emergencies. Public help talent is being hired for deploying Cutting Edge Technology solutions and for communitybased Contact Tracing. A legion of Public Health care workers are deployed on the front lines of this pandemic and working 24 7 to protect the health and safety of americans. Cdc staff are on the ground in communities across the nation, supporting Public Health partners with an array of technical expertise. Our state and local partners are anditted to advocating educating about the needs to embrace Public Health strategies that best serve families and their communities, and essential workers, First Responders and Health Care Professionals are steadfast in their service, sacrifice, and commitment to save lives. Please take note and please tend to them as they are tending to us. We cannot afford to do it without them. As i recently told a group of cdc aspiring leaders this week, we are in the arena. We are dedicated and committed to doing our best, and im confident that united, well emerge a better, stronger, and more resilient nation. Adversity requires all of us pushing harder, thinking differently, being innovative and perhaps most importantly, always seeing the possible of what we can accomplish when we unite and work together. This pandemic has challenged us with its persistence, its uncertainty, and its unpredictability, and yet, im confident that together, well reveal over this virus, but we must lead together in the best interest of our children, our grandchildren, our greatgrandchildren, and our nations generations to come. Thank you, and i look forward to your questions. Rep. Clyburn thank you very much, dr. Redfield. And thanks to all of you for your testimonies, and as i said earlier, you submitted to us fuller testimony, and theyre all entered into the record. I now recognize myself for five minutes for questions. On january 31, 2020, exactly six months ago today, the secretary of health and Human Services declared the coronavirus outbreak, and i quote, a Public Health emergency for the entire United States. But rather than immediately bringing out nation together to tackle the problem, the Trump Administration downplayed the crisis, ignored scientific experts, and deferred to states and the private sector to lead the response. Dr. Fauci, on march 11 of this year, you testified before the Oversight Committee saying, and i quote, its going to get worse. I regret to say, you were right. It did get worse. On march 11, the country had confirmed just over 1200 cases and 31 deaths. Today we have confirmed more than 4. 4 million cases, and we have just reached 150,000 deaths. Theres a chart i have up here , this chart compares the number of new daily coronavirus cases in the United States with those in europe. It shows just how much worse the outbreak has been in the United States. Here is your European Union. Here is the United States. And here is where we were on the way. We started going up while the european countries, European Union plateaued and is going down. Dr. Fauci, can you help us understand why, why europe has largely contained the virus, the United States has seen a continued rise in new cases . Dr. Fauci thank you very much, mr. Chairman. The answer to that question is really somewhat complex, but ill try maybe to very briefly go through what i believe are at least some of the factors that were involved. If you look at what happened in europe, when they shut down or locked down and went to shelter in place, however you want to describe it, they really did it to the tune of about 95 plus of the country did that. When you actually look at what we did, even though we shut down, even though it created a great deal of difficulty, we really functionally shut down only about 50 in the sense of the totality of the country, which means when we reached our peak, as they did, they came down almost to a low baseline, as youve shown very clearly, but take a look at what happened to our baseline. We came up, down, and then we plateaued at about 20,000 cases a day. So we started off with a very difficult baseline of transmission that was going on at the time that we tried to open up the country. And when we opened up the country, what we saw, particularly most recently in the southern states, was an 30,000,s of 20,000, 40,000, 50,000, and a couple of weeks ago, it was up to 70,000 per day and now its down and 60,000. 0 and the reasons for that are complex. There were some states that did it very well, and there are some states that did not. When i say did not, i mean, we put out as Ranking Member scalise mentioned, the guidelines of a gateway phase one, phase two, phase three, some were followed very carefully, and some were not. And in those situations in which you were not, that led to the surging that youre showing on your chart there. And one of the reasons is not doing some of the things that dr. Redfield mentioned in his Opening Statement. Universal wearing of masks, avoiding crowds, forced physical distancing, etc. , etc. So its a complicated reason why those charts are that way, and hopefully as were going forward, we can turn those around, and i do believe we can, mr. Chairman, by doing some of the fundamental things that were talking about, five easy things to do that were mentioned by dr. Redfield. Thank you. Rep. Clyburn thank you very much. At the risk of going over my time, because of the votes, what im going to do is yield to you, mr. Ranking member, for five minutes. When ms. Waters gets back, i will give her the chair so we can go and vote. Rep. Scalise thank you, mr. Chairman, appreciate you being here. I know when we talk about President Trumps team that he has been relying on to help put together this plan, and like i said, this is just a small part of the plan. There are thousands and thousands of more pages online of various aspects of President Trumps plan to combat the coronavirus, but we have, of course, dr. Fauci, dr. Giroir, dr. Redfield, we see dr. Birx, theres a whole array of doctors, medical experts, best in the world that are helping work with President Trump to develop this plan. Is that correct . If i could ask any of yall. Is that correct . By the way, were any of you sidelined from coming here . I know some people try to use that term. I havent heard of any. Sidelined,ou were please share it. I see all of you here. Dr. Fauci, let me ask you about some of the decisions that you worked with President Trump on, the whole team did. And i know the china ban was heavily discussed. Were you involved in working with President Trump on banning flights from china . Yes, sir. I was. Rep. Scalise do you think that decision saved lives, dr. Fauci . Dr. Fauci yes, i do. Rep. Scalise do you agree with that decision . Dr. Fauci i do. Rep. Scalise did that decision saved lives . Dr. Fauci yes, it did. Rep. Scalise when you look at the 15 days to slow the spread, and it started, where you part of the decision . Dr. Fauci i was. Rep. Scalise do you agree with that decision as well. Dr. Fauci did that decision save lives . Yes it did. Rep. Scalise when you look at the days to slow the spread, and 15 it initially started at where 15, you part of the decision . Dr. Fauci i was very much involved in that. Rep. Scalise did that decision save lives . Dr. Fauci i believe it did. Rep. Scalise and then when President Trump extend that another 30 days, do you agree with the decision that President Trump made to extend it . Dr. Fauci yes, i was very much involved and i agree with it. Rep. Scalise did that decision save lives . Dr. Fauci i believe it did. Rep. Scalise we have heard a lot about disagreements. Clearly there are many decisions made, very international respected doctors that are involved in each of those decisions, is that correct . Dr. Fauci yes. Rep. Scalise by and large, would you say you and President Trump have been in agreement on most of those decision . Dr. Fauci all of those. Rep. Scalise i appreciate that. I want to ask you and admiral giroir on the testing that you been involved to help carry out parts of President Trumps plan. You just talked about over a million testing machines, 15 minute machines, that will be brought into Nursing Homes across this country. I know ultimately it is going to be 15,000. Sorry, over 1000 machines that will be delivered already. Is that plan in place and moving forward based on President Trumps guidance . Adm. Giroir it is. Rep. Scalise and that money in part was taken from the cares act, the bill we worked with President Trump to pass in a bipartisan way through this congress . Is that correct . Adm. Giroir yes sir thats , correct. Rep. Scalise i have heard specifically from nursing home directors who have told me this decision will save more lives in Nursing Homes. Have you heard the same . Adm. Giroir there is no question. I dont think any single decision has had any more positive feedback than that one. Rep. Scalise i know early on cms put out in these are just march, part of the many guidelines that cms put out on guidance to prevent covid spread in Nursing Homes. We know 45 governors followed this guidance. Five governors did not follow this guidance. And we saw in those states tens of thousands of seniors in Nursing Homes died who shouldnt have died if this guidance was followed by those governors. You think they wouldve saved more lives . Adm. Giroir as i testified before i think its a very , concerning practice to send an infectious person back to a nursing home. Rep. Scalise thank you, and i wish those governors would have modeled the guides the President Trumps team put out as part of a major overall plan. Dr. Redfield, i want to talk to you about reopening schools. I know youve been very involved in this. Cdc has put up multiple documents of guidance for safely reopening schools here. Here, checklist for parents checklist for teachers, guidance , for k12 School Administrators on the use of cloth facemasks in school. I know some people want to make that controversial. This is part of President Trumps plan to safely opening here youve got schooldecision making tools. Are these part of the president s plan to safely reopen schools . Yes. Do you think they should reopen schools with inperson learning . Its in the Public Health best interest of k12 students to get back to facetoface learning. Theres Significant Health consequences of the school closure. To scalise they fail detect child abuse. Clearly were seeing less reporting of it. Its a direct consequence of the school closures. 7. 1 million get nutritional supports. Were seeing an increase in drug use disorder as well as suicide and adolescent individuals. I do think its important to realize its not Public Health vs. The economy. Its Public Health vs. Public health. Weve got do it safely and accommodate that. Rich scalise i hope they help those kids by safely reopening. With that i yield back. Thank you, Ranking Member. The chair now recognizes mrs. Maloney for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you mr. Ranking member. I want to thank all of our Witnesses Today particularly dr. Fauci who was born in the great city of new york, in beautiful burrow of brooklyn. New yorkers are very proud that you are a new yorkraised, new york doctor before you you became americas doctor. And i must say that as the chairman mentioned, when we had our hearing on march 11th which i was privileged to chair when i asked you how was it going to go, you said its going to to get worse and worse and worse. And everybody started closing down and treating with it the seriousness the disease had to be treated with. And at ha hearing when asked about testing, you said, and i quote, that were not geared up to do what we need right now. In fact, you said and you called it failing. Now, its five months later, where would you rate us now in our efforts . I know my city and other cities have worked diligently trying to respond. Where would you put us now with testing . What do we have to do to continue to get better . Dr. Fauci well, i think you can get a more detailed response from the admiral. Ill comment that things are considerably different and improved now than it was several months ago both for the number of tests that have been improved as well as for the efforts that are going into to expand our capability, in other words to more prudently have screening testing done in one segment as well as testing to determine diagnosis and follow up on others. But dr. Giroir is much Better Qualified to give you the details to that. I would like to move to vaccines. I recall reed reading a report on aids. We still dont have a vaccine for aids. Ebola took five years. How realistic is a vaccine . Is it dreaming, a reality . Are the protocols as safe as they possibly could be . Could you give us an honest assessment of where our country is in Vaccine Development . Dr. Fauci yeah, its reality, congresswoman maloney. I believe it will occur. The difference between h. I. V. And coronavirus is so different that i dont think you compare them because the body doesnt make a very good response against h. I. V. So it would make Vaccine Development very difficult. Where the body does make a re robust immune you response which tells me that we can ghetto that goal. I know to some people it seems like it is so fast that there might be compromising of safety and of scientific integrity. I can tell you that is absolutely not the case. The rapidity with which were doing it is as a result of very different technologies in getting from the time we recognized this pathogen in the beginning of january to the time we were able to get into a phase one trial to the time we are able to get phase two, and as i mentioned just this past monday, we started a phase three. That was not reckless rushing. That was technology and doing things in a way that does not compromise any of the steps. So i believe it is realistic as i mentioned in my Opening Statement that the early data from the phase one trial shows that this candidate and im sure other candidates will do it also, this is not the only vaccine. There are more than one. There are about a dozen, five or six that the federal government is actively involved with is going into phase three trials over the next few months, as i mentioned, one of which is already in. The response that was induced was really quite favorable. And as ive said often and repeated now, theres never a guarantee that youre going to vaccine,e and effect but you from the animal data and the human data we feel optimistic that well have a vaccine. I dont think its dreaming, congresswoman. I think its a reality. It will be shown to be a reality. Very thats very good news. The second step is how do we distribute it . An reports are that china and russia are involved in their tests, in that they have advanced tests across the world. Theyre testing in brazil and indonesia for the vaccines. Should they develop earlier, would we manufacture it here . When we develop it, how do we plan to distribute it . We have to think about the world, because if we dont cure it in the world, then we havent cured it, too. So the steps forward after the vaccines develop. Dr. Fauci so a couple of questions there. Ill try to answer them, congresswoman. I hope that the chinese and the russians are testing the vaccine before theyre administering the vaccine to anyone because claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing, i think is problemic at best. We are going very quickly. I do not believe that there will be vaccines so far ahead of us that we will have to depend on other countries to get us vaccines. I believe the program that is being sponsored by us right now and being directed and implemented by us is going at a very rapid speed, prudent, but rapid. Now, with regard to distribution, already right now there are plans as was mentioned, i believe, by Ranking Member scalise that were taking at risk, financial ricks, not safety risk by financial risk, the development of doses of vaccine right now as we speak so that they will be ready by the time we do show safety and efficacy. And it will be done by a number of mechanism, the standard mechanism by the recommendation by the acip together with the c. D. C. Now being complimented by recommendations from the academy of medicine and with collaboration with the department of defense and the c. D. C. Working together, it will be distributed. Thank you. My time has expired. Thank you, dr. Fauci. The chair recognizes ms. Walowsky for five minutes. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you for being here today. The most important the federal government is working right now is insuring and im an optimism in listening to you this morning, im optimistic that were going to use the term when and not if were getting a vaccine shown through trials to be safe and effective that we have manufacturing Distribution Capabilities to go and get it across the nation quickly. I believe that. President trump has announced operation warp speed to achieve the goal of delivering 300 million approved doses of the vaccine by 2021. The partnerships are there and becoming partnerships, and its unprecedented in the country. And i believe that astra zeneca told the Commerce Committee that this deal with the federal government stipulates it will sell 300 million to the government at no profit. Johnson johnson similar will provide the vaccine at a not for profit price. Other Companies Working on vaccines have promised low prices. Between the promises for low prices and existing Government Programs that cover the cost of a vaccine, is it safe to say that every american will be able to get a vaccine once its approved . Dr. Fauci given what you mentioned, which i agree with, the promises of the company about hundreds of millions of doses, i believe over a period of time in 2021, if we have them, think we will have a safe and effective vaccine, the americans will be able to get it. I dont think they will have everybody getting it immediatefully the beginning. It will probably be phased. Thats the reason why we are the committees to do the priorityization of who should get it first. But ultimately, within a reasonable period of time the plans now allow for any american who needs a vaccine to get it within the year 2021. Right. And that is the plan. Stay ottke the topic of vaccine, dr. Fauci, its my understanding that operation warp speed Clinical Trials have been run simultaneously which will get it to the market much sooner. We have eliminated no safety steps in the vaccine approval pro says, correct . Dr. Fauci that is correct. Again, just to be clear, so the folks that are watching this are hearing this clearly, concisely and truthfully from you, the f. D. A. Is not compromising Safety Standards in order to speed up vaccine process approval, correct . Dr. Fauci well, i would say it a different way. We at the n. I. H. Are doing the vaccine studies with the company. The f. D. A. Will look at that data. And on a sciencebased decision will make a determination as to the safety and efficacy and whether or not it will be approve. So the f. D. A. Is a sciencebased decision maker. But as far as you know i agree. But theyre not compromising Safety Standards. No way, no how is the f. D. A. Compromising Safety Standards . Dr. Fauci no. And their answers and approvals are based on science. Historically, the f. D. A. Has based their decisions on science. They will do it this time also, im certain. Thank you for your assurances that we will have a safe and affordable and widely available vaccine. All of america is hoping that so r one of these candidates will come through. Weve seen so many across the aisle that the administration might rush an unsafe before the election to help President Trump politically. The irresponsible rhetoric only serves to plant irrational fierce in the minds of americans. Im worried that enough of these types of attacks could result in people avoiding an approved vaccine when it does come to market, when it is available for america. Dr. Fauci, can you address this once and for all. Would the administration approve a vaccine thats not safe . And do you share my concerns about the danger of the Vaccine Development process . Dr. Fauci the commissioner of the f. D. A. Dr. Steven hahn has assured me and has spoken publicly that he would make sure that any decision on the part of the f. D. A. Will be based on sound, Scientific Data proving the safety and the efficacy. Hes told me that. And hes been very public about. That given that, i think the American Public should be assured that in the process of determining the safety and efficacy, the proper steps have been taken to determine that. And when a vaccine becomes available, its important for their own health and for the health of the country to take that vaccine. I appreciate that. Thank you, gentlemen. I cant let this moment pass without bringing to all of our attention again and to the chairman that just last week the Justice Department indicted two chinese nationals for hacking companys that are working on a vaccine. Weapon sent a strong message to china that this will not be tolerated. Im glad we name and shamed those. And trade secret theft. We must hold china accountbility, mr. Chairman. We have to. Mr. Chairman, can you commit on holding a threat on chinese espionage on vaccine products, vaccine producers . Mr. Chairman . Whoever is sitting in for mr. Chairman . Can you promise me that we will hold a hearing on the threat of chinese espionage on vaccine producers . The chairman is not here to answer the question. You have a few seconds left. Your time has expired. Mr. Chairman, this is a grave threat. For the record, this is a grave threat to our country and the world of china, and host the chairman will take my recommendation. I yield back. Thank you very much. I will now recognize myself for five minutes. On july 10th, the Trump Administration ordered hospitals to change how they reported hospitalization rates, testing numbers and other data related to the coronavirus. Instead of reporting to the c. D. C. Which hospitals have done for more than a decade, they were instructed to start reporting the data to the Trump Administration directly, specifically, the department of health and Human Services. They were given just two days to prepare for this drastic change. Leading Health Groups warn that the changes in data reporting will worsen our ability to mitigate, suppress, and recover from our national Public Health emergency. Other experts are concerned that this decision may have been made so the Trump Administration could control and hide data, it finds politically inconvenient. Dr. Redfield, when did you first learned that the administration planned to move the data from the c. D. C. To a different portal run by h. H. S. . Dr. Redfield we werent involved in the final decision. But i can say that the c. D. C. , then and now continues to have access to all data, does all Data Analytics. So theres no restriction of any of the data. And that data, we continue to forward face the American Public. Dr. Redfield, when did you first learn . When were you first told . When were you first notified . Dr. Redfield again, i wasnt involved in the decision. I dont remember the exact date i dont remember the exact date. Am i to understand that you were not told at all . Dr. Redfield i was told actually once you the secretarys office made the decision that that was the decision. How long was that . I dont remember. I can get with you with the exact date. Reclaiming my time. Did you agree with this decision, dr. Redfield . Again, i think it was an important decision do you agree with the decision . Yes, i think its an important decision thank you. Did you discuss this change with Vice President pence or with secretary azar . Not directly. Indirectly . I talked directly to the individuals responsible within the secretarys office. So did you discuss it with Vice President pence . No. Did you discuss with it secretary azar . No. Who told you about the reasons for this change . Well, think we collectively understood the reasons if i can answer is there was substantial advancements in therapeutics with rem dez vir which made it really important to understand who was newly hospitalized in realtime that day. So allocations of remdesivir could get to that hospital i thank you very much for that. And so you developed the reasons . No one dictated the reasons or told you the reasons for the change . You came up with the reasons . Congresswoman, yes, i think it was important that we were able to in realtime be able to know when remdesivir needed to know and the system that we had developed the National Safety safety healthcare so were you told about the changes why they were being done, or did you and others develop the changes . Who told you we work cooperatively together, members of the hhs and the c. D. C. Ok, i only have so much time. The Trump Administration has threatened to cut off the supplies of remdesivir to hospitals that do not follow the new reporting mandates. Dr. Redfield, this is the only drug to successfully treat the coronavirus. The patient should be denied to it potentially a lifesaving drug like remdesivir because a hospital was unable to comply with a sudden change in h. H. S. Reporting requirements . My understanding is we continue to do everything to make sure remdesivir gets to all patients that would potentially benefit from it. But do you agree they may not be able to get them to patients because of the way that the information was given and the time frame that it was given in . Congresswoman, i would disagree. The reasons why the changes get were made is is to remdesivir in a timely fashion. Would you agree that we basically well, this is the only drug known to successfully treat the coronavirus. Should a patient be denied access to a life changing drug like remdesivir because a hospital was not able to comply with h. H. S. Reporting requirements . Im trying to say the intent and the consequence of what was done to make sure you the patients werent denied access to make sure we get timely distribution to hospitals where these patients are. Thank you very much. Ive exhausted my time. Next, we will hear from mr. Foster, i believe. Mr. Lucamire is next. Thank you, you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you. And thank you to the witnesses here today. I appreciate your system and your expertise. Dr. Redfield on tuesday july the 14th, you stated that right now k were seeing sadly far greater suicides than we are deaths from covid. Were seeing far greater deaths from Drug Overdose than are above excess than we had in backgrounds than the deaths from covid. Since the pandemic began alcohol sales have increased more than 25 . And suspected Drug Overdoses have climbed 18 . Were looking at both sides of this healthcare issue. We are target our approach to take care of those with covid. But we need to make sure that were looking at Substance Abuse, domestic violence, child abuse due to the economic shutdowns that took place because these instances will likely be around far longer than the virus itself. So dr. Redfield, do you believe that the blanket shutdowns are contributing to the drastic increases in Substance Abuse and suicides, the lack of cancer screenings and operations like that that we left out of the picture here as a result of our total focus on covid 124 congressman, i thank you for the question. I think it is really important as we reopen america now you that were much more surgical about those situations that are curtailed. So as you mentioned we clearly have consequences for the decrease in immunization in children, clearly consequences for the lack of cancer screening. There are clearly are consequence first delayed surgery that are elective that substance ctive, abuse and dental health services. So its really important as we open the nation that we make sure that there are not these unintended consequences that did occur during march, april and may. There was an article that appeared in one of the local magazines with regards to trying to quantify that figure. And they did. And they came up with a figure around 65,000 people a month that were dying because of the lack of healthcare that was either being postponed, denied, waved, whatever versus our total focus on covid. Dr. Fauci, i have watched a number of your your press conferences and ive seen you articulate a lot about covid. But ive never seen you talk about this other part of the healthcare spectrum that we need to be considering also. Wow would like to comment on that and give me your position on that, please . Dr. Fauci yes, i actually have commented on that when ive said most recently talking about schools that i think that a default position despite the fact that we need to have flexibility would be to try as best as we possibly can in the context of the safety of the children and the teachers to open up the schools for the very reasons that i think you mentioned and dr. Redfield mentioned because of the negative consequences on children from a psychological standpoint as well as the downstream unintended consequences on families. You know, one of the problems that we have here in this committee, were looking at the consequences with our problem we have with covid, the problems on the consequences of not tending to the healthcare needs of the rest of society, and we have to figure out how do we manage this . How do we look at both sides of this, . How do we make sure everybody is taken care of . In our position, what would you recommend, dr. Redfield how we should approach this problem . Dr. Redfield i want to echo what dr. Fauci said earlier. We think if you do five things we could accomplish as much hings before shutting down the nation. Wear Face Coverings all those things can put us back dr. Redfield the facemask, the social distancing and the hand hygiene, staying smart about gatherings and staying out of crowded bars and crowded restaurants. If we did those five things weve done modeling data. Weve get the same bang for the buck if we shut down the entire economy down. Ok. Youve commented quite a bit this morning on the School Openings and your comment is not about the economy or Public Health, its about Public Health vs. Public health. Ive got some grandkids. I want them to go back to school. For their own health, they need to do that. You have grandchildren, you would like to see that happen as well. Would you like to comment on the other part of this again, the unintended consequences of the problems with child abuse thats not being reported because most of it a lot of it is reported by teachers . Weve seen that go down. Weve seen emergency cases and Emergency Rooms go up as a result of this. Can you comment on some of that, please . Congressman, thank you. I want to emphasize because i dont think i can emphasize it enough. As the leading Public Health agency in the world, it is in the Public Health interest that these k12 students to get these schools back open for facetoface learning. Mental health service, 7. 1 million get it in school. Nutrition, we talked about. Reporting of child abuse, sexual abuse, mandatory in schools. The isolation that these adolescence are feeling that now is associated with increase as you mentioned, increase Drug Overdose deaths are now, increased suicides, i think it is really important as a grandfather, 11 grandkids, i want these kids back in school. I have one child with cystic fibrosis. I want it done smartly. But i think we have to be honest that the Public Health interest of the students in this nation is to get a quality education in facetoface learning and we need to get on with it. We recognize for five minutes ms. Velasquez. Congresswoman velasquez thank you, Ranking Members and chairman. It has been six months since this crisis begun, yet new infections are climbing in the states. Many hospitals are at capsty. And thousands of americans are dying. I am concerned about delay of test results. In arizona the test Positivity Rate is over 20 . But test results there have been delayed by up to 16 days. In florida, many hospitals in the state are near or at capacity but results can take can take over three weeks. In georgia, some companies have reported average possession times of five to 10 days. Dr. Fauci, days. Dr. Fauci, you said in a recent interview, if youre going to do Contact Tracing and the test comes back in five to seven days, you might as well not do Contact Tracing because its already too late. Dr. Fauci, if a fiveday testing delay is too long, en is it fair to say the delay is absurd . What are the consequences of these delays . Dr. Fauci i believe you can get a more detailed answer aud, but that ir is a delay that would interfere with the effective Contact Tracing. And were trying to decrease that. But the exact number of the delays, that i believe the admiral has more precise information on that. Yes, sir, admiral. What are the consequences from these delays . Yes, thank you, maam. As i talked about it, about half the tests are done at point of care at hospitals which are pretty rapid. The current data we have from the large commercial labs are that 59 of all tes are reported within three days. 76 within five days. And im sure theres an outliar between 12 to 15 days because thats typical. In the cities you talked about sir, thats not what were hearing from place like arizona, florida, and georgia. I get the data every single morning and can tell you specifically what that is. We have surge testing. We have brought federal resources to massively surge in phoenix and thats why its totally going down in miami, totally going down, jacksonville. Reclaiming my time, dr. Redfield, i would like to turn to you. The c. D. C. Has comprehensive information about the wait times for test results in all 50 states . Sorry. Does the c. D. C. Have comprehensive information about the wait times for test results in all 50 states . I would refer that question back to the admiral. Sir . Yes, we have comprehensive information on wait times in all 50 states from the large and do you public this data . We talk about it whenever always, i mean and you dont think it would be important i was with 69 journalists and we talk about that frequently. I would be happy to do that if you want to see that. It would be great. So that those who are make decisions at the state and city level we have access to the information. They do. Because it is important to understand they have that information. When they place an order, theyre told exactly what the expected wait time is for that order. We cannot expect to reopen the economy safely if the virus is spreading unchecked. Testing, Contact Tracing will not be effective unless we cut down the wait time for tests. I dont want to talk about puerto rico. Thats another story. Chairman powell said that the path of the economy is going to depend to a very high extent on the course of the virus and under measures that we take to keep it in check. He said also that the fed will use its full range of tools to steer the economy out of recession. Gentlemen, if the federal government using its full range of tools to get the virus under control like all the countries have. Many states are reconsidering their reopening plans after experiencing its shocking increase in new cases an been unable to stop the spread. Dr. Fauci, what roles does the lack of significant testing and contact tration play in states ability to control the virus . Dr. Fauci testing and Contact Tracing is one of the number f tools that i used to control the kind of surging weve seen. But i would also like to point out, congressman velasquez to reemphasize what i said in my Opening Statement that we could do a really good job of controlling it if we paid attention to five fundamental principles, one of which were doing here with masks, crowd distance, bars, washing hands. That is critical. Testing is absolutely an important part of it. And i understand that. Most e largest, and important pulpit is the one on pennsylvania avenue. It doesnt matter what you say if what you said is undermined by the president of the United States. The gentle womans time has expired. The chair recognizes mr. Jordan. Do protests increase the spread of the virus . Dr. Fauci do protests increase the state of the virus . That number of people, does it increase the spread of the virus . Crowding together particularly when youre wearing the masks increases the spread of the virus. Should we limit the protesting . How do we even say limit the protesting . Does the government limit the protesting . I dont think thats relevant to you said if it increases the spread of the vie us, im asking should we limit it . Im not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way. Well, you make all kinds of recommendations. You make comments on dating and baseball. Does protest increase the spread, im asking should we limit the protest . I think would leave that to people who have more of a position to do that. The government stopped people from going to church, dr. Fauci. Last week in the calvary chappelle case, they said it was ok for nevada toe limit Church Services. I mean, Justice Gorsuch said it best, theres no world in which the constitution to favor Caesars Palace over calgarys chappelle. You can favor one First Amendment liberty protesting over another, practicing your faith. Im not favoring anybody over anybody. Im just making a statement thats a broad statement that avoid crowds of any type no matter where you are because that leads to the acquisition and transmission. I dont judge one crowd vs. Another crowd. When youre in a crowd particularly if youre not wearing a mask, that increases the spread. Its a simple question, doctor. Should we limit the protest . The government is limiting yeah. Theres been no violence i havent seen people during a Church Service go out and harm Police Officers or burn buildings, but we know that for 63 days, nine weeks its been happening in portland. One night in chicago, 49 officers were injured. But no limit no limit to protests, but boy, you cant go to church on sunday. What was the i dont know how many times i can answer that. Im not going to op pine on limiting anything. Im just going to tell you youve op pined on a lot of things. This impacts the spread of the virus. Im asking your position on the protest. Well, im not going to opine on limiting anything. Im telling you what it is the danger. And you can make your own conclusion about that. You should stay away from crowds no bleart the crowds are. Government has stopped people from going to work, in fact, just in new jersey four days ago ean smith, frank were arrested for trying to operate their business, their gym. They were arrested. But my bet is if these two individuals owned this gym were outside just in front of their gyms and all the people who were working out in their gym were outside protesting, they would have been just fine. Because but because they were in the gym working out running their business they get rested, is that ok . Im not going o op pine who gets arrested. You get where im going . Im telling you as a Public Health official, i say crowd do you see the inconsistency though, dr. Fauci. Theres no inconsistency. Youre allowed to protest millions of people. And if you stood out site of that building you wouldnt get arrested . You dont see any consistency there . I dont understand what youre asking me to op pine on who should get arrested or not. Thats not my position. Youved a advocated for certain business togs be shut down. Im asking you on your position of the protest. I mean, i havent seen weve heard a lot about hair salons. I havent seen one hairstyle is who between haircuts goes out and attacks police or sets something on fire. But we know that happens during the protests and the protests increases the spread of the virus. Youve said that. I said clouds. I didnt say specifically i didnt say specifically youre putting words in my mouth. I just want an answer to the question. Do the protest increase the spread of the virus . I dont have any Scientific Evidence for anything. I can tell you that crowds are known particularly when you dont have a mask to increase the acquisition and transmission no matter what the crowd is you dont have a position on whether the protests increased the spread of the virus or dont increase the spread of the virus . Im saying that crowds wherever the crowds are can give you an increased probability that theres going to be acquisition and transmission but do you understand americans concern. Protesting particularly according to the democrats is just fine, but you cant go to work, you cant go to school, you cant go to church. There are limits placed on all three of those fundamental activities, but you protesting s just fine . The gentlemans time has expired. I would ask that you think about your question and think of it to crowds at political meetings at fundraisers without masks on an oil rig in texas, nobody wearing a mask, but a fundraiser. Would that be problematic . With that, i yield five minutes to mr. Foster. Mr. Foster thank you, mr. Chairman. Dr. Redfield, and dr. Fauci, im a scientist. You know how incredible it is when a breakthrough reaches the public and the proper credit is given but the long list of federally funded researchers who have made this breakthroughs possible and also to the enlighted federal employees and the politicians who funded that research. I remember back a few years ago when we had newspaper headlines about all the miraculous cures in cancer immuneo therapy. This was great. But equally great were the decades of federally funded research and the researchers who made those clinical breakthroughs possible. And also frankly that some of the credit goes to the democratic and republican members of congress who resisted the proposals for massive budget cuts to science that were proposed to republicans for years. And by the trump and mulvaney budget cuts since then. Now, in the case of the vaccines that have been so much in the news this week, the story does not start with operation warp speed. It does not even start with a historic 63day sprint from the publication of the viral genome to the first patient injected by the mrna vaccines. The sprint began when President Trump this sprint actually began when President Trump was still ridiculing the idea of the pandemic. The spread actually started when dedicated employees at nihn who understood the danger of covid19 and began working day and night. The story of federal investments in mrna vaccines actually starts back in 2009 when president obama who was at the time unhappy with the h1n1 of response to the pandemic, famously asked them if you guys are so smart how come you still make vaccines with chicken eggs . One year later, they reengineered vaccine production which emphasized new technology to make vaccines and therapeutics far fastener a pandemic. Heeding the advice of the scientific pan panell, which they did back in those days, in 2013 the Obama Administration voided a dampa grant to moderna. Is was followed in 2015 by 125 million by barda. So by the owned of the Obama Administration, they had mrna vaccines under humans and animals. It . Is it they prioritized it was their speed of development. Its the speed of manufacture which has to do with the high yield of invetrow transcription reactions and their potency. The exciting news of the last few months is that a potent human immune response can come from doses as low as 30 micro grams of mrna vaccine. What does that mean . What it means is that this one litter bottle if it were full of mrna vaccine would contain over 30 million doses. This is enough to vaccine every one of americans doctors and First Responders or all of the seniors over 75 years old. And that is why the Obama Administration invested in mrna vaccines and therapeutics in 2009. Without those investments project warp speed would not have squat. Now, dr. Fauci, would you agree that when there are great medical breakthroughs that the public needs to be reminded about the long line of federal r. N. D. Thats led to vaccine and therapeutic successes that were anticipating . Dr. Fauci yes, congressman, and it even goes beyond what youre saying. Everything that you said is very well taken. I think its a good time to recognize the fact of the generosity of the congress through multiple administrations both democratic and republican and whether or not the congress was controlled by democrats or republicans, the support for Bio Medical Research that goes back decades leading to everything that youre talking about, but even before then some of the monclona antibody work, some of the work thats ing done with are directly molecule work and we forget that you appropriately pointed out what are the scientific investments that we should be taking now . And how can we support those investments with the budget cuts that are being supported by the trump and mulvaney budgets . I hope we dont get cuts but you thats been proposed. Again and again. Ok. Yeah. Anyway, looks like my time is up. Mr. Chairman mr. Chairman, over here. I asked unanimous consent to enter into the record a story from june 5th, 2020 underscoring what dr. Fauci wouldnt answer today. Dr. Fauci said large protests are a perfect setup for spreading covid19. He said that a month ago. So thats a story from Business Insider and asked unanimous consent to enter into the record of june 12th. He tells politics that attending rallies, protests is risky even though today his position seems to have changed. His position has changed on many things over the last several months. I would ask that we enter those two articles for the record. Defensive like i said, dr. Fauci like i said, any crowd any crowd in which you have people close together without a mask is a risk. And ill stick by that statement. Its a Public Health statement. Its not a judgment on why youre there in the crowd. Its a statement related to the fact that youre in a crowd. Thank you, dr. Fauci. I didnt ask him a question. I was making unanimous consent. And im going to run this meeting. I would like a chance to respond to what he said. Im going to chair this meeting. No, but mr. Chairman objections, your statements will be enter into the record and without any objection, any gathering whether youre protesting or politicking, any gathering would be risky. And thats what the man has said. Yeah, but thats not whats happening. Thats my point. Oh people cant go to church, cant go to work. Mr. Chairman, that gentleman is out of order. That goes for the democrats and republicans. I make the decision as to who is out of order. Im going to be as gentlemenly as you will allow me to be. I appreciate it. Well, thank you. Your time mr. Green. Thank you for your Amazing Service to our country. First, dr. Fauci, there was a bit of an uproar about a picture of you at the nationals game without your mask on. I think you were seated with your wife. You had a close friend with no one else nearby you. And and that gentleman who was with you had his mask on. I think you had said in the press you took it off to take a drink of water. I just want to point out according to an article in the new england journal of some say nd i quote more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes, the chance of catching covid19 from a passing interaction is minimal. The science seems to be pretty clear, we should absolutely wear masks when were in close contact with those outside of our household. I think that was the conclusion of that discussion. Its not a crime to pull your mask off to take a drink of water in 100 degree temperature when youre seated next to your wife and someone else is there. I guess i make the point to show how the media has created all of this hype, which has led to some officials across based tes that are not on science. And there are consequences to those. If people are hot, thigh shouldnt get heat stroke and not take their mask off. I would like to move on to some other troubling actions that were done this week. This week, the chairman of the committee sent four letters all to republican governors in red states demanding extensive documents related to coronavirus response. The White House Coronavirus Task Force Report has 21 states listed in the socalled red zone. This isnt about transparency. This is about ridiculing states including my home state of tennessee. What about the other 17 states . Why didnt california get included in the letter . Theyve seen an explosion of positive cases . Theyre in the spike. Theyre in the listed 21 states. Targeting only republican governors when clearly 17 other states many of whom were democrat are experiencing the spike and in the red zone show this is effort has nothing to do with getting answers and is as the chairman has said in his opening comments politics over science. No scientist who wants the truth samples just republicans. Honestly, its a laughable partisan strike. It also compounds the insult to all americans for the failure of this committee to look at the real culprit. As i said in previous testimony, a Columbia University study shows that 66 of american deaths could have been prevented if china could have spoken one week earlier. Thats thousands of american lives that could have been saved. Instead of addressing the cause of 6 of of our casualty, the select committee on the coronavirus picks on american businesses, the Trump Administration and now four state governors all republican. When we know the other blue states are in the exact same situation. This is the definition of partisan. But i can hear it now. Didnt the right send a letter to certain gove nors . And yes, we did. We sent it to every single governor who had the trump plan and send covid positive patients back to Nursing Homes killing patients. We didnt select just a few of those aplaud congressman foster who approached me as a physician and asked me to join a bipartisan partnering with the administration to assist in the execution of operation warp speed plan. Thats how we should be functioning. That kind of bipartisan action. Finally, on a positive note, i wanted to mention the swedish study and ask dr. Fauci some questions about that because it illuminates some of the exciting findings in science. Tcells are a type of white blood cell. They regulate immune response. The swedish study found that many people with mild asymptomatic demonstrate tcell immune toy the coronavirus. Twice as many who tested positive for antibodies had t cell immunity. So we know there are tons of people out there with immunity that we arent testing. I would love for you, sir, if you can comment, edge camente america on tcell immunity and what the ramifications are to the plan. Thank you. Dr. Fauci thank you very much. Ill very quickly try to answer that. There are two limbs of the immune response. One is an antibody which is a protein that is made by the body to behind the the virus which is the hallmark of protection against infection. Theres another limb called the cellular immune response of t cells. And those t cells have the capability of essentially suppressing or killing cells that are infected and preventing the cells that are infected from making new viruses. So there are two parts of it. Even the one is generally felt to be protecting against the initial infection. The other is an important complimentaries. And youre right, the swedes came out with a paper and also from grantees showing the same thing that individual who is s re infected had tcell detected in nonexposed individuals, which means that maybe theres some memory from other coronaviruses that are benign, cold viruss that you were exposed to that might and i say might explain why some people even children might be protected that they had exposure thats not measured in antibody, but measured by tcells. This is work that we really need to pursue. Were just at the cusp of understanding the importance of this kind of response in covid19. Thank you. Thank you. The gentlemans time has expired. And as i yield to mr. Raskin for five minutes, may i address the letter, which i have responded to. You have an answer from me. You you have not seen the answer . Ok. Well, just be sure since you put the letter on the record. Let me put my response on the record. My response had to do with the four states that have refused to comply with the critical recommendations from the task force and all four have governors who are publicly stated that they do not plan to comply. In contrast to that, we did not send the letter to those states who did indicate that there that they will comply with the task force. These of those states had republicans governors and they did not get a letter from us. This has nothing to do with partisan. With that, i yield to mr. Raskin for five minutes. Mr. Raskin thank you, mr. Chairman for calling this hearing on the urgent need for a National Plan. A stack of paper is not a plan. A large and unwielding stack of paper is not a plan. A plan is a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for victory. And we havent seen anything like a plan. No one has shock e shown us anything. Blaming other countries is not a plan. Blaming china is not a plan. Blaming china is not even a good excuse for the lethal incompetence and disinformation of President Trump. Chinas early coverup of the disease only depends the responsibility and complicity of President Trump who on 37 different occasions as ive demonstrated by submissions to this committee defended and excused and praised the choi ees government china chinese government. We havent heard what the plan is. This is what has bedeviled us from the beginning. Mr. Chairman, we have 4. 4 million cases we lead the world in case count we lead the world in death count. More than 153,000 americans are dead. Right now. 54 Million People filed for unemployment benefits. G. D. P. En 1 3 drop in a 1 3 drop, unprecedented in economic activity. The chart behind me demonstrates the astonishing and terrifying growth of this disease. It took us 98 days to reach one million cases. It took us 44 days to reach two million cases. It took 26 days to reach three million cases. And it took us only 15 days to reach four million cases. Director redfield, when do you estimate were going to get to 5 million cases . Whats next . Thank you, congressman, one thing ive learned about this virus is its not predictable. I will say one thing thats important, that what happens next is dependent upon if the American Public fully embraced what weve asked, if they fully embraced those five steps, well get control of this pandemic. I thank you both of you for restating the absolute imperative importance of everyone wearing their masks when theyre out in public and everybody maintaining social distance and following the other health protocols. But they have been subjected to harassment and weve seen some today have been subjected o ridicule and absurd contra diction. I want to go through some of the misinformation. Dr. Fauci, when i start with you, are children almost immune to the disease . Yes or no because ive got a lot to get through, please. Are children almost immune to the disease . Dr. Fauci we have to be a little more precise, almost immune . Do children get infected . , yes, they do. Have hundreds of thousands of children been infected . Is covid19 going to magically disappear, dr. Fauci . Dr. Fauci do i not believe it will disappear because its a highly transmissible virus. Does wearing a mask give people covid19 . Does wearing a mask not to my knowledge. Is covid19 a hoax . No. Should people take hydroxychloroquine as a cure for covid19 . Dr. Fauci the overwhelming cumulative evidence of properly conducted randomized controlled trials indicate no therapeutic efficacy for hydroxychloroquine. Can people cure themselves by injecting themselves with disinfectant or bleach . Dr. Fauci no. You safe from the disease if you go through one of the aforementioned Large Assembly crowds, demonstrations without a mask on and not observing social distances if you sign a waiver that you wont sue the sponsor of the event . Dr. Fauci im not so sure those things are connected. But ill repeat what ive said multiple times that being in a crowd without a mask is a rhys Fk Acquisition and transmission. But signing a waiver does confer any sort of immunity from being infected by the disease . Dr. Fauci no, of course not. Dr. Fauci, the european government are in a completely different place. Theyve got the disease on the run. In fact, the Asian Countries have the disease on the run. I saw some remarkable figures. Almost every other country is doing far, far better than the United States except for brazil whose president has followed President Trumps follow sys. But we have 153,000 dead. Canada our next door neighbor has less than 9,000. We have 17 times the number of of deaths from it. China, which of course is much larger than the United States has lost 4,661 people. Weve lost 135,000 people. Our rate of death is higher than china and on and on. Do we have the Financial Resources and the scientific expertise in america to do what other governments have done to bring the infection rate down to something manageable so the end is in sight of this nightmare . I believe we do have the tools. And theres been a considerable degree of financial investment. So what is the difference why are all of the other countries defeating the disease and why do we not have a plan or strategy to beat covid19 . I believe i addressed that in not only my Opening Statement but in response to the question of one the congressman, and that is that when you look at the comparison between asia and europe as is shown by the chairmans poster up there, that when they shut down, they shut down to the tune of about 95 getting their baseline down to tens of huh u hundreds hundreds of cases per day. Whereas when we did it we going to down. But our baseline is 20,000 a day. Were getting somewhere. But would you agree with me that the critical difference is the presence or the absence of social cohesion and Political Leadership to actually of social cohesion and the Political Leadership to actually develop a plan, execute it and stick to it . Dr. Fauci there was such a different response in the states of that we really did not have a unified bringing of everything down. Rep. Raskin the end of it was essentially, do we need to stop this graceful attacks on Public Health officials . The gentlemans time has expired. We recognize mr. Kim for five minutes. Rep. Kim thank you to the witnesses for coming out here today. Ofuick question to a three you, yes or no, if you are able to, is from mcafee threat of mine. The constituent asked me the is from a constituent of mine. I want to start with you, dr. Redfield come out what the uss that our federal government, the c. D. C. Included, is doing whatever possible to fight the coronavirus . Redfield i think we do have a comprehensive response. The one comment i want to make , for overmplexity is five decades, we have under invested in the core capabilities of Public Health. We have seen no the consequence of that. Rep. Kim with our capabilities right now, would you assess the federal government is doing every . Dr. Redfield recognizing that the cork of abilities have not been invested in in the last five decades. Rep. Kim admiral, some question to you. Is our federal government doing everything it can to respond to the Coronavirus Crisis . Adm. Giroir it is a very broad question. I agree with dr. Redfield. I think with like gift of his we have, we are doing that. Rep. Kim dr. Fauci, do you agree with your colleagues, are you doing Everything Possible to respond to the crisis . Dr. Fauci i can only speak cogently about the agency that i am responsible for, and i can tell you, absolutely, the national its d is of help is doing everything it possibly can and it is all hands on deck approach not just for the institute i direct, which is the National Institute of allergy and Infectious Diseases but the director of the n. I. H. Is spending all his time on this, even though he is responsible for a lot of other institutes, so i think we doing about as much as we possibly can. Rep. Kim appreciate that. Message from axt constituent that follows up on this type of question. Laura says, i got a covid test 10 days ago at a drive up testing site and i still do not have test results. I know that you mentioned before that 76 of tests are coming back within five days but that means about a quarter of tests in this country are taking more than five days to get results back. Would it be possible for the nation to have results for all covid tests completed and returned within 48 or 72 hours, is that possible benchmark q . It is not a possible benchmark we can achieve today given the demand and the supply. It is absolutely a benchmark we can achieve moving forward. Rep. Kim you said demand and supply. Demand is something that you dont have an ability to control. , are we doingpply Everything Possible to be a but to address the needs of the Coronavirus Crisis, what would you say to laura here . Is the federal government doing everything it can possibly toget the timeline down 4872 hours . I do believe we are. We are investing in a number of technologies that will greatly expand point of care testing, to to point of more care testing. Dr. Fauci talked about the n. I. H. s efforts. There will be an announcement from them. Rep. Kim i was interested in what you said earlier about trying to get point of care testing to Nursing Homes and longterm care facilities. Greatly. Ith that that feels like a place where the federal government is stepping up, i am guessing because the states have been unable to fill something of that nature, correct . Adm. Giroir we always wanted to do that but we didnt have the physical technologies capable with the recent approval of a second point of care instrument in the manufacturing, we were able to do that. Literally as soon as that happened, we put that into gear. Rep. Kim what interests me about that is, this is a situation where, when it comes to tests, i keep hearing that it is the states responsibility. But longterm care is a place where the federal government is in. Ping adm. Giroir this has always been a collaborative relationship the federal government purchases all the swabs and tubes, we deliver states. The we make affirmative actions for Nursing Homes because that is where 40 to 50 is. Everything is a collaborative interaction, part state, part federal. We do not do for everything to state. If we did, i wouldnt be spending 24 7 with a team of 50 people from march 12. Rep. Kim thank you. My time has expired. Without objection, i would like to place two reports in the record. One is from forbes. It is entitled, researchers say protests did not increase covid19 spread but republicans are still blaming them. This is one report. I have in my hand here, a report and a study from the National Bureau of Economic Research that was published last month. That there wasd no connection between black lives matter and protests in recent months and increased spread of the coronavirus. So, without objection, i would like to place both of these studies into the record. We will now go to a second round of questioning. I would like to ask the a fivets, would you like minute break before we begin the next line of questioning . Yes. Ok. We are taking a five minute break and we will be back in five minutes for more questioning. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]