Transcripts For CSPAN2 HHS Secretary Azar Testifies On COVID-19 Response 20240712

Welcome everybody. Today, the subcommittee were some members will. Person and others may appear remotely via webex. Since some of the members will be in person, me first remind everyone that pursuant to the latest guidance in the house, all individuals in attendance and searing in person must wear a Face Covering. Those who are not wearing a Face Covering are not permitted to remain in the hearing room and will not be recognized for intent to speak. Let me also make a few reminders about other hearings. For those members who appear in prison, he will be able to see members appearing remotely on the two monitors in front of you. And one monitor you will see all members appearing remotely at once. And what is known in webex as a special 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 of repairing remotely can also see each person speaking during the hearing whether they are in person or remote if you have your webex set to an active speaker mode. If you have any questions about this. Please contact the staff immediately. The master money of of the house procedures there applying to these hearings. For members appearing in person a time or is in the room directly in front of you. For those who may be promote, we have a timer should be visible on your screen and when youre in the active speaker with some mud that he will have a timer. Rep. James clyburn for members and maybe appearing remotely, a few of the reminders. The house rules require that we see you. So please have your cameras turned on at all times. Not just yo when youre seated. Members are not recognized to remain muted. To minimize background noise and feedback. Our recognize members verbally and members can seek the right to be recommended. Members will be recognized in seniority order for questions. If you are a remote want to be right in front recognized outside of the order. You man did divide that in several ways. You may use the check function, the senate request, you may send an email to the staff. Or you may unmute your mike to seek recognition. Obviously we do not people wanting to be talking over each others of my premise is that you use the check function or the email to facilitate verbal wrecking nation formally. Im aware of the request and i will recognize you. As members of the committee are likely aware, we expect folks to be called in the middle of this hearing. Out of respect for each member, and the witnesses time, and because of the Long Duration of each vote, during this Public Health and ministration free to do not play the risk is hearing for the minister vote. Committee members including those who are recognized for question, 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 hearing in just a moment. When they tell me they are ready to begin the live stream. [background sounds]. Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Without objection, this hearing is authorized to declare the committee at any time. And i recognize myself for an opening statement. Today, the subcommittee welcomes secretary of health and Human Services alex lazar, the Trump Administration Health Official the top one. For the first time secretary alex azar has testified before congress. In the seven months since her last appearance in february, more than 207,000 americans have lost their lives to the coronavirus. And over 7 million have been infected. In all of us woke up this morning. Thats good news. The first family, and at least one of the close Staff Members have been diagnosed with covid19. We wish for all of them a speedy and complete recovery. We pride ourselves as americans being the most scientifically advanced nation in the world. We have the best doctors, and Public Health experts. We have led the world in countless medical breakthroughs. From the polio vaccine and mapping the human genome. And battling ages for unit and ebola. That is why it is been so heartbreaking to watch the administration squander this legacy by refusing to lead in ignoring our scientists. And putting in politics over the health of the American People. Let there be no doubt that the pessimist response to the coronavirus the crisis has been a failure of historic for potions. Covid19 has claimed more american lives in the battles over world war one. The korean war, vietnam war, Afghanistan War in iraq war combined. While the president claims that he saved millions of lives. More people died from the virus in the United States than in any other country on earth. We hav have 4 percent of the wos population but 20 percent of the coronavirus debts. More than 140 other countries have had fewer deaths per capita from this virus that we have had in the United States. Behind me are images of a few of the americans we have lost. To my far right, the daughter of 21st responders in michigan, scott was a healthy five yearold who lived playing dressup and dreamed of becoming pediatric dentist drill. She died from the coronavirus in april. Next is cheryl. Anyone years old she was sharp as a tack and love visiting with family and friends. She died in april. After contracting the coronavirus. She also had a daughter, allison, told her mothers story to our committee in june. Two immediate left is jason. Any people like i saw jason as he drove his bus. He was 50 yearold bus driver in detroit. He caught the coronavirus asked hepathway passenger is yelled ot in disgust. He died in early april. His best friend and colleague, spoke to our committee in may about jason and the dangerous that the front line workers from country. The final story is demi bannister. Demi was a 20 yearold thirdgrade teacher in my home state of South Carolina. In my hometown. The columbia. She tested positive after returning to school for training early in september and died. She died three days later. Last sunday, debbies mother, also died from the coronavirus. She tested positive for the coronavirus the day her daughter died. Surely with a 57 yearold constituent applying. And served as chair of the Nursing Department at the technical college. Tragically, so hard to see why americatheamericans like skylel and jason, demi and shirley, were more likely to die the people in most other countries. Even though the president knew early in february that the coronavirus, deadly stuff. In march he said, and i am quoting him. I wanted to always play it down. Sitting with his desire, the president has refused to step up and lead in national response. To stop the spread of this deadly virus. Rather than implementing National Strategy, the white house deferred to the states. Reportedly because they believed blaming democratic governors for the coronavirus debts would be in the words of a Public Health expert involved in the discussions affected political strategy. The result was wide spread testing shortages and delays that let the virus spread widely throughout the country. And also refuse to distribute masks. In other protective equipment. President trump saying that i and i am quoting him again. We are not shipping place. As a result, the National Stockpile overseeing that and they quickly ran out. The states were supposed to compete for scarce supplies while First Responders medical workers reused all the masks. They were garbage bags to try to stay safe. As the secretary in the first chairman of the task force inspector, shouldve at the helm of a vicious national response. Rather than try to hide or alter or ignore the signs whenever contradicted the president s wish. To downplay the crisis for perceived political advantage. This morning, my staff released the report. This report identifies 47 separate times that political appointees interfered with the scientists who try to help americans stay safe. During this pandemic. Fortyseven documented times. The president complained of the cdc guidance on reopening schools. And according imparted very tough and expensive. How expensive was the life. Into into that classroom. After the president complained. Is revealing too any new coronavirus cases. In all called him again. Slowly down the testing. Hhs altered key testing guidance. They claim the people without symptoms did not need a test. Even if there were exposed to the virus. That decision was reversed only after this select subcommittee and any others objected. When the president complained, deep state at the fda is not moving fast enough to prove treatments for the november election, the fda recommended thousand therapy of their rejection of top scientists. The secretary, president of the press conference. In repeated false statistics about the therapies effectiveness. Now the ministration appears intent on politicizing vaccine. In the president is pressuring the fda to approve the vaccines before election day. And cast doubt on the efforts to ensure that the vaccine would only be approved based on science. I know there are about four companies the move to their face testing. But i would hope that whatever they them up with. Eventually there will be mark one vaccine. Im hopeful there will be a safe and effective vaccine with even the best scarce scenario, that the doctor said last week, dr. Fauci said most would not receive the vaccine until midtolate 2021. The means americans to be waiting up to another year to get vaccinated. Often sure the public the nose around when were the only vaccine. The remember political decisions that were made for the vaccine. The insured any remember salt vaccine. And then another vaccine the cell vaccine required shot in the arm. Saline vaccine was little drop of serum read envelope of sugar. Ill yield to the Ranking Member for his opening statement. On it thank the chairman and i want to thank the secretary a star to coming. Actually to get to the facts of what is happening. To the great work that your team is done. The first i want to express my prayers and support to President Trump right in the first lady melania trump. We know the tested positive. I know how tough and strong look person President Trump and how tireless he is. Note is going to continue to work in the market people. But jennifer and i keep e and the first lady in our prayers. For a quick and speedy recovery. And joining with the chairman and expressing those thoughts. Secretary alex azar, truly want to thank you as well as the 80000 men and women who work for your agency who have been working tirelessly so well for the American People completely focused learning more about this virus. Which we learn more about everyday prayed as well is working now towards finding one or more vaccines and copies which by the way your agency is already identified and approved number of therapies there working with the save lives. Truly saving american lives. As we speak. There is not gone without notice. The tireless work that youre men and women in hhs and all of the healthcare workers across this country are doing across this country to save american lives for their at the here is of this virus. Today, the republicans on the subcommittee releasing a report. President trumps plan the whole of an american response. Yes there is a plan. For those who choose not to read the plan, they might walk around saying theres no plan party there tens of thousands of pages of plans and continue to be updated by your agency and so any other federal agencies that are all directly involved in helping us get through this. The plans cover so any things from how to properly protect yourself and your family and how to safely reopen schools remove actually hearings on a number of items of those plans and we talked about and we given them websites links, to the people who denied his plan to hold her head in and say there is no plan. Again just because you do not want to read plan does not there is not a plan. And so in this report, we detail so any aspects of the plan. Want to go through some of the Trump Administrations national and some of the things that he has done. Mr. Scalise includes thousands of pages guidance backing all of these of the party first and is a plan to procure personal protective equipment. And this is, any times. March 29, and 2020 President Trump launched project your wrist. And began to carefully and thoughtfully leverage the defense production act. This right. Present multiple times is invoke the defense production act. To secure ppe to secure ventilators. The resources to combat this pandemic. As of september 20th, 2020 the Trump Administration coordinated the delivery and production of 240 3m and 95 masks. 1. 1 billion surgical and procedural masks. Fortyfive and half million fine face shields. 41,201,000,000 gallons and coveralls. A number 27 and half billion gloves targeted further as of september 20th, september 10th. At 2020, the strategic National Stockpile is fully stocked with 135,784 ventilators. There is not one hospital in america ran short of ventilators. Not one american useful pandemic that was denied the ventilator who needed one in fact. Today most doctors will tell you if someone comes in, less and want to is put them on a ventilator because of science has advanced. Doctors know a lot more. About this virus tonight and they did just a few months ago. I credit our medical community for learning and sharing that information with others as we learn more everyday to save american lives. That has been part of President Trumps plan. In addition, the plan to slow the spread. On march 16th, 2020. Present trump announce National Guidelines entitled 15 days to slow the spread. And dr. Fauci testified right where you are sitting just a few weeks ago before this committee. When i asked him, was a part of the president s plan and said yes. Nice to do that plan save american lives and he said yes. President trump made those decisions and that was part of the president s plan. These guidelines outline how to slow the spread and give her most highrisk populations safe and get is been are more about this virus, we learned does not affect everyone equally. And so as their population that we identify highrisk populations, part of the plan is to and as the secretary is well aware of, secretary alex azar is aware of, the testing machine to every nursing home in america. Right there at the table, just a few weeks ago this committee to talk about that aspect of President Trumps plan. And how its carried out today to protect the nations seniors. Which we uncovered over 40 percent of all deaths americans came from less than 1 percent of the americans population that is seniors Nursing Homes. Through the work of some of us on this committee we identified that the ask for the five governors actually follow the president s plan. To seek the guidelines that were issued to powell Nursing Homes could properly take care for seniors in Nursing Homes. Those part of president s plan part of an unfortunate five governors monitor blood that plan but they ignored the plan. Completely through the trash cans in, were going to do our own thing. Sadly, in a deadly consequences. At least 25000 seniors died in sonoma died Nursing Homes because those five governors went against the president s plan as we know in america. Those were at the state level at the federal level. God its came from the federal level but these five governors chose to go the other way. And some of them are still trying to hide if the facts. Any of us have asked on this committee to get the specs. And elaborated was majority would join us in getting the facts from those families. Thousand families who still want deserve answers why the loved ones died. They cannot even go and visit their father, rent, the grandmother. Who died in those Nursing Homes and who should not have died at if those five governors would have followed the guidelines. Should not be a political issue. Fortyfive governors got right republicans in and impressed. We should all find out why those others got it wrong if i know any people actually were victimized by those decisions. The fact the months and months later, we still dont know. In the data is being hidden. By those five governors and that is a disgrace. Everybody should be demanding those answers but again, the president laid out that plan 45 governors followed it. A plan have increased testing. I may on the fourth 2020, the Trump Administration released a report to Congress Called covid19 strategic testing plan. Which built on the april 27th National Testing blueprint. This report explains that state plans must establish a Robust Testing Program that ensures adequacy of covid19 testing including test for Contact Tracing and surveillance of asymptomatic persons to determine community spread. Including these robust testing plans to President Trump built the worlds greatest testing apparatus from scratch. And even know this disease existed at the beginning of this year. China was lying to us and is Committee Still as you tear a single hearing unwilling china accountable for their role in creating and spreading this virus on the lives of the world, and hoarded the ppe. From us and every other country. Now to have that hearing. The through the robust testing plans with president dead, to build this from scratch, allow the u. S. To connect over 100 million us in only five months. 100 million test. The testing number continues to grow every day. We continue to seek more Companies Come up with testing equipment that is been approved by the fda to test people for covid19 quicker, faster and more readily available. Over hundred million test and over five months. The plan to safely reopen the economy. A 16, 2020 President Trump unveiled the guidelines for opening up america again. Yes that is part of the plan. You can still go rated. Good read it months ago. Is been widely available. The threephase approach to help the state and local officials reopened their economy safely under the direction of each state governor. The present respect city state is run by the governor it was duly elected. They have legislatures. They been meeting determining the best safety guidelines for each of their states as well. The guidelines come out to help every state do the things i need to do to take care of the people in the states. This violence can updated. Sec. Alex azar the scientists learn more. You on the Federal Reserve is predicting thirdquarter growth is on the increase by 32 percent annualized because under this plan, President Trump has focused on helping rebuild what was his promise economy in the history of our country in history of the world. Before covid19 we saw one of the strongest and healthiest economies our nation has ever experienced. Was working for every income level. In fact the lowest income levels the data souther very clearly, they were the ones who are benefiting the most. That is because under the previous administration, we lost her middle class. Literally, thousands of Great American companies let america, left america to go to other countries. That structure was as i competitive freedoms crushing our ability to manufacture to make things in america again. Notice of those jobs being brought back, the manufacturing facilities be brought back. And everybody was participating. Every income level was benefiting. And then covid19 hit. So as we battled the virus through the plan, that the president laid out in working with the smartest people in the world. That science, and the secretary and his 80000 employees are working hard and keeping this information out through the secretary alex azar. The president is also planning to rebuild the economy again and starting producing every month, over a million jobs being created and people getting back into the workforce. Safety protocols knowing that they can go in another way of life again. Differently. The start doing the things that need to do again. Taking their testing and going and getting the mammograms and their colonoscopies against which unfortunately, we saw dramatic drop during the shut in people were not going to the doctor to get their other tests run. We are concerned thats going to cause problems down the road. We need to encourage people to get back out to go see the doctor again. Good tested beginning in the chemotherapy again. Youre battling cancer. It will save american lives as well. President again as part of his plan but out a detailed plan to safely reopen our schools. We had hearings on this for an academy of pediatrics is laid out guidelines in the cdc is laid out guidelines were safely reopening schools. The scientists and physicians at the american Academy Pediatrics in the National Academy committee on guidance to k12 education responding to covid19 recommends schools that limit housing which enables a student to learn in person. We have seen the science on the detrimental impact on kids theyre not learning in school. Any School Systems reopened because guidelines are there for how to safely do it. Some of chosen not to follow those guidelines. In their public those kids back because of the kids are learning rated and the kids are boarding in the classrooms, or falling behind. We need we need a semblance here. Given. Rep. James clyburn opening statements. I would hope you would conclude soon. Sec. Alex azar clearly both of us have experienced same openings. Mr. Scalise and finally, part of this plan as we detail it, a plan to create a safe and effective vaccine. Something we should all be applauding the fact that we are for American Companies. Internationally, respected. In the final stages of fda approval. For safe and effective vaccines. Not something work orders are being cut. And of the secretaries might talk about this more. Detailed but it is very important on this point, make a note that these companies are all following the best guidelines such as in america but that world. The guidance of the Gold Standard. No orders are being cut but more importantly, all of the focus of the best medical research in the world is nothing but on fighting a vaccine to protect americans. And it is a dangerous idea somebody would try to undermine Public Confidence in any one of these vaccines in their approved by the fda. They dont work, they will not be approved. But if there are approved. Because i went through all the records of the Gold Standard, the fda testing. On thousands and thousands of people have signed up for it and apply again, the 250,000 plus americans who agree to participate in these trials and help us get through this point. In revolutionary pace because of the president s plan. Operation warp speed is part of that. Which President Trump laid out principle of these mr. Chairman, are part of the comprehensive plan that continues to grow as we learn more and as we find out more and is scientists discover more in advance in ways that we maybe have never seen in modern times. We need to continue that approach. We need to continue that advancement. I look forward to hearing your testimony mr. Secretary mr. Chairman gilda back. Im announcement time. Rep. James clyburn i think the Ranking Member. For yielding back. I would like now to adduce our witness. Today, the select committee is please to recognize the honorable trent 11. Secretary of health and Human Services. Thank you secretary for being here today thank you secretary alex azar. Would you please stand so that i could swear you in. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you are about to give his truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god. You may be seated. The records show that the witness answered in the affirmative. Without objection, written statement will be made into wood part of the record. Secretary alex azar, you are now recognized reopen statement. Sec. Alex azar it is not are to appear before the house select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis. I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of the department of health and Human Services in the Trump Administration support to congress has provided route this unprecedented crisis. This morning, we wish the president and the first lady and every American Fighting covid19 a complete recovery. Well someone the lives lost license of all of these victims of covid19. Thank you to the heroism of so any frontline healthcare workers, scientists and others we are making progress. This progress is possible in large part because of the incredible women and men. The worlds finest scientists and Public Health experts. I want to say personal thank you to each and every member of the hhs team who has contributed to response. I want to underscore my commitment to their work today. I started my first job in hhs nearly two decades ago. My first day on the job, i have recognized and promoted the value of science and evidence in the Civil Servants who are so dedicated to our mission. That does not mean that an unprecedented crisis that there are no debates or disagreements within an agency or administration. Of my highest priority will always be to ensure that our efforts are science and evidence driven and consistent with the rule of law. Institutions like the cdc, the fca, and the nih are household names. They are Gold Standard is for good reason. I intend to keep it that way. No institution is invaluable but americans deserve to know that the actions and communications coming out of our agency whether fda approval are cdc, mmwr start guidelines are grounded in science and evidence. Of course the standard also applies to authorizations for approval of a covid19 vaccine. I will be confident that my family and i should take the vaccine and you should be confident that you and your families should take it too. Because any vaccine will have been met fda standards and judged by fda career scientists. Where is as close as we are to distributing a safe and effective vaccine because of the dedication and humanitarian spirit of american scientists. Because of long be for the world recognize what it unprecedented threat that we face. Back in january the seventh. Long before china had even admitted that human to human transmission was occurring. The researchers began faxing Development Planning in midair that played on saturday, january the 11th of the morning after the viral sequence was finally shared by chinese researchers. In a huge scientist began work on the vaccine. Which entered human trials on march 16th. On february 3rd, just 11 cases in the United States. Barta, began obligating flexible funds to go to private partners to support vaccine Therapeutic Development. The next day made her first therapeutic funding announcement to help region develop a therapeutic antibody which is now in phase three trials roy the 25th and he is begin a trial for rum disappear reporting positive results in the end of april. Honaker, we secured approximately 150,000 donated treatment courses distributed to the hardest hit areas of the country. Later secured more than 90 percent of Global Production through september. Starting this week is being distributed on the commercial market because its no longer a scarce commodity. We build on these early efforts with operation or speed and unprecedented mobilization of hhs the department of defense and industry as i missed as a hundred take quality tasks necessary to deliver a life saving the American People. Today we have four candidates in the u. S. Phase three Clinical Trials and industrial scale manufacturing is underway on all six vaccines as to which we have contracted investments. These are extraordinary results. Made possible by the men and women of hhs, but the but we have received from the congress, and by the bravery and sacrifices of the American People. Thank you and i look forward to your questions today mr. Chairman. Rep. James clyburn thank you very much mr. Secretary. We will now proceed with questions for the witness. I recognize myself for five minutes. Mr. Secretary, really have only one question that i want to ask. And you meticulous in my time to answer if you wish. We have experience more than 207,000 deaths rated and in the very memorable quote of the present saying, is setting of the death tolls. Im quoting him. It is what it is. The president says that he puts america first. However, of the 150 countries. Of which there is reliable and in this instance, reliable data. We rank 142nd of 150 entries. 142. Seems to me he beat nicholas last. We tell us why this administration is coming in closer to last. Sec. Alex azar i would like to address the question of the tour 6000 people of paris. We regret any who have lost their lives. We wish we didnt have this pandemic. But people do die in penance. Our job in our mission and what gets me up every morning what motivates the 83000 dedicated people of hhs is a chance everyday to make advances and help save some of those lives. Some people die, we try to minimize that. We try to mitigate human suffering. Is on mission in the core of everything we do. We work to save those lives. If we havent taken some of the aggressive early steps we took for which we are criticized as being overly aggressive for alarmists election can travel with china. Shutting down the economy. We couldve lost saying over 2 million americans. Sony loss of life is tragic and horrible we dont want to see a single loss of life. There actions have made a difference. Interactions now with operation or speed will make a difference saving countless millions of lives in the United States and abroad in the future. As you think about the international comparisons. So important to think of the data that you are looking at. The best way to measure a countrys death rate in a pandemic because of the various ways of counting debts intervening deaths etc. Is what is called excess mortality rate. Emily people died in the Previous Year and having people within expected to die this year. And what was the access rate. If look at excess mortality from march to july over 65 age people in the United States. Those were 37 percent lower in the United States than in europe. Excess deaths from april to june across all ages in the u. S. Will be with substantial lower in the excess death rates in spain, the united kingdom, belgium, italy, and in the netherlands. Today in fact, france have higher case counts per capita than the United States. France i think i figured out is about a 1,206,000 cases per day in this moment when we have 42000 approximately we dont when in cases but dont hear people talking about the manual numbers that way. This is the pandemic. Disease spreads. Is dependent on all of his acting with individual response ability. The 3ws. I hope we will talk about this. Wash your hands, what your distance, where a Face Covering when you can. What your distance and avoiding settings we cannot do those three things. Because that is the bridge. We do not cover that is the bridge to that day in the weeks and months ahead. Where we will have those fda Gold Standard vaccines. Bob antibodies to prevent and treat people in the early stage of disease. And it makes me very optimistic for future mr. Chairman. Rep. James clyburn thank you mr. Secretary. Thank you mr. Chairman. I join you in mourning the loss of every life. I wish that china did not lie to american and the rest of the world. We couldve done so much more to stop the spread of this disease. And save lives in every country as you note for another countries that are seen in any cases higher death rates. If five governors one of followed the guidelines of the president but out, we would not even be on this list. Over 25000 test him should never occurred. We would not be of this list. But we still would have deaths. Because it is a pandemic. We mourn those we also want to learn how to properly respond to it. Again, we have had hearings from some of the most respected doctors and scientists on this. And dr. Fauci sat where you work and he said, decision after decision after decision, President Trump actually made the right decisions. First make the decision was after we figured out china was lying, china corrected World Health Organization. By the way, everybody listen to them and they were saying the disease does not spread from human human. We know that was life. May we should have a hearing ny w ho was corrected by china to do that. The cost lives. Was a figured it out, made a decision to make. Do we been flights from china. As you pointed out, not everybody was on agreement on that. Dr. Fauci noted that President Trump made the right decision in banning the sites in china. The decision saved american lives. Boston college xenophobic would not have done it, who would have more deaths. And doctor redfield in europe, talked about the decision to ban the flights from europe. It was not an easy decision because as you know, some people were saying, we been flights from europe, we have a lot of americans to go back and forth europe. President trump was presented the scientific data. And said that we will save american lives if we do it. And dr. Fauci noted as doctor redfield did that decision saved american lives as well. Tens of thousands, hundreds of the thousands american lives saved. Which there were none. China i wish china did not lie. But as we sit here today, doctor secretary alex azar. A human some of those meetings with the tough decisions had to be made and if you were, was the president s decisionmaking based on that scientific input as he was given to ultimately make the step decisions and dead save american lives. Sec. Alex azar if i could just cry, but jd not a doctor. The president , to be read in the media. I was with him in january february march in those moments of tough decisions in the early days and every step. I took decisive swift action and without debates or hesitation. When we shut down for you when we first 17th, started doing Health Screenings of people from wuhan. At 67 cases i believe in wuhan. This was a remarkable action. We started Health Screenings at our airport for people coming from wuhan. Sixtyseven cases. While china was still talking about no even to human transmission. No asymptomatic symptoms. They were refusing to provide any information or allow the cdc and who teams to come into the country. We were shut down travel in china generally 31st from the president did not hesitate at all. Shut the dow. In spite of the economic dislocation that would happen with our trade with china rated we brought thousands of americans others back to the nonsystem we impose these quarantines and 50 years. The president did not hesitate on that. When they were docking in tokyo with all the infections on board and the japanese were going to allow those people to get off into the homeland of japan hanging onto commercial place and get back to america. We did not hesitate to impose according on those people and them back to the United States through federal hunting. We wrestled with them. Some people thought it would cause a global depression shut down travel with europe. The present decided that date, shut down travel with europe. Thank goodness he did. Sec. Alex azar thinking as he did not do what i ask you about the vaccine. Very concerned about the people who are trying to plant the seeds of doubt in the vaccine. Because first of all, as a horseman cut vaccine. Sec. Alex azar absolutely not. And do you think it would cause even more deaths if people were led to be suspicious of a vaccine because of politics when in fact the vaccine as we know from these Great American companies is going to the Gold Standard process. It would be a terrible disservice to create hesitancy year of the. People will die. Speech of thank you very much. The chair now yields to mr. Waters for five minutes. Thank you very much. For this very important hearing. I would like to ask the secretary, way you describe the increase in the Coronavirus Infections in this country right now rated and in the states with the increases are taking place. Sec. Alex azar sore facing increases at the moment i merrily in the upper midwest and for the west so as we look at montana, wisconsin, i think north dakota and nebraska. The sourcing primary increases with our overcompensating recoiling out some of the decreases weve been seeing on the south outbreak in the south west. Telus numbers. Sec. Alex azar will be happy to provide you with us. There also available of the coronavirus. Gov, all of that data is right there. I like to know, do you think that the president rallies that he is onto where people are not socially distancing, that are experts tell us that they should be doing and wearing the mask that contribute to the increase. Sue and so we have consistent advice which is the practice of the 3ws for all individuals. Wash your hands wear Face Coverings wash transferred avoid settings where you cannot apply. [inaudible conversations]. So what youre saying is these rallies where the president is in the people not Wearing Masks. Not socially distancing themselves 6 feet. He certainly adds to the increase in the possibility of these infections is that correct. Suet arent voiced is always the same bring the 3ws whether it is in any type of activity to engage in those protective activities but always to evaluate your individual. And be ever talking to the present about that and giving him advice. Have you ever interacted with the president about him being a possible role model in this country and being one that could you help us to decrease deaths in the infections, i being a role model himself, Wearing Masks and social distancing. If you ever had the conversation with him. So when im not going to discuss my discussions with the present. The president s guidelines since april have said wear Face Coverings, wash her hands, wear Face Coverings and pat and practice social distancing. Mr. Secretary are you proud of the job be done. Sec. Alex azar i dont like to speak in those terms. A lot of people died. To dont like to speak in those terms about what youre doing. Dont like to talk about what youre saying to the president. Should be a role model to the people of this country. You cannot give me any numbers about the increases that are taking place. Dont even know where those increases are taking place and you come here today and testified with his testimony that there are giving us and you expect us to be happy. We are very unhappy about what is going on. We feel sorry that the president and his wife and others are now experiencing a positive test etc. How can you as the secretary, with the responsibilities that you have come here and not be very open with us about what is happening in this country. The increases, and the deaths. And what we need to do in the role model that we need him. How can you compare now being prepared to do that. Sec. Alex azar i am happy to do that if you would actually ask questions on that point. I would gladly talk to you about what is the state of the disease of the United States and the steps taken. Will talk to me about vpn tell me, why in fact, when is been diverted to build ships the military equipment instead of being directed towards ppe. Sec. Alex azar on the secretary of health not the secretary of health not the secretary of defense brainwave exercise 78 distinct defense production actions. We been aggressive without weather on ppe ventilators on testing equipment with regard to vaccines and therapeutics. Weve used it and anytime we need to across the entire supply chain. Mr. Chairman. Im going to yield back my time. I want to conclude by saying the secretary is not here with credible testimony today answering the questions that need to be asked. All that we hear is basically a defense of the president of the United States. Lack of openness and information about what is happening in this country rated the increase in infections in the deaths and unwillingness by this secretary to be candid about what we need to do. Yield back the balance of my time. Rep. James clyburn thank you really back. Chernow recognizes another for five minutes. Mr. Chairman. Secretary alex azar i have questions here that i think will help responded to ms. Waters outofthebox questions there did question number 142 those initial shutdowns actually work. Do the shutdowns initial shutdowns, did they actually work to stop the spread of the virus and save lives. Sec. Alex azar they did absolutely. Doctor felty and doctor mark said they saved upwards possibly as any 2 million lives. They came from dr. Fauci. What percentage of those were getting tested are covid19 positive. Sue in about 4. 4 positive d free today. Is already got her upbringing see what is down substantially. So ms. Waters, one some information so now we have that on record. Swiss percentage of americans test positive in up in the hospital. Sec. Alex azar wasnt dispositive, those i believe it is approximately a very small number. I know its about 10 percent but i want to get to the accurate number. Is an up or down from where it was in july. Sec. Alex azar also stations are down substantially. Again we answer ms. Fox questions. Listening hospitals engines. What of those individuals enforcement pathway. One of those who go into the hospital depends on the age group that we are talking about for instance, if we stay on the hospital setting, aged 70 and above. In april about 30 percent of those individuals who pathway who tested positive. 5. 7 percent. Is a number of her down. Sec. Alex azar down 80 percent again, most of the information is on the website ms. Waters can actually go find. Sec. Alex azar coronavirus. Gov and is transparent. Interest say that continuing guidelines that are out there and the things that are being done by the administration to guide and put out there for the governors and the mayors is actually working. And to implement the guidelines correctly. Sec. Alex azar absolutely thats why florida, texas, arizona, california, has turned around. Absolutely. Thank you very intent for much. I dimming you run an article in the Washington Post. We had to reopen for our health. In there, you make the comment right and this is something that ive been talking about over and over again for you talk about balancing health versus help targeted health risk of covid19 balancing against the Health Social and Economic Cost of keeping main street open. And across the United States which are closed for business point and you could add on there, openings schools. With a total focus on covid now looking at both sides its important we found ways to manage this and keep this into perspective we have to watch this but thats where we really need to focus our attention. So its important i think we understand how we can do this and manage this in your information is extremely important with the schools around the country many have been person learning. So as a result problems have popped up and it goes back to point out your information people under certain ages have minimal impact. Its important to understand how this is being driven and just a couple of comments on that i know this article is quite informational. Is like what you said we have to protect the vulnerable with coronavirus but ask one but bring down 87 percent others at 83 percent colonoscopy down 90 percent. Cat scans down 39 percent. Many kids havent gotten pediatric maximizations. Emergency rooms have seen dramatic drops people coming in with stroke and heart attack. They didnt stop having them. Thank you mr. Chairmans. Point of personal privilege. You are recognized. He attempted to answer the questions i directed to the secretary and they do not appreciate that his attempt to put words in the mouth of the secretary in order to protect him and use me as an excuse to ask questions that certainly should have been understood. I would love to respond to the its important to allow the secretary to answer questions which he refused to do in my testimony and that allows him to answer. If you would like the colloquy. We will do that at the end of the hearing or after the hearing i should say. Thank you very much. Thank you mr. Chairman. And i join my colleagues the first lady, his family in the white house staff the news that underscores the importance of testing asymptomatic individuals who could have been exposed to the coronavirus. Or who he may have exposed but it is imperative that if one who has come into contact with him get tested. In fact everyone should be tested in america. August 24th new guidance appeared on the cdc website stating the asymptomatic people should not be tested even if they were exposed to the virus. This guidance was directly contrary to the Scientific Consensus it has come to light this was not made by a seat is one cdc scientists of political advisers who edited the guidance over the cdc objections. One official told the New York Times this came from the top down from the hhs and the task force and it said it does not reflect what many people at the cdc view as the policy. Secretary as are did you authorize the publication of this inaccurate guidance on the cdc website . You made a misstatement regarding the guidance on augus. We have never recommended against asymptomatic testing. On august 24th the said testing is asymptomatic illness. Individuals with significant exposure including those that were asymptomatic and essential workers. What happened was they dont necessarily need to be tested the idea is they want to be ensure that they dont view a negative test they were done with that incubation. And that was the medical national to guide you through potential incubation. That was misinterpreted outside the cdc later revised that to clarify. I think the very beginning scientists were saying asymptomatic, you to get the virus from the asymptomatic person, from the molecules in the air, thats why were all supposed to wear a mask to protect people if we are asymptomatic. So to say on the guidance at the time and according to the cdc officials they said it was overruling them and their position. Who was responsible for making that change at that time . Guidance that comes out doctor redfield is the director of the cdc we harness the best doctors as well as the National Coordinator debate and discussion on any of these guidance but at the end of the day the guidance is doctor redfield supporting that. That you refresh yourself and recommended the asymptomatic people do get tested. We currently see a spike in many states hhs determines how many are the result of americans following that inaccurate guidance the first read before was corrected . I had nothing to do with the spread of the disease communitybased transmission we had the initial universities getting back together but that seems to have settled down now plane all communities spread coming from individuals not practicing the three ws of washing your hands, watch your distance and where your Face Coverings especially indoor restaurants and emphasizing this you are not immune from catching the disease. You have to be careful. In my opinion changing on the cdc website with the committees recent analysis found that was directed by your department mentioning 47 political interference and another example is just weeks ago on the cdc website concluding the coronavirus is spread through airborne particles. This is a big deal in the way americans protect themselves two days later information disappeared. And an early draft was posted in error. So mr. Secretary who directed this information be removed from the cdc website . And then just walking down the street. Your time is expired. Mejias of the question one may he answer the question . Your recognized five minutes. Thank you mr. Chair. I agree with my colleagues and sending prayers to the president and first lady for a quick recovery secretary as are azar thank you for being here at the end of the day to get you some kind of normal in the country one or more of these promising candidates are effective. Doctor fauci appeared in july that is a topic every american is talking about at the kitchen table. So between existing Government Programs of the cost of vaccines and the fact of many if not all the Companies Working on vaccines they will provide add a notforprofit price that every american can get a vaccine was approved. Yes one syndicated operation warp speed enables Clinical Trial for the most promising candidates to be run simultaneously to help get a vaccine to market more quickly of this or any other aspect of operation warp speed eliminated any safety steps in the vaccine approval process . No. We are moving quickly because we can take the financial risk away from development and manufacturing but the Clinical Trial standards remain the same said the government is not compromising any Safety Standards to speed up the process. Correct. That vaccine process is not subject to political interference spirit that is determined by career officials at fda. Thank you. Doctor fauci gave similar experiences with safe and widely available vaccine however only as effective as the American People faith in it secretary azar joe biden said he is the Democratic Party so in democrats including joe biden and senator harris go about the process to undermine American Peoples faith in the vaccine and repeatedly say they do not trust the approval process do these statements help or harm efforts to defeat coronavirus to overcome the crisis . I want to speak about them in a political context but anybody who works to undermine the confidence in the fda approval process to make those allegations undermines Public Confidence in the vaccine those could save lives and theres a vitally important especially disproportionately impacted by covid. We have to ensure they will have confidence in the vaccine if and when it is approved by the fda. Secretary azar joe biden said he only trust doctor fauci on the vaccine but as we have discussed he has voiced his full support operation warp speed and assured us any vaccine will be safe and effective. Joe biden says he trust doctor fauci and he says it is a safe vaccine should joe biden and the democrats be spreading doubt want to the people with the need to rebuild our economy otherwise returning to normal way of life. I hope nobody undermines the safety and efficacy of the vaccine by the fda. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you. The chair recognizes mr. Velasquez five minutes. As a new yorker and someone who contracted covid19, at the beginning of the crisis in new york, i would ask you if there is any value to wearing a mask . Absolutely. So how do you describe or assess what is your reaction to the fact those for political debate or potential debate would not wear a mask . Does that make it more difficult . Where Face Coverings if you cannot engage in social distance now the first family around the president is a different situation because of the protocols. Reclaiming my time. It sends the wrong message to the people that the first family that officials went to them and asked them to follow the rules as a set theyre not wearing a mask that is the point. So mr. Secretary President Trump said at a rally slow the testing down please and also said the testing is overrated did they tell you to slow the testing down . I will tell you about the actions this week. No. I asked a question. Reclaiming my time did the president tell you to slow the testing down . I will not discuss my interactions with the president s make it is a matter of public policy. If it is a National Strategy to combat the virus. The National Strategy is available for all to see a coronavirus. Gov the National Testing strategy and the report you received here in congress. Thank you rather than implement a National Testing strategy they have pushed down the responsibility down to the states them to develop their own strategy and supply. According to a report in vanity fair white house officials refused to have a National Testing plan because they believed the outbreaks were primarily in democratic states and it would be a political strategy we have seen time and time again from the other side to blame the democratic governors. Can you tell me about the Nursing Homes in texas and other states right now . We have been improving with death and infection rates in the Nursing Homes and published a list of red and yellow Nursing Homes experience seeing excess cases and we have had enhanced testing requirements on Nursing Homes including financial penalties and conditions if they dont maintain control of cases. Isnt it true nearly half of all nursing home cases have occurred in states led by republican governors . I dont know we think in terms of human. This is not a blue or red issue this is an american issue. So i resent when the other side comes here to make statements time and again about democratic states that the same situation is happening in all the states. Mr. Secretary were you involved in discussions in the spring whether to adopt an aggressive National Testing strategy or or a state led strategy quick. We do have an aggressive National Testing strategy that states are involved. Secretary azar with the guidance of schools clearly stated to fully reopen created the highest risk with just this question on the second round i yield back. Thank you for yielding back the chair now recognizes mr. Foster for five minutes. Im sorry mr. Green had left ac he is back i now recognize doctor green for five minutes. Thank you chairman and Ranking Member my democratic colleagues take numbers out of context to blame trump every death of covid19 they cite there have been over 7 million positive cases in the us what they fail to mention is United States is one of the World Leaders of testing we test more than the uk and australia germany canada south korea and many others according to fact check. Org our daily percentage of positive test is also very low four. 68 percent india seven. 2 percent and frances 14 percent mexico is 54 percent last month the wall street journal noted the death rates have been on the decline in north america the United States briefly peaked at five preferred death for million over the last month we are below three deaths per million in spite of the vast increased of testing. Mexico, uk, france, indonesia have higher fatality rates but the left says just the opposite manipulates the numbers of Global Pandemic to make every death and diagnosis the responsibility of the president. That is despicable we have no information daily and constantly change about the new pathogen i am reading the literature constantly it is changing over time. But to say the left they say theres no plan that is just deception they may not like the plan but if you say there is no plan that is not true the administrations response prevented the rest of the country from the fate of the early days of new york city despite covid19 what it really failed to do was blame the cdc they botched the response ordered ppe in silence whistleblowers of china acted two weeks earlier according to the study , 84 percent of deaths in the United States could have been prevented now its over 207,000 if china was transparent and we had been warned earlier 173,000 americans would be alive but democrats like the Vice President biden called the china travel bans you know phobic . That is crazy even democratic governors refused to accept the fact, i understand the previous comments the governor close refusal even after the president said we need to recently even have the gall to cast doubt on the vaccine and said cormack is a vaccine safe i will trust the federal government even added new york state will have its own review with the federal government and they have finished their review. I think new york has the capacity. Rather than trusting the nonpartisan expert cdc and nih putting politics before science and said he will not recommend new yorks gets vaccinated until they conduct a Second Review . It is despicable. The fact is he has lost all credibility at Columbia University new york shut down if they shut down two weeks earlier 20000 people would be alive the former commissioner new York City Health Department Said head of the cdc told the New York Times new york city death toll could have been reduced 50 to 80 percent if social distance measures were in place a week or two earlier even trump into quarantine of new york and because, so part of the botched the response additionally this idiotic order to send covid positive patients back to the nursing home against the guidance likely contributed to thousands of elderly deaths in new york state my colleagues and i have requested the subcommittee investigate that unfortunately no answer. They want to hold their fellow democrats accountable for even the Chinese Communist Party Accountable they are more interested to smear President Trump in a desperate attempt to win back the white house that is despicable since the radical left has embraced socialism we can no longer expect democrats to come back on china they will continue to prioritize politics over people and good oversight and the lives of the American People i yield. The chair now recognizes mr. Foster for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman mr. Secretary of the Public Confidence will be crucial and the development and deployment of Covid Vaccine and therapeutics in this will require will best and bipartisan oversight by congress. In july congressman doctor green and i sent a bipartisan letter to the comptroller general asking for the gao to conduct realtime oversight into operation warp speed the purpose is not to secondguess the work of our scientist but to ensure that the crucial vaccine in Therapeutic Research precedes as efficiently and effectively as possible and congress and the public has confidence in the process. Part of this response representative doctor green we agree on nothing we are actually getting a classified briefing on these aspects of operation warp speed. I also understand hhs has been slow to provide full access to conduct this review to gao including basic documents on procurement and contracts and so on. In my time as a scientist i have experience of billiondollar projects under realtime oversight by the gao and it seems like a nuisance to improve the quality of the project. The gao is sensitive to its role as a non partisan interface and the operation under the bipartisan direction really represents your best shot at having a high quality scientific oversight so secretary azar will we commit to have full and prompt access to this important access material quick. We are working on a response we have 32 open gao audits just on that subject along we are working with gao to assist them to tell their responsibilities without negatively affecting the lifesaving mission during this historic pandemic we remain committed to working with gao and the covid related work. It would be nice to see him plan and the speed of response you are absolutely correct to identify hesitancy due to political interference was assembled or made worse and the approval of hydroxychloroquine that was identified with the testimony to congress . What i will tell you is the emergency use authorization there is so much misunderstanding about that. We received a donation of 3 million tablets the product manufacturer in pakistan not in the approved facility. So do you believe those misstatements by President Trump and the fda on convalescent plasma made the problem better or worse . I know the commissioner where sorry for the statistical misstatement. He is a scientist and acknowledged his mistake and apologized for it. Have you apologized for the mistake has President Trump . Please tell me which mistake i made those made by the clear scientist who approved everything it was very clear about that 35 percent post production i know how to talk about that. But its appropriate when a significant misstatement is made. Someone who works for you makes a significant public misstatement. I will be honest on the stage i can assure you that did not improve the problem of hesitancy going forward. On august 22nd the president insinuated the government scientist are is making it difficult to test the vaccine therapeutics obviously they are hoping to delay the answer until november 3rd. Do the scientist represent a deep state to politically sabotaging the president . They are dedicated i dont use the term like deep state. To understand how demoralizing it is when the president make statements like this of the scientist and you do not stand up and confront the president for the demeaning of the motives . Its important we have confidence in fda isa. Financing crew officials. The chair recognizes mr. Jordan for five minutes. Thank you for testifying today and being with us this morning and for your good work at hhs we appreciate that. Secretary azar can receive the open the economy . Yes states can and should there are ways to do that safely. Its we were talking earlier about new york state which state has a greater population florida or new york . In terms of population i believe new york is 20 million i believe florida is 22 million . Roughly the same. Of course that has 2 million more people and then more seniors. I would have to believe florida but i dont have the exact data but i assume it is florida. You are right which has more seniors in Nursing Homes . The same reason i believe it would be florida. It is which has more hospitalization . Do you know . In terms, want to . Something i did have a note here florida has 70000 nursing home residents your has 100,000 they do want to be precise. I dont have the numbers on the hospitalizations florida has 24656 hospitalization new york the city persist a 73238. Three times as many approximately. Yes. Which state its terrible no matter where it happens we wish we had zero death but which had more residents pass away from covid19 . New york had face the number of deaths, 32864 versus board of 13320. Is up because the leadership in new york follow the guidelines that came from the Trump Administration, specifically as my colleagues tennessee pointed out and did 46 Straight Days when they political positive patients back into Nursing Homes couldnt that could do on happened that number quick. It could with the nursing home deaths or to have 3200 i can see first hand with aonly Nursing Homes and wings and then to see what new york did where they scattered covid positive patients and sprinkled them across Nursing Homes contrary to guidance then tried to blame us for having said that should happen but our guidance was contrary to say protect the vulnerable the covid only wing. For that follow the guidelines in which state is open today . I believe florida has more open as far as removing restrictions. Initiative surprise anyone if you follow the guidelines in the safe and proper way you can open your state and who has the lowest unemployment . I believe its florida between the two. It is like half is the unemployment level in new york that florida has. Finally if we had states follow the guidelines and open safely imagine what our economy could be doing. The Great American comeback is under way you see the numbers as the economy starts to reopen in spite of the fact that new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, michigan,s and california are still largely lockdown 600 large estates population my is in our country is still walked down by in spite of that we have the economy moving in the right direction imagine if they follow the guidelines to be in a position to open up like the state of florida how much better the country would be. We can open the countrys economy up with the issue we spoke of earlier to open up in a safe way with Good Behavior then you can solve the other health issues. Well said thank you for being here and your service i yield back. Accidentally gave the wrong number i said 126,000 i believe that the per capita rate is three times the daily rate actually multiply that out i just want to correct that i mean to misstate that but my point was that france daily cases on the per capita basis is higher than the United States case the 126,000 number is incorrect i apologize. Very good. The chair recognizes mr. Raskin. I want my thoughts for swift and complete recovery to the president and the first lady and other 43000 people who contracted covid19 yesterday and my thoughts are with those 857 americans who died yesterday. Mr. Secretary, we are now over 206,000 mark americans who have died from this terrible disease more than we lost in world war i 53000 korea, vietnam 66000 afghanistan and iraq combined, more than 7 million infected. We are the worlds leader in death camps and unfortunately the covid denial and conspiracy theory. We heard from our colleagues there are multiple plans secretary as are, has your plan been a success or failure so far, secretary azar . Is not appropriate dealing with success. How do you decide if to go forward or to adjust expand we think we have saved millions of lives at the aggression one aggressive action we took these aggressive actions have delivered excess mortality rate rates. Do you agree that theres nothing more the administration could have done to prevent these deaths . I wake up every day as does my team from the beginning doing everything we can. With simple action could have saved tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands future lives to encourage every american to wear a mask . Robert redfield said the most important powerful Public Health tool that we have but the president attacked doctor redfield for that theres problems with masks maybe they are not so good he mocks people who is a mask even Vice President debate and said every time you see him he has a mask and shows up with the biggest mask you ever saw. Do you agree with the president or the cdc director this is a powerful and necessary Public Health tool . I been very clear since or scientist recommended mask wearing especially in april with the reopening guidance that mask wearing is the important Public Health tool. Institute for Health Metrics has calculated 95 percent of americans wear a mask we will save 96000 american lives by the end of this year compared to the current path that continues to have sinister disinformation and propaganda against masks the administration has turned them into the partisan symbol discouraging Many Americans from wearing them we have had several meetings this committee designed to combat the coronavirus epidemic claiming of member should wear masks if not speaking in the committee if you recall back to the early days the celexa committee released a report dozens of times political interference with the Pandemic Response one time involved the rest of justice one Postal Service to mail a mask to every household but the white house stopped it and used it for other purposes and the Washington Post every mask was blocked due to concern from some the Domestic Policy Council that might create panic. Mr. Secretary were you aware the white house intervened to send a mass to every american . Thank you to the great work of the preparedness and response he contains and photos a little for the retelling of coffee fracturing they could a 600 million the initial plan was to send them to the usps there was push back to say send them where needed most with the outbreak thats what happened but they targeted that. Do you favor that to send a mask to every household . I think thats needed we have out how to make masks we now have 60 Million Masks to schools and small size especially for younger kids so the underserved have access. My time is expired so the concept of community is for the next round i yield back. Mr. Kim you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman mr. Secretary. When i go to my district and i talk about the constituents those are the toughest conversations with people who have lost Health Insurance since the start of the pandemic you are the nations top Health Official how many have lost Health Insurance since the start of the pandemic . I know several million but i would want to get that back to you in writing to have accurate information. I would like to hear your assessment i heard numbers anywhere from 5 million up to 11 or 12 million by the end of the year and i feel that is a major part of your job where do you consider that having more americans to have access to healthcare is a critical part of your job. And if they would like Affordable Access to Health Insurance thats by obama care has a special enrollment. They lose employer sponsored insurance with the obama care plan. That was based on employment with tens of millions those that didnt have insurance prior to the pandemic would you consider opening for them . So the provider we find we pay first dollar coverage for those that are uninsured this means you dont have a deductible or a copayment or premiums confronted and seek treatment we pay first dollar coverage to ensure they get the code treatment. When it comes to those who have lost Health Insurance but do you say it was specifically have you worked on to get the Health Insurance . You lost your insurance because you lost your job you can enroll in the obama care plan. What im worried about of having the Staggering Number of millions of americans who have lost health care we now face a great threat of having millions more, in the middle of this pandemic what do you think now is a good time for millions of americans to lose their healthcare . Is that a good idea or bad idea . You are getting to the texas litigation and the Supreme Court with the Affordable Care act. If the court were to rule against the statute a large part or in its entirety we will work with congress and certainly replace it for the president has never supported we peel only he wants repeal and replace will work with congress to get people access to affordable Health Insurance and health care if they were to do that we are far away from the local resolution if anybody tells you they know what the court will rule they dont know they are talking about. I appreciate a yes or nos answer do you think the fda that should be repealed if the Supreme Court would move forward on that quick. Thats a question my views are not relevant that creates a position that is unconstitutional and cannot be severed. We work to replace the real healthcare quite know we have a difference of opinion the notion in the aca some of that make 70000 a year 55 years old they spent 30000 on the premium that thousand dollar deductible. That is not access to affordable healthcare. We want to work with congress. I agree with you. But if you say the president is committed to not repealing the aca but instead reforming or replacing it then why is the administration and moving forward to repeal without replace quick. The litigation position the attorney general advocated a statutory construction of the constitutional position the policy position want to have a good system to affordable healthcare and work with congress if we need to replace that we will Work Together. Were you consulted with anyone before they move forward with this effort for the Supreme Court quick. I will not discuss my conversations with the president or cabinet i cannot do that. I yield back. I think that completes the first round of questions. We voted i think we will monitor that. We now go to a second round i will yield myself five minutes. Mr. Secretary the website hhs states the mission, is to enhance the health and wellbeing of all americans with hhs to foster sound expanded answers and. I endorse this mission to use sound science to enhance americans health. And wellbeing. Do you believe mr. Secretary that you and the political appointees in his administration have sold this mission during this pandemic . I do believe so i have stood up signs for evidence these doctors are house filled one household names like doctor fauci they have access to the American People never done before right out of the scientist mouth the best information i have we made sure to have access to the president he hears from a multitude of the best places i like to meet with the president without one of those top scientist to be there were all of them i always try to encourage data driven deliberation. That is the peer review process and i encourage and sponsor tha that. Regrettably the science based mission a senior political appointees like assistant secretary of Public Affairs who reports to you directly and his former advisor alexander. Take a look at this. And those that clearly show that doctor alexander and mr. Caputo overruled cdc scientist trying to inform the public of the risk of the coronavirus. On june 6 im sorry june 30t june 30th, after the cdc director said people should wear masks doctor alexander wrote the aim is to embarrass the president because it is duplicitous and on august date after the cdc reported that children could spread coronavirus doctor alexander wrote, this is designed to for this president for the reasons i am not interested in in the same email the cdc director homicide read and agree how they wrote it and to ensure it is fair and balanced and complete. These emails show clear political interference with the cdc efforts to carry out the science based mission. Mr. Secretary will you renounce this political interference and commit this will not happen again . As i said i support the base and challenging each other i do not support the statements doctor alexander is no longer employed at this department. I would like to get into Personnel Matters that is appropriate to let me be clear about that second quotation i do not know of any circumstance of anyone that would have authority and then to that knowledge she never had that authority i would not have supported that. When the statements came out i wrote you a letter asking these people appear before the select subcommittee. Not a single one was made available to appear before the subcommittee. I hope that you would agree to allow these witnesses to come forward next week i will be glad to come appear word you do that quick. Our staff is working to secure the agreements on the procedures to make that happen and with the final arrangements on that. That is a yes. And to protect individual some of these are career cdc officials mr. Caputo is on medical leave with a serious medical condition doctor alexander and never one doesnt work with the government we are working to get to agreement to how this can be facilitated. If my memory serves to recommend to participate and we would be pleased to have a virtual testimony from them if they would agree to appear if they come back that is because of you and me but we can do that virtually. Okay . I think they are in the final stages of getting everything arranged. I yield back i made it within 30 seconds. I appreciate the second round. Thank you for continuing to answer these questions. Talking about the vaccine and other therapies. You talk about hydroxychloroquine and i talked to internist doctors who are using it effectively a doctor knows what is best for the patient hopefully we can make as many options available so they can continue to help treat patients do you see an increase in the ability to treat those who work over positive compared to the movements ago . Advances to give people and help them recover is nothing short of revolutionary. In april an individual 70 or above would have a 30 percent chance of dying today it is five. 7 percent thanks to the president s efforts to get steroids for lung injury and getting things approved and convalescent plasma even how to use ventilators better and when to use them and forced oxygen and quality of care. My department played a vital role to educate providers across the country to enhance knowledge among providers. We passed some of the money to give the department the ability to respond even more effectively need to come up with and produce vaccine as these companies are in the final stages of testing. We are now waiting for one to be approved as part of operation warp speed but if it clears to the final stage they will start producing it than that is months later we actually make those now. If not approved than those go in the trashcan but then is that part of President Trumps plan we are doing that are how that has always been done quick. It is historic and unprecedented advancing the development with safety and advocacy millions of doses of vaccine making the industrial scale across six manufacturers right now something no drug company has ever been able to do without the support of the Us Government that his creation warp speed. Has it been created paying known to mankind . Never i worked very hard on the ebola vaccine with the democratic republic of the congo and thanks to america we had a vaccine with those antibodies but those took years. This is another story that is an old but if the vaccine is not one week later and then its the president s fault literally on the verge of full vaccines with millions of files already massproduced with the defense production act asking about new york this is very concerning you can see people planting seeds of doubt which would be deadly if they did it new york said they were not allow citizens to have access to a vaccine through another approval process have you seen their approval process and how many months how many people are denied if the governor gets his way. I am unbelievably distressed about the remarks of the governor to undermine the confidence not just for covid those getting mmr new york is a hotbed of the anti vaccine movement. Does new york even have a testing process. They dont. How many drugs with the be denied if governor will gets his way god help us . It is a ludicrous statement you said you agree with that but jumping to china and fortunately this isnt an area that i was in some of those meetings and the white house when we knew nothing about the virus officials wanted to medicine our officials wanted to go in with the Chinese Communist party stopping us and collected the who. It delayed by a month and a half getting into china after that on january 6. You know much we could have saved quick. And what we would have learned we learned a lot of information how to care for patients that was a month and a half delay. I yield back white house officialsdownplag schools. Secretary, we evolved instruction the cdc to issue guidance. Underwear and a certain cdc to issue that. They have a guidance there is a collaborative interagency process print is there wouldve been i assume under president obama with the ebola response. Write one and one print is quite normal in the white house correlated guidance would be there. Can you believe in and is your opinion evidence not for political advisers to write Public Health got its brightest when i believe its perfectly appropriate for all individuals that confident expertise to contribute whether politically appointed are career officials doctor redfield is politically appointed he runs a cdc. Is a final signoff. Sue. Political advices such as jerry kushner. Sec. Alex azar im not aware of mr. Christmas involvement. But i dont know that im aware of that but is perfectly normal for there to be all guidance is required to go through the white house process that is president ial executive order significant guidance as to go through the white house review. And he sees there i dont know but at the end of this, i want to be very clear about this bring the cdc, director must agree with this or and does not go out. Any changes of any suggestions for now back them up on that. The cdc reports that over 40 percent of all of these cases between the ages of five and 17 are latinos. Incident true there is evidence that Young Children can contract the virus. Sec. Alex azar oh yes. Children can transmit the virus. Thank you. And you agree that the transmission of covid19 is higher in poorly ventilated or enclosed areas. Sec. Alex azar congresswoman. That issue, just be careful to, on a deferred to the experts at cdc in terms of that i believe that to be the case. But i will not want to refer you to cdc guidance on that rather than speculating on that front. Are you aware that a recent report found that 36000 schools nationwide made ventilation upgrades. Sec. Alex azar i think in congress is statute that you i think 13 billion of funding for schools. I do believe there are issues and ventilation systems a canopy good upgrades to version erin keep going. Also keep adequate humidity levels which can be important. I understand. Do think it is right, we need to give peace of mind to the parents in this country that is safe to send kids especially in lowincome communities in the schools and the infrastructure is old. That has not been upgraded. Do you think it is right to say, we should fully reopen the schools. Sec. Alex azar we do believe we can reopen fully is a question. There are steps you can take, the hoarding cans and creating social distance. Moving teachers from classroom to classroom. Delivering meals for the kids free to social distance of the classrooms, and of course Face Covering wearing. And also, at all points, the individual making decisions for the right in the parents of the guardian to decide what is right for the kids. Im a vulnerabilities they are the household member separated and is finally be in the privacy. And you think that we have enough money nationwide to be able to upgrade of the schools. Sec. Alex azar i have not looked at that issue and funding. What you should prayed. Sec. Alex azar while the 13 billion in the form in is not been fully adequate in the school district. Okay. He has not been fully acquainted but my question to you is given the report and a thousand schools nationwide and needed ventilation upgrades. My question to you as you are the secretary of health. You are the one saying that resumption should be in week get our kids back to school. So you feel confident that having 36000 schools nationwide in need of ventilation upgrades that the money is there that is been allocated is appropriate. Sec. Alex azar there are several assumptions in their and your multiple questions. The key point is the presumption is, should be back in a physical environment. Having there, doctor redfield made it clear that the instruction of the childrens physical and emotional development, can be done safely. But we always have to look at the individual circumstances to make sure it is safe in any particular school or situation an adequate plan to make that happen. The fact of the matter is that there are 36000 according to the gao report and native upgrades. And that therefore, make such a statement has lets send the kids back to school. Does not provide the peace of mind up to the parents of this country. Their reports indicate that the white house pushed for the guidelines to be changed to recommend the people without covid19 symptoms abstain. From the testing. But there kids with the covid19 are a symptom medic. So what testing guidelines are you recommending for schools especially knowing the significant of covid19 is having the impact on the children of color. Sec. Alex azar so we recommend the testing of asymptomatic close contact. So in the disease tracking situation, this when we work to get something out, hundred million of those tests that we asked the governors to prioritize for the k12 kids to do Contact Tracing. As well as to assist with surveillance. In addition to close contact, we want to ensure that we have adequate Surveillance Systems to identify if we are seeing emerging cases. Thank you madam chair. Secretary alex azar i live in a very rural area. Very big chunk of my area is very rural. Throughout this in them, lot of Healthcare Services have been done by till help. To me this is extremely important going into the future that we allow this to continue to happen. Another since rules and regulations that are probably been waived or changed to be able to accommodate. It would like to give you a few minutes to talk about some of the rules and regulations, problems and things that we can implement. Suggestions for congress and how we can make this a Better Service between Healthcare Professionals and constituents and customers of this country. For the betterment of their healthcare. Would you like to comment for a few minutes. Sec. Alex azar thanks to the National Emergency powers of the president. We been able to for the First Time Ever really unleash the power of telehealth. We brought healthcare into the 31st century for the first time. When you want to visit hospitals and doctors and Community Health centers as i have done. You see this in a Truly Patient centric change in health care. Is bringing in overall healthcare costs down and craning. Ive been to centers there delivering the underserved. And having to drive through testing and sample taking. Vaccinations etc. So theyre combining them. Plus assumptions with the telehealth would be and it cost to the Healthcare Systems but worsening actually improve quality and increases cost. We need congress to act on this because we cannot enshrine in relation everything that weve been able to do. We can do much more Rural America under statue. We cannot do that in irvine. In addition in the rule, you have to under the statute, shot and a doctors office. Cannot do it from home for you have to have a preexisting relationship with a doctor or hospital before. We waived all of these things thanks to President Trump part of the emergency powers. And congress will have to act to make this lets abilities permit. So hope that congress lacked. Nothing you can walk this backwards nor should you. I appreciate that. Thank what we really need to do as we wind down from this thing at some point. We need to get together and figure out the rules and regulations and what it will take to implement this on a National Basis tonight grimaces to be able to be couple to the improvement of health forces. So i think you for that. I saw this week, think it was wednesday september 30th. I think the wall street journal here. Theres article with regards to the medications that are coming up with. It looks like there will underway to perhaps by the end of the year have this drug, rg in covid19 to that could be helpful to produce and a minus prayed you be willing to talk about that today. I realize were not there yet but this really sounds good party to note the article in the paper says Public Awareness of it. To let people know that besides the vaccines or therapeutics that the pipelines and can be beneficial as well and are being tested and worked on as we speak. Sec. Alex azar i actually think you saw that, the seven initial phase one. This ranging in the Clinical Trials. These are called on a monoclonal antibodies. Remember we had convalescent plasma. Which is the plaza from a survivor patient. Have antibodies in your body. We can actually synthetically make those antibodies at ranges that can be 1000 times more potent than what we can get of an individuals plasma rated and synthetically produced in mass quantities. The thinkings hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars this is in a very short order. We have manufacturers in a country such as several that have significant antibody programs. Rethink very promising indebtedness been made public. We could be literally any weeks to mother to her white from having data to support emergency authorizations if the data proves that they are safe as well as effective. Stomach you mentioned a couple of times, the emergency authorizations. I think dr. Fauci made a comment on this before. You like to explain what that actually is. Sec. Alex azar especially with the vaccine. Winnowing think about therapeutics, we one from fathers eyes the vaccine for therapeutics for emergency in a limited data set prayed for a vaccine because somebody is healthy and putting a. The fda is requiring a 30000 person Clinical Trials present 15000 placebo and 15000 active. And then asserting significant results. That is the same for emergency for full on licensure of the vaccine. The only real changes that happen within emergency use you have ongoing safety Data Collection through a Massive National pharmaceutical program. And you would have ongoing three validation locks needed for inspection in the manufacturing facility. But the actual data package other than that, term safety. That is the same. Dr. Fauci made the comment that the emergency authorizations probably necessary whenever using the data so overwhelming that it will be unethical and immoral to withhold those vaccines of this drug from people because he could be saving lives while youre sitting there to. Your eyes and tease cost. Sec. Alex azar especially with a safety for ec well. An easy clear trends of efficacys. It becomes an ethical question permission to allow people to try that. I get it and at times up and i yelled back. Thank you. Thank you very much and i know youll myself five minutes for questioning. Mr. Secretary. I was reviewing comments made at a labor Day Press Conference where he gave this production. He said one vaccine would be available very soon. We could have very big surprise coming up. You will be very happy. People will be happy. The world will be happy. Everybodys going to be happy. And you know what im talking about before the very special date. Then we have companies that involved the Development Like manure net. Is that there be ready to seek emergency use authorizations from fda before november 25th at the earliest. Now we have the president of the United States making these rosy predictions. Any of contradictions and those who are responsible for the development. We think that does to the credibility and the credibility of fda. Sec. Alex azar i think that president is trying to be hopeful. But i would be very clear. This will be determined by data. An independent processes. So for instance. We dont even seek data on these Clinical Trial programs until an independent data safety monitoring board determines that the data in Clinical Trials has achieved prespecified statistical endpoints. Reclaiming my time. Do you think, you just described the president s rosy predictions as being helpful. As a difference you know. Between being helpful misleading the people. Do you think it is helpful to you when the president is out making these kinds of predictions. Sec. Alex azar the results will be driven by data. If a company produces data. That is independence. In the beginning of october. That determines the vaccine is safe and effective and submitted to fda and the career scientist thrust or process determines its safe and effective. Reclaiming my time trying to do believe modern what is said, would not be right to seek emergency use authorizations from fda before the latter part of november. Sec. Alex azar quote what manure was saying is that is based on god is that they received. Whenever its based on brain to do believe them. Sec. Alex azar any of the context for in the gardens was they have 60 days from the median patient completion in the Clinical Trial. That would calculate out to the member 20th. Let me just try and frame this russian a little bit differently. Do believe that there is a contradiction between this helpfulness that you described that i described as a prediction. And what modernity is saying and others are saying about the readiness of one of vaccine will be ready. Sec. Alex azar no because the mentor and advisor both believe that we may see data in october. See its data driven and event driven. Nobody controls and we see data and when we get results seven you think what you call hopeful nest by the president , is helpful and builds confidence when the American People see that what is predicting has no credibility and it is contradicting by those who are responsible. Sec. Alex azar your incorrect. With the president has been saying in terms of inspiring help is within the range of possibilities vaccine development. No no no no no. Excludes me trout, he does say is a possibility. This is more than what you had described as help. This is the president of the United States of america. The leader of the greatest nation in the world. And should be in addition to a role model which of course the question print we should be able to rely on what he says. We should be able to have confidence that he is giving us good information, correct information and as you know, no matter how you try to frame it. And the president of the United States has not been the kind of role model that could create confidence in your agencies. When he himself etc. Etc. I know that you said, you will not reveal whether or not you have any confrontations with the president for about whether or not he is holding mass rallies were people are not safely distanced. Or wearing a mask. What have you. Who be very helpful to know that at least you have the strength and the ability to talk with the president s of the United States and speak the truth about what he is doing what he is now snowing. I am absolutely absolutely surprised at the lack of strength of any of people in this administration. But for you rated and with the responsibility that you have, i would expect the human stand up to the president anytime that day and say mr. President , please. You can be helpful. If you would support wearing a mask everywhere you go. It was a National Plan. This that everybody must wear masks. The body must be socially distance. Not going to have a rally. Where people are jammed an impact in. Why cant you say that to the president. Sec. Alex azar im not going to discuss my conversations with you with the present but i would ask, youre very influential member. If you could please inspire vaccine confidence. It is critical. It is critical for that. Excuse me, im reclaiming my time. And another thing that im not answering your questions. We are going to tell me to inspire confidence. You cannot tell me whether or not you tell the president to do that. Sec. Alex azar ive been very clear the inventive processes for vaccine approval. If you would let me state. I actually could have walked you through the foreign dependent steps on vaccine data and approval in consideration that would give people confidence any vaccine would be safe and effective. And i will take and my family will take it. Since were indicated. Thank you very much reclaiming my time. I would ask you to think about it. I ask you to think about it before you go to bed at night. When you get up and you look at yourself in the mirror. I want you to think about whether or not you have the strength and the ability to say to the president. We should and should not be doing and i think, he should respect your advice and the advice of the experts. With that, i wheeled to the next five minutes. The select subcommittee put out a memo this morning which i identify in this report at least 47 incidents in which political officials have intermarried in the nations Pandemic Response. Your department recently awarded to contracts to Public Relations to launch a coronavirus as Advertising Campaign that is according to the contract, to defeat despair and inspire hope. Exactly what congresswoman was speaking about. Mr. Secretary, the reason so any people feel despairing i was because more than 207,000 people dead. In this Administration Response to this crisis has been worse than almost any other country rated it wouldve been much more effective if President Trump and listen to the experts, actually believed in science. Where come up with real plan for today to combat this crisis. Instead this administration is spending more of a cordova billion dollars in tax air fund is to make videos with city officials and celebrities in a massive ads right before the election. In in order to find these videos, hhs diverted 265 million from cdc and fda even as both agencies are finding this pandemic. This campaign was spearheaded by assistant secretary Public Affairs. And he said these contracts were not demanded of me by the president of the United States personally. Mr. Secretary, etc. Sec. Alex azar someone provide an update on this because it takes there is like the Public Health communications efforts. First, ive ordered a Strategic Review. Reclaiming my time mr. Sec. On hearing response in an update on it. But i also want to know, is that true. Have you spoken to anyone about that and campaign. Sec. Alex azar im literally going to answer question. Was your idea this idea was that. Sec. Alex azar of order a Strategic Review that will be led by our top Public Health and communication expert to determine whether the campaign serves an Important Health services. I also taken steps to ensure any product coming out of this campaign will be reviewed and approved by career Public Health officials including from the cdc. There are three key elements to this primarily happened in the Surgeon General on ads to encourage people to practice the 3ws. To donate convalescent plasma and encourage minority groups enrollment and vaccine Clinical Trials. Nicely will be to inspire flu vaccine as we entered in the flu season in the third phase would be around the covid19 vaccinations if we are fortunate enough to have them for vaccine. But i will ensure that is something our Public Health official support. Part of this oversight is secure prince of this contract. Im incredibly interested in the greatest one of them was awarded to accompany alice Research Brain according to press reports this week, someone we dont know who, recommended that alice uses subcontractor of ddt. Which just happens to be run by a business partner. According to this report, ddt has zero Public Health experience. Has been overwhelmed by the project. So mr. Secretary, you great that is highly inappropriate for any political appointee to push for their own, lucrative government contracts when they have zero experience in the area that the contract covers. Any people in your department appear to have serious concerns with these actions. Politico, one official since this. This is a boondoggle. Were the middle of the pandemic rated we could use that cordova billion dollars on buying ppe. Not promoting psas with celebrities. Do you agree with that statement. Sue and floyd disagree firmly with your last statement. The fdas real caffeine about the dangerous tobacco cost 250 million. Affordable cares act outraged cost 290 million. This is important Public Health messaging around the Getty Community mitigation steps around flu vaccinations and covid19 vaccinations. This was approved by Technical Evaluation and less. Were going to review it. Reclaiming my time, reclaiming my time the secretary has operated i agree. There are reasons that we should be reaching out to the public and is that you expressed on the flow. In the vaccines and other items in the 3w sprayed there and very important things. But this was not. This was about feeling good. About being positive. It has nothing to do with help. [inaudible conversations]. A lot of troubling questions about it. [inaudible conversations]. Your time has expired. I would like to present more questions and i would like to yield back. I know youll do the next person for five minutes. Thank you madam chair. If china shared the virus sick with earlier secretary alex azar with your would fewer americans died sec. Alex azar yes. Would fewer immigrants died and if china did not for the ppe, would fewer americans have died. Sec. Alex azar absolutely. If china didnt correct the World Health Organization with your markets have died. Yes. If china would not allowed american scientists in a country with fewer americans died. Sec. Alex azar practice. Thank you and i yelled back. Yelled five minutes to mr. Foster. Thank you manager. The last questions that you just got. If they have plenty. , my wife is grand. She looked at the contrast between that and they got hit hard or an earlier. And we got hit. They have had by contrast negligible number of events. So all the last questions that you just answered apply equally were incorrect. Sec. Alex azar i would be glad to discuss the differences in detail if you would like. The largest single factor frankly is that they have leaders and is none scientists and policies. Equivocation plasma therapy eight commissioner issued new guidance selling the criteria for emergency use authorizations for coronavirus vaccines. Upon the decision on the transparency. But impartially, President Trump call this guidance political right and he said that has to be approved by the white house. We may or may not to prevent prince my question is, was a signature jane on this document. Is that the fda commissioner, do you have final approval is the president have final say in final on this document. Sec. Alex azar you made a mistake in your statement. Several months ago issued vaccine guidance. And went through the full process as is required under executive order before coming out a bit deeper in this what is required 3000 people Clinical Trials etc. The fda sent letters to vaccine manufacturers stating the one. [inaudible conversations]. So who has final say. Sec. Alex azar the president or his hhs career people. Sec. Alex azar some of the club commissioner is proposing put out his public emergencies authorization guidance. On the vaccine his estate with letters already sent to the manufacturers. Thats publicly and it does require the white house. [inaudible conversations]. And so it has to be approved by the white house remain or may not approve it. Sec. Alex azar i think is a mountain on the mobile because the fda already told the manufacturers with the going to look for. That is what it is. Did you see these debates. When i did. Parts of it. So would like to enter into the record, is been distributed to the members. Up a lot of those that last night from the chairman and ceo of pfizer. And one of the vaccine participants. By the name of and im sent to his u. S. Colleagues. Just like to read the first paragraph of that letter. Tuesday night it was joined the millions of americans who tuned into the president ial debate. Whats more, was disappointed that the prevention of deadly disease was discussed in political terms rather than scientific facts. People who are understandably confused, do not know who or what tivoli. Global Global Health asked to much at stake in the public trust and acceptance of the vaccine is so important to me that im going to explain principles that we are using at pfizer today. He goes on his letter to explain why they refuse to accept money or guidance from operation or speed. Hell except a Production Contract but nothing outside outside because frankly he didnt want it is germans and the confidence in the product that would result from that. So as i say, enter that into the record. Another thing. I like to talk a little bit about the time line that you talked about in your testimony here. As you know, and venus more factor x. Go backwards in time which allows you to rewrite history and seems to be fair part of what youre trying to accomplish her. Any of the milestones that you list here have occurred before operation work speed is even announced and was the re salt of the efforts of science career professionals fhas rather than anything coming out of the white house and operational corp. Speed. In fact if you click on the Therapeutic Development link in your testimony, your led to press release and discussion is very scientists are in fact held that whistleblower complaint. So giving credit to the leadership of President Trumps i think a little bit problematic care. I would like to also enter into the record, three reports on the president s budget cuts proposed. Hereafter year after year. As soon as trump entered office, he posted 22 percent budget cut to the nih another health hhs. He then double digit budget cuts even after President Trump new the coronavirus had been briefed on how deadly it was. February 202 2020 proposal 7 pet to the nih. So me give credit to President Trump for any of this of the achievements of the site is when he has cut the budget for most cuts year after year after year. Sec. Alex azar President Trump is the one who actually has backed this historic effort. It pains me that you denigrate the operation work speed and the efforts that are happening there. These are career people from hhs from nih driving this. Thats right is the hot white House Oversight they give no credit to. Your time is expired. Next. Thank you very much manager. Secretary, to me if you go with the statement. When helped him a people get infected, that is a good thing because thats exactly the way the population immunities develop. Sec. Alex azar i dont want anyone to get infected congressman. s you disagree with that statement. So what im not a physician on an epidemiologist. Im going to tell you my mission is to keep people from getting infected with the coronavirus. So the quote comes from scott alice, top number of the White House Coronavirus task force. Soon promoting the ideology of herd immunity which seemed to have affected the president Bernie Doucet on september 15th that the coronavirus is going to disappear even without a vaccine. Because people would developing herd mentality which is the freddie and flip. But in any event. He seems to have adopted this. It is falling alexander who he thinks you. A Senior Advisor hhs. Wrote the following. Accordingly having the virus spread among the young and healthy is one of the methods to drive herd immunity. This was not the intended strategy but all must be on deck now. Its contributing a positive the, at some level. Do you agree with you what your employee wrote about herd immunity being a positive factor plan for combating the disease. Sec. Alex azar doctor alexander, it doesnt he does not work in hhs anymore. I am not going to discuss Personnel Matters but he does not work at the department of the u. S. Government at this point. I dont know what you need to be elusive about it. This is a dangerous concept. He herd immunity, this is gained traction within the white house and with the president. Will end up costing hundreds of thousands if not millions of americans lives because the theory is that you essentially that the disease wash over the population in the end of the 60 or 70 percent immunity among the people. But right now, stay show is below 10 percent. That means that 90 percent of the people dont have it. Soon enough to infect tens of millions more people in order to create this hard immunity. And wondering if he can bring to the herd mentality of the thinking within the top circles of the white house to oppose the herd immunity publicly articulately and forcefully today. Sec. Alex azar herd immunity is not a strategy of the u. S. Government with regard to coronavirus. We may get there is other countries may. We make it the slowing of the transmission. As we seen in concentrated areas like new york. Our mission is to reduce fatalities to protect the vulnerable and keep the coronavirus cases town to the lowest level possible. And literally thats what i was saying we would be doing. Herd immunity is been tried in sweden failed to. The death toll there is ten times as neighbor of finland and the other scandinavian countries. It does not work for instilling people praying that its a of mass human sacrifice. I hope as other people pop up throughout the administration arguing for herd immunity and the idea of the spread of the disease is a positive thing. He was the secretary of hhs will be a forceful voice combating that sinister view. Mr. Secretary. Can you give us any further updates on the president s health today when anyone else at the white house has tested positive for has any symptoms of the virus. And what are being taken through Contact Tracing to get in touch with the president and his who hes interacted within the the last couple of days. Sec. Alex azar ive been both preparing to be here and sitting if i really hear the entire time some not able to print. Seven of the question for you theres been a lot of talk about china today. Im always doubtful in my calling springing up. Because President Trump praised president she then Chinese Communist party on 37 different occasions that i submitted them for the record. Distributed them to my colleagues i can do to get this determine if you think i should cement again i will. I would love love nothing more than have a hearing with the president complicity with covering up chinas early lies about the disease. And for the life make it understand what my colleagues would bring it up. Hope and is not contributing to bias in the country. I know you dont want to talk about your specific conversations with the president but have you either in writing or conversation our meetings ever told the president to stop raising president exciting the chinese of his party for the performance on the 20. We have records of him doing that in february, march and april. Did you ever told him to stop doing that. Again are not going to talk about what i talked with the present but he was doing them with china, difficult matter. If the care in a stick or try to get. [inaudible conversations]. Sec. Alex azar i do force them my time is up and i yelled back. [inaudible conversations]. Rep. James clyburn the turnout recognizes the chairman for five minutes. Thank you again mr. Sec. For coming and i want to pick up where we left off before. What i thought i understood you saying is that will see what happens with the Supreme Court. The base top of that. Then there will be an effort to create a plan to replace the Supreme Court they started down. 70 percent. Sec. Alex azar so obviously the any different scenarios. Number one record protect people with preexisting conditions. The president will not sign any piece of legislation the doesnt do that. But there are any ways to protect people with preexisting conditions print and also ways to set up affordable mechanisms. But it sounds like when i asked you if there was a plan to replace in the regards to whether this moving forward sounds like you were saying theres not right now present park. Sec. Alex azar we have a range of approaches that will depend on the composition of congress at the time because of course appeal and nancy pelosi is different than otherwise. What one should have to replace homecare respect refinancing that is because mexico article of this struck me print is the president talking a civil going to be doing a Healthcare Plan, having already in as much better plan for you. It isnt time to get a sense because it sounds like its kind of hundred ask what youre saying. The president s think he has a plan ready to go youre saying, were not there yet. Its going to be worth thinking through. Sec. Alex azar i think you and the president are using the workplan differently. With the president rolled out last thursday of the Healthcare Plan for 331 million americans in your speaking about the small which is obama care the hypothetical event of the Supreme Court strikes down all or a large part of it in the presence focus on delivering better care, lower costs and more choices for 330. 000000 in markets, just those were trapped from the obama care credit. Okay. Look, i remember having referring to the order of the preexisting conditions. Sec. Alex azar the fact that we have transparency in the price of quality for the first member, lowering drug prices freedom outside the first ever certification to lower cost here in the United States. We brought it to enable you to stop among the providers not be locked into one system. Tackling Kidney Disease for the First Time Since president nixon. Writing the hiv epidemic in the United States. Were tackling this Health Care Problems improving healthcare for all 331 million americans prevents present plan for healthcare. I also be concerned when i hear that the American Enterprises you when theyre taking a look at the executive order on preexisting conditions. Will they said, all that really is the statement that he wants one or more of his partners come up with a plan and then he doesnt give any vegas outlined with that plan to beat. So look for it will move on from here but i just feel like this is an enormously dangerous situation we are have millions american americans who have lost healthcare during this pandemic and potentially doing more will lose their healthcare. In the best that i can of here is just that we will see what happens at the time. This is not reassuring to people in my district who are very concerned about what happens next. So i want to switch gears here. Because theres a lot of talk about the vaccine and approvals but one thing i wanted to get to us about distribution of the vaccine. I saw from the front line documents. Some of the different efforts in there but one thing that was concerning to me is that them saying 64 different cdc jurisdictions around this country. Youre asking them to go back to you with their plans from the different states and territories. How is that not saying that basically that indicates that we dont have a singular strategy. But rather 64 different ones. Hows the testing debacle all over again. Sec. Alex azar so what is the 64 jurisdictions was working in partnership with the state spring will have centralized distribution system. Rely on the vaccine for Childrens Program out of the cdc. 8,290,000,000 vaccines a year. We have Storage Center that the partner with cargo and resource if needed to reach to our pharmacies and Community Health centers for actual vaccination programs. We need the stakes to be partnered with us because they know where that vaccines should go locally to hit the target populations greatest so that they work dealing with the Nursing Homes and Vulnerable People the states will tell us how they want to administer that. And wanted to use the cdf, or their Public Health department. So that is why we are parker name with them. That is helpful for you to want to make sure that we Work Together on this. Lasting. As you said, you corrected the reckoned member. Your jd, not a doctor. And he said they were going to be grounded in science and evidence and for the approval of the vaccine. Also want to see the confidence in the American People on the vaccines i want to Work Together on this. Does that mean that you will not play a role in the approval. Not going to be providing input recommendations to the fda commissioner for the spread of on here your condition. Sec. Alex azar funny very clear result is talk today about political quote, interference. We harness the best minds, scientific data, i have the undersecretary i bring 20 years of experience. I was one of the architects of the pandemics for the flu planning in the bush administration. And helped create our novel pandemic vaccines that are vaccine capacities here in the United States. We have any people and bring a lot of expertise and knowledge to the table. Those people can participate. Those people can contribute they can challenge they can ensure good decisions are made it. On telling you that the end of the day will be the fda career scientist and her they will make a decision whether it is safe and effective. Students. This allinone here and think is much. Rep. James clyburn i think we have concluded that. The second round of questions and i am prepared to yield to the Ranking Member for any of the business. Thank you mr. Chairman. In thank you secretary alex azar and having two rounds of questions we can relate try to get some of the facts out there about where we are and what is happening with the response to covid19 and what is happening with the economic and hopefully the educational recovery of this country. One of the things we wanted to do is get as any facts as possible. There has been a plan for started early on in this pandemic and it continues to grow and changes as we learn more about the disease and as we learn more about things that we are doing and we need to do to give guidance to states to safely reopen. In different parts of their economy but we put this report together to give everybody that god about those who either are denying that there is a planner when we ignore that there is plan. Is out here. Is on the internet. You can go see it. Tens of thousands of pages but we put together a summary to make it easier for some folks that may be having trouble understanding that plan. But the basics of this plan are number one, china lied and caused a Global Pandemic. In the secretary about some of these challenges is china was the following information. Not just from us got in front of him the entire world. That cost chinas lives, they cost tens of thousands of lives. This committee ought to look into that and hold them accountable. Number two President Trump started immediately. First decision, and every scientist has testified before this Committee Said that the right decision was to ban flights to china and President Trumps decision saved american lives and some people who criticize that decision bright who claimed there wouldve been no deaths their mysterious plan the doesnt exist wouldve been in place. But in fact it wouldve been more doubts if they wouldve gotten away and fortunately they didnt bring President Trump took that action find that the doctor dr. Fauci all testified not only the right decision but save thousands of the market lives number three President Trump made science based decisions that didnt save hundreds of thousands of lives. Not just china, europe and they had 15 days to slow the spread and 30 more days to continue to get guidance on health as you talked about properly to cure people in Nursing Homes. Fortyfive governors all of those guidelines. Five governors did not. And 25000 minimum seniors died and they should not have died in the states in this government continue died the facts from the families of those who died. Were going to keep pressing arena for everyone doesnt us, those of us who actually want those answers we will prosper the sensors number four President Trump is developing a safe effective vaccine working through all the fda protocols. Which are the Gold Standard is happening faster than ever before and these are the four American Companies teams that are partnered up and in some cases, to get to the final stage of the of the approval and if they get through, they got me the figures as a secretary has testified brain of the Gold Standards of the world. The fda approval process and if they do, the Trump Administration throughout operation speed is manufacturing a vial of that vaccine now. Not waiting until the end it. That theyre actually manufacturing it now whilst being tested on tens of thousands of americans to see if it is a safe and effective drug and if it is, it will be ready and available the very next day. Anyone who undermines Public Confidence in the vaccine and that process will be costing american lives. Any governor who tries to deny their own constituents of their state that the vaccine would be costing lives. How barbaric and crude would that be for a governor to say not going to let the citizens of their state have an fda approved drug to save a life. I dont even think that is legal but we will continue to press on. And of President Trump continues to press on and appreciate again the work of the 80 plus thousand men and women in your agency who are working on that. Not just working on vaccine, the delivering billions of ppe eat. Again china hoarded the ppe and most of it was made their feet if we know we need to make it here now. When do more to push help make more that ppe here in america so we dont have to be relying on cheyenne and had china with the landlord at the ppe. But were doing more than now. Billions are now being sent out through the president s initiative freighted of course believe the largest testing system in the world. Were testing the people in the world, more capabilities Nursing Homes are getting test. He continued to go forward and finally, President Trump prioritized the elderly. Some of those governors continued it to but there seniors at risk. This president has taken Decisive Action to save american lives. We wish there were no lives lost print is a Global Pandemic. Every country in the world is experiencing loss of lives for you look at this list. When not even be on this top ten if this five governors would have complied it. But obviously thats not where we are. China and russia by the way in on this list why because they wont even share with the world their data. You might be at the top. But regardless we need to save american lives. Thank you for the work you and your team are doing. And President Trump for the work he is doing on behalf of the American People to finally get our economy back open as we defeat this evil virus. I yelled back. Speech of thank you very much. And before closing, without objections are like to introduce into the record researched the letter published by the American Association entitled mortality, admissions in patients at the nursing facilities and three ofe United States cities due to the covid19 for during the covid19 pandemic. According to the study. The severity of nursing home outbreaks mirrored outbreaks in their communities. New york, and had a much worse operate in florida especially in the beginning of the pandemic. The claim my republican colleagues made the democratic governors are responsible for nursing home outbreaks is just wrong. The problem of outbreaks Nursing Homes is a national problem. And as the study shows, the outbreaks and tracks them. I should also note that florida had 27003 nursing five cases of the coronavirus in Nursing Homes. This is the fifth time in the entire country. 5266 deaths in the Nursing Homes. And that is the sixth highest in the entire country. I would also like to enter into the record letters the committee is received the National Association of county and city Health Officials read Infectious Disease society of america and its hiv medicine association. I am asking for unanimous consent that these be entered into the record. Thank you. And in closing, on thank you mre today. Its. Clear that Trump Administrations approach to this virus since january has not worked. That is why more people in america have died from the coronavirus than in any other country why the virus is still searching in any states. But i do not believe that it is too late. To turn things around if the administration will finally lead with science instead of politics. That means ending the political allowing are scientists of the legal experts to do their jobs. Allow the cdc to put out accurate Public Health guidance. But the fda approved treatments and vaccines in their approving safe and effective, not when theyre politically convenient. And that constant stream of disinformation coming from the white house. To control this virus we also need the administration finally in place a coordinated National Strategy to respond to the pandemic. A strategy i have been calling for since the subcommittees very first briefing in may. The plan must include a strategy to increase testing and chronic shortages. And also other supplies and will effectively and efficiently and equitably target the test that we have. The federal government must also use resources to procure and distribute masks. Metro there see and will be helpful the white house would send in the back to the plan and send a mask to everybody and i would be pleased with the president to have the president s signature on it. Metro to see that. And hes now requiring that his name be a letter signed by him being another one of those boxes from the sample letter signed by him. In a box with a mask going into every home. That to me, will be contributing to the preservation of life. The National Plan to me must include clear and persistent Public Health measures across all 50 states. Including uniform use of masks in public places. In strict limits on large gatherings especially in areas that have higher rates of transmissions. Mr. Sec. , it is too late to say that 207,000 americans who have already died from this virus let alone. Solicitous Work Together. To make sure we dont lose another 207,000 lives. All members will have five days in which to submit additional questions for the witness to the chair read this will be forwarded to the witness the response. I ask all witnesses to please respond as promptly as possible. And without that, the hearing is adjourned. [silence]. [silence]. Joe cunningham and the republican challenger met for the first televised debate to represent South Carolina first Congressional District. Good evening welcome to the t Congressional District claim Gavin Jackson the first Congressional District runs along the coast down to charleston the candidates running are democratic incumbent cunningham and challenger nancy mays and tonight we have the post career asking questions each candidate has the opportunity m