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Good morning to you and everyone at home. Its being revealed which obama officials between 2016 in President Trumps inaugural. Usually the u. S. Citizens that, and attorney general william barr said the fbi probe was not legitimate. Sandra john roberts joins us now as we had this list may be made public as early as tod today. It was white house officials a moment ago said that they do expect that list could be made available today. We do now know why they acting dni ric grenell was over at the department of justice last week, it was to deliver a declassified list of names of Obama Administration officials who were behind the unmasking of general Michael Flynn after flynn was picked up during the president ial transition and intercepts of phone calls that he had with the Russian Ambassador to the United States. Susan rice requested the unmasking of several trump transition officials were picked up in various intercepts. The rice is oak fiercely denied ever licking those names to the media and insist the unmasking was not done for political purposes. In an Inauguration Day email, rice said that he, president obama, wants to be sure that when we engage with the incoming team we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we can not share information as it relates to russia. We informed him if anything changes, that affects the classified information for the incoming team and he said he would. Vice President Joe Biden is involved in this as well. He attended a meeting on january the 5th of 2017 where he and president obama were told that the fbi wanted to question flynn about his contacts with kinsley act. As Vice President biden from gma this morning. I was aware they asked for an investigation. Fox news is told, the documents were taken to the doj because the authority to release them was the purview of the Justice Department and not the director of national intelligence. We should point out that ten days ago the acting dni grenell send message to all 17 intelligence agencies asking them to come up with a standard on how u. S. Persons were described in intelligence intercepts. The intent of them memo was to harmonize the way the entire Intelligence Committee describes u. S. Persons artwork picked up in that intercept. So it was not to reveal their identity. It was a lot of specificity in the intelligence reports about those intercepts that gave away a whole lot. However this unmasking request was made specifically to find out who is in those intercepts so it was a little bit of a horse of a different color. Sandra we expect news to report on that throughout the day. Thank you. Ed another fox news report on capitol hill. Dr. Anthony fauci will testify remotely before the Senate Health committee along with three other key members of the White House Coronavirus task force. According to early reports, president thought she plans to reopening. The Senate Minority leader leader Chuck Schumers urging fallacy not to hold back. This will be one of the first opportunities for dr. Fauci to tell the American People the unvarnished truth without the president looking over his shoulder. Dr. Fauci, let it rip. Ed bret baier and dana perino and all of our top doctors will join us. Good morning ted. Good morning ed. This is the first big hearing on coronavirus. And as to whether or not different states are jumping the gun. Youre something thought she will testify to this morning. This will not only result in needless suffering and death but will actually set us back in our quest to return to normal. Here is Senate Minority leader chuck schumer. Until now we mostly heard from the members of the Coronavirus Task force through the distorted learnings of the white house conference. The white house often prevents him from answering fully, interrupts their response or even contradicts their factbased advice. This hearing will look different than most and all the witnesses will testify remotely. Dr. Fauci another had potential exposure to coronavirus at the white house, an aide contracted coronavirus so hes in selfisolation for two weeks. The top democrat on the Panel Washington senator patty murray has been working from home after the bigger nursing home outbreak in her state. Last week alexander said lawmakers back and forth to washington, the Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell focus on another lawsuit. This will be about the wot time in living memory to let trial lawyers lined their pockets at their expense of the rest of our country. The senate will play a strong role in ensuring that what does not happen. Also hears something to look for. Lets talk about how this hearing is going to look different than most of the hearings of most of the senators being in remotely. They talked about the steps that need to be taken to reopen the United States. Important information and we will be all over it. Sandra for more on all days lets bring in Senate Member kelly loeffler. Thanks so much for being here. This is obviously a big day for the country to listen to what those witnesses have to say in the hearing room. First i want to get your reaction to the headlines that are being made by dr. Fauci is reported words that we are about to hear. The Senate Committee on which you set is the danger of trying to open that country prematurely. If we skip over that checkpoints and the guidelines then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country. This will not only result in needless suffering and death but will set us back on the quest to return to normal. What is your reaction to dr. Faucis words . Its great to be here and thanks for having me. This is an important time in our country to adhere to the standards on the guidelines of the task force has set out but its also an important time to recognize whats at stake here. We have lives at stake and we have jobs and our economy so we have to find a way to navigate through this moment safely and adhere to the White House Task force guidelines but also respect that we have a federal system and we have to make sure that the governors are empowered to take care of their states. In my own state of georgia, 1 out of 3 georgians is now out of work. We lost 1400 lives and we are dealing with tragedies across our state and what we have to make sure is that that damage to our economy doesnt become permanent so we are trying to fight two battles on a single frontt. Sandra the senator and the president and the rose garden yesterday said we have met the moment and we have prevailed. Is it premature at this point . The president , our own governor, the governor of georgia brian kim and i all want the same thing. We want georgians, we want americans to return to their lives safely. Georgians want to be back at work, they want to be back at school and they want to be at there. They need the information to do that safely and this Health Committee hearing today will be a big part of that and in learning where we are with testing and tech therapeutics. We have to start to look at it. Sandra the president has been criticized for not being where he needs to be on the administration where it needs to be as far as testing is concerned. In this country has faced a barrage of questions in the rose garden about that yesterday. What is your question to those witnesses in the hearing room . I want to commended the president. We tested more per capita in every hot spot than every other country in the world. That Publicprivate Partnership that we have, the fda has enabled testing to come out quickly and we are moving forward on testing to be able to enable it everywhere it needs to be so, that work is being done. Course like every other american we want to learn where we are on getting those testing Capabilities Even further expanded. Therapeutics and vaccines, i also want to talk today about what was chinas role in this. This was an important moment to assess what we have learned from china, why have they withheld information, why have they covered this up . I think the president was right on point when on january 31, he enacted a travel ban from china that was a decisive moment for our country. He saved millions of lives. Sandra senator, what do you want to see based on what we know today . What do you want to see as far as accountability, tapping into your business background and our economy is working together. What do you see that as Going Forward . This is vital to get to the bottom of because i have looked at where our dependencies are with china and they are to grave. We have supply chain dependencies and medical dependencies, what did china provide . What information did we rely on. Then how did we hold them accountable. This is a tremendous coverup that we are witnesses and what im recommending, ive developed a plan called the usa rise plan. Restoring and igniting that strength of our economy. Its based on getting our supply chains back to the United States and making sure we are creating jobs here and not feeding that information, that economic power to china. Sandra senator, i want to ask you about your own Reelection Campaign in your state. You face continued criticisms from a classified briefing that you received. I know you denied those claims on this program but you are now spending millions of your own dollars to shore up that campaign. What is your message to voters . Sandra, from day one i have followed the letter and the spirit of the law. Ive welcomed any questions about this. Its a 100 political attack and the basis of everything thats been written has been completely wrong. Im not going to let politics distract me from the work that im doing to make sure we can recover from this crisis together safely and securely as a country. My number one focus is working for georgians. Its not politics and these political attacks are doing a disservice to our state and our country. We anticipate that hearing beginning about 45 minutes from now. Thanks so much. Fox news alert. Lets stay on the hill as we look for members of the Coronavirus Task force which will be testifying next hour including dr. Fauci. I headed, our allstar panel will weigh in. Bret baier, dana perino and the doctors, dr. Siegel and dr. Safire will be here to break it down. The key questions coming up, and more questions about the obama role in the Michael Flynn case. We will soon learn whos behind flynns socalled unmasking and mike lead will join us on the impact. Speak to some terrible things have happened and should never be allowed to happen in our country again. Well see whats going on over the coming weeks. I fifty years ago, humpback whales were nearly extinct. They rebounded because a decision was made to protect them. Making the right decisions today for your longterm financial future can protect you and your family, and preserve your legacy. Ask a Financial Advisor how retirement and Life Insurance solutions from pacific life can help you plan for your future. Ed its election day in southern california, kristy smith and mike garcia vying to fill the 25th aggression all the seats. And the president accused democrats by trying to interfere in a lastminute pulling site. And i want to clear up that we made an error yesterday a republican since that very year of 1998. Obama has been going on for a long time, and its a disgrace that it happened. All the information thats being released, and from what i understand thats only the beginning. Ed if thats only the beginning, President Trump says. A former National Security advisor Michael Flynn says this comes as more documents connected to the probe have now been declassified. We will get to that in a moment. In the meantime, the republican from utah sits on the senate community. Good morning. Prior to the information we are being told is classified now wed already seen these transcripts from the House Intel Committee probe. Those have really raised sharp questions about how all of this was handled, where do you think its all headed . We know power was abused against the Incoming Trump administration and it was abused against general flynn and carter page. President trump. We will get to the bottom of this, not a question of if, but when and how deep it runs. But we do know now is that this is casting a bright light on the need to get to the bottom of what happened and to bring about reform within the fbi. And we can start with this this week by passing the fisa amendments. We can bring about reform, which makes things more accountable to the American People. Quickly before we get to the new information, how do you say this reform will actually make the law better and make sure americans are not spied upon . It does so by allowing the courts and requiring the court in any sensitive investigations including any investigations of a political candidate or political officeholder. To send in an amicus curiae or friend of the Court Advocate of the court, so the American People can have some expertise in the courtroom and, last week we have this video and, he went over to the Justice Department with the satchel justice. Now we know that part of it at least has now declassified the list and if the u. S. Government wiretaps like the ambassador, its supposed to be blacked out. Now we know there is a list of obama officials that unmasked general flynn. A net with others in which these things were discussed. I think Vice President biden needs to be called for account for the situation. This is the beginning and not the end of the investigation but we will find out a whole lot more. This is a classic example of the abuse of power that can happen with too much power is concentrated within the federal government. Ed how do you get accountability . Thesbarely doing newsconferencet to go anywhere near having him testify. Is the Senate Judiciary committee with a senator graham or is it john durham the prosecutor . Where do you get accountability . I hope and expect that all of the above can occur. I think the American People will have a front row seat to this. Ed why do you think that barack obama weighed in . They gave them chait, case to try to push back or is there Something Else going on . I found thats curious, hes been relatively quiet. I cant get into his head, and i do wonder if he knew that things are up and head of the gate. We appreciate you coming in and answering questions. Dr. Fauci is set to testify unsafely reopening the country in the Senate Hearing is just moments away. Plus a check on the market and joe biden once again denying Sexual Assault claims against him. What he is saying about tara reades allegations and the possible return to the campaign trail, next. We are on the campaign trail now and everyone says it biden is hiding. Well let me tell you something, we are doing very well. We are doing very well and as a matter of fact we are winning, if you look at all the polling data. Home is playground,gym, and concert hall. And cvs health is helping, with free home prescription delivery, telehealth from aetna, and support for caregivers. Were doing all we can to help you stay well, as you stay in. Because now more than ever, home is where the heart is. Cvs health. Theand we want to thank times, the Extraordinary People in the healthcare community, working to care for all of us. At novartis, we promise to do our part. As always, were doing everything we can to help keep cosentyx accessible and affordable. If you have any questions at all, call us, email us, visit us online. Were here to help support you when you need us. Take care, and be well. To learn more, call one eight four four cosentyx or visit cosentyx. Com ed fox news alert, a live look at capitol hill where the senate panel will take testimony unsafely trying to restart the economy. About 30 minutes from now, the White House Coronavirus task force will be testifying including dr. Anthony fauci expected to warn against reopening businesses too soon. We will go there live once i get started. Sandra we anticipate that. Meanwhile a fox business alert from wall street this morning. We are seconds away from seeing how trading looks on this tuesday morning. Lets bring in liz trainmen. Good morning and great of you to be here this morning. It appears that the market will decide what to take the mic what direction it takes. What witnesses say could move markets especially as we get more color over what this reopening of the economy will actually look like. You are absolutely right. Heres what im actually going to do during the testimony of doctors fauci and redfield. I will be watching certain sectors, and im thinking there will be a direct correlation between what they say, anything in the leisure or travel sector with her thats airlines or cruise ships and deftly can se. If its worrisome or strict, if its optimistic we start to see the sectors move. Right now im looking at the Dow Jones Industrials and its opened higher by i think 331 points. The nasdaq is up and the s p looks to move higher. Watch with one eye the testimony in both years and then of course keep another eye on those particular sectors that have been hit hard including the airlines. The chief Investment Strategy at blackrock stepped out saying, the markets have been torn to optimism. There is that balance when we look at the markets. We will be anticipating that hearing markets could be moving on anything from that. Thats a piece on chinese investments, following over this outbreak, and what it means for investments here at home. They invested chinese equities to be pulled. The assets at hand, 4. 5 billion in chinese stocks. This pertains to the thrift savings plan. Certainly this could have a big effect on the growing tensions between the United States and china as it pertains to turf phase one of that trade deal. The team in d. C. Got this letter. In essence, it says we do not want to be u. S. Federal workers retirement money and chinese stocks. Now it was written by larry kudlow who is the chief Economic Advisor to the president and they do not invest in chinese stocks because in the letter it said they are risky and they are nationally scandalized and they dont follow u. S. Securities lost that our Companies Follow even though they lived here in the United States. Foxs Business Team has learned that it is directly tied to the covid outbreak, and President Trump is obviously furious with china for not being upfront and honest about what was really going up on in late december. And some on the left have made it a real business to make sure that certain funds whether its state, government or a publicly traded funds divest from Certain Companies and sectors that they dont like. Whether that Certain Companies that do business with autocratic nations and this is the president taking a step in this direction whereas it looks to be related to covid according to our d. C. Team saying i dont want our federal government retiree money and chinese stoc stocks. Sandra its an interesting move and it goes to show you that that is the direction we blame you moving in. Thats the accountability that the American People want to see. We are looking at a dow that has opened up 125 points to the upside and continued optimizing, liz claman, we will see you at 3 00 on fox business. Thank you. I think women should believe that they have an opportunity they too have their case and just stated fork with what the case is. The at the end of the day the truth is the truth. The truth is this never happen happened. An interview this morning with joe biden and, good morning. Even though delaware is in direct swing state come November Joe Biden does not think its hurting him staying there indefinitely. Im anxious to go out and campaign. I enjoy interfacing with people. Im not trying to avoid it but im trying to set an example as to how we should proceed in terms of dealing with this health and economic crisis. No damage so far. From what i can see. Biden argued this morning that he is leading trump in many polls and while President Trumps reelection effort maintains 89 figure lead in cash on hand bidens april fundraising almost caught the incumbent trailing by just about a million and a half dollars for that month. It even though Many Americans are not working right ther now d many have questions about tara reade which biden denies. Biden also continues to consolidate prominent democrats behind him. This morning stacy abrams made her endorsement official saying the marginalized communities struggle under Donald Trumps failed leadership, joe biden will take no one for granted. I look forward to continuing my strong support for his candidacy and doing all i can to make sure he is elected this november. Its somewhat surprising that today is the day the Biden Campaign chose to go public with their stacy abrams endorsement considering that she has been saying for weeks she thinks that she would be a good biden running mate. Ed she has been very bold about that. Peter doocy, thank you. Sandra some of the nations Top Health Officials set to testify remotely before a Senate Committee this morning. This as more states begin reopening their doors and restarting their economies. Coming up, bret baier, dana perino, dr. Siegel and dr. Safire will all be joining us as we walk up to that hearing. Stay tuned. With the geico giveback. A 15 credit on car and motorcycle policies for both current and new customers. And because were committed for the long haul, the credit lasts your full policy term. So thanks again. One good share deserves another. And its mission is to give you truly transformative sleep. So, no more tossing and turning. Or trouble falling asleep. Because only tempurpedic uses proprietary tempur® material. That continuously adapts and responds to your body, to relieve pressure. So you get deep, uninterrupted sleep. All night. Every night. The tempurpedic summer of sleep starts now, with all tempurpedic mattresses on sale, and savings up to 500 on adjustable sets. The story where the chances are low, and the cost is high. The sacrifice is real. Its all around us. But this isnt a story about how tougher times beat us. This is our comeback story. The time when we rally and come from behind. The time when we defy the odds and get back to work while the whole world watches. Yeah, this is your comeback story. And when its time to come back, well be ready. Sandra fox news alert, to probe highprofile cases. And other financial documents, with at least three house committees and another prosecutor are seeking prosecutors. The Court Decision could have been released next month. More implication regarding the powers of congress. Ed fox news alert back on hill, we are meetin waiting fore testimony on how to reopen schools and businesses safely. Dr. Fauci one of those officials. Lets bring in bret baier, dana perino, dr. Marc siegel, professor of medicine at nyu langone and Fox News Contributor and dr. Nicole saphier, new york city physician and a Fox News Contributor. Welcome all to our ateam. Dr. Fauci has made news this morning with this New York Times interview suggesting that he will warn senators that a few will move too quickly on the economy. They listen to the doctors when they came to him and said extend those guidelines. Ed for democrats, they really would love tony fauci to getting here and testify that its horrible working with President Trump, and for chuck schumer, he said tony fauci, if i had bet i would have put a lot of chips on the fact is that, hes going to say what he has been saying which is kind of measured and practical. This administration all around. And i would assume this is going to be a nuanced kind of answer to what we are looking at. More importantly we are going to learn more things about this virus that obviously you will also shed light on in this hearing. Sandra what a moment this is. That will look different once this is all underway. They are impressed on testing efforts as far as a plan and the politics of this. What do you expect to hear in that room this morning as members of congress will have the chance to ask this team whats happening and what the future looks like in this country. Hearings on capitol hill are often very backwards looking. There will be a lot of that today no doubt but we are also in the middle of this crisis. We just saw 80,000 americans die from the virus. Many have been sick and many has been covered. Theres going to have to be some sort of what would you have done differently, which i think is a legitimate question, but please in your professional opinion how do we move forward to . How are our lives going to change . And i would add that scum at these hearings are not met for inside the beltway publications. They are meant for the American People. So imagine a single mom who is working from home probably with reduced hours trying to figure out how to take care of her child well there is no school available and wondering if shes going to have to join a food line for the first time. Or, im going to have to lay off all of my employees. And, either to the president or where hes against the preside president. Ed i want to give you 30 seconds. The significance, we are also hearing as early as today we are going to have new intelligence declassified about general flynn being unmasked. Dana, significance . Dana it certainly is a significance, but Something Big is going to happen. Hes signaling something and i think that might put the attorney general in a bad spot if there is some sort of action thats taken but i believe that the Justice Department has laid the groundwork pretty well for the flynn situation to be reexamined and i would bet, thats not the only hearing we are having hearings in the future on this as well but it will be a big news story on flynn. Your thoughts on that before we go . I think youre hearing obviously from the former president barack obama and barack Obama Administrations officials and there is a fear that there will be some declassification of some of the early parts of this. That this unmasking ric grenells stepbystep taking things to the Justice Department that hes finding and that is showing you at the top of the intelligence, director of national intelligence, hes determined. Sandra thanks to all of you. Brett and dana will stay with us. We await the start of the big Senate Hearing on reopening the country. We will take you there live, straight ahead. It shortens the refi process so veteran families can save money by refinancing. Theres no income verification, no appraisal, and no out of pocket costs and you can do it all right from home. And right now, is a time for action. So, for a second time were giving members a credit on their auto insurance. Because its the right thing to do. Were also giving Payment Relief options to eligible members so they can take care of things like groceries before they worry about their insurance or credit card bills. Right now is the time to take care of what matters most. Like weve done together, so many times before. Discover all the ways were helping members at usaa. Com coronavirus discover all the ways were helping members this virus is testing all of us. And its testing the people on the front lines of this fight most of all. So abbott is getting new tests into their hands, delivering the critical results they need. And until this fight is over, we. Will. Never. Quit. Because they never quit. Sandra we are back now with our panel, dr. Siegel and dr. Safford, would like to hear from you. Id like to parlay off of something dana said which is, they will look a little bit at the virus, too, not just the reopening question. Given how contagious this is an given how much asymptomatic spread has been around the country, that will be possible to obey social distancing. In any way, shape or form, when you reopen a place, i expect to hear Something Different from dr. Redfield. I think hes been focusing more on the reopening issues and more on the issues of the economy at i dont think they will completely agree here. As dana also said, look at the medical costs, the cost of not just jobs but also health in terms of keeping everything shut down. I think that will be the back and forth. Redfield is more on the issues of what will happen if we continue t to to do that. Ed on the question of reopening, if we can try to take the partisan politics out of it, it was not just the president s critics. We recently raised questions about georgia, and what weve seen in the last couple of weeks, correct me if im wrong, so far, so good. Its not perfect but it hasnt been a blow up, and you scare the way some people thought. Talk about georgia and other states on the way this is playing out. Good morning ed. Unfortunately only time will tell. At the state started easing restrictions and as we know there is a lag time between what we have seen and flattening the curve and decreasing the curve, it was a couple of week lag times. We have to remember that we and we go into the hearing today, and thats thats an emotion emotional toll by doing so. And those organizations are looking at it as a whole. This will be quite a contentious hearing when it comes to the questioning of dr. Saatchi, i think they will hammer him in on the testing access and why we are were in such a shortage in the beginning. They fast tracked 79 antigen tests and 12s 12 serology tests. Thats recordbreaking time to get so many different testing availabilities they hope that the lesson that needs to be learned is why we are really short. It is a lesson to be manufacturing, but those are some of the questions i want to know. Sandra that such a great point and i know we are going to take a quick break. The American People are watching with the questions of their own so we anticipate the hearing beginning in a short time. Ed exactly. And a panel sitting around. We have a panel set to begin in mere moments, and we will bring it to live when we come back. And let me tell you something, rodeo. I wouldnt be here if i thought reverse mortgages took advantage of any american senior, or worse, that it was some way to take your home. 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Well, that investment can give you taxfree cash just when you need it. Learn how homeowners are strategically using a reverse Mortgage Loan to cover expenses, pay for healthcare, preserve your portfolio, and so much more. Look, reverse mortgages arent for everyone but i think ive been round long enough to know whats what. Im proud to be a part of aag, i trust em, i think you can too. Trust aag for the best reverse mortgage solutions. So you can. Retire better. Ed fox news alert and just moments. The biggest hearings of the coronavirus pandemic its underway, for the Senate Health committee. Welcome to a brandnew hour of americas newsroom, im ed henry. Good morning to sandra. Sandra good morning everyone. Todays hearing is taking place by teleconference, focusing on efforts to reopen the economy and what could happen if some states move too fast. Lets bring back our panel. Bret baier is here, dana perino, dr. Marc siegel and dr. Nicole saphier. Dr. Fauci obviously we know will be testifying remotely, there are senator loeffler who joined us at the top of the 9 00 hour eastern time. The chairman Lamar Alexander had an aid test positive so the chairman will be remote as well. This is going to look a whole lot different to many people as far as capitol hill hearings are concerned but a big moment indeed looking forward to the words of dr. Fauci after he was stopped from appearing before that house panel last week. This will look a lot different. The logistics are different obviously at this time, with the masks and the remote testimony. Remember, you will have the chairman Lamar Alexander with the Opening Statement, and we have patty murray, and then each one of the doctors will have an Opening Statement and then questions will ensue in five minute increments for each. I think most people watching this want to hear what is the end game. What is the time in which we know we are either over this or we can safely reopen. I dont think we have heard that definitively. I think it has been in flux, back and forth about how we get there. And how we get they are to deal with the Health Crisis and also the economic crisis. And the report says its in part because of missteps including the pandemic response. That has been a big problem in new york and, and thats a National Problem which will get a look at this hearing. The average is that you would have lived another ten years at the virus not i gotten into the Nursing Homes. In many states, and these are state decisions to send people that had tested positive for covid19 back into the nursing home. If there was a terrible Staffing Shortage where you have nurses trying to take care of 20 patients at the same time. So this is an absolute outrage. We dont have a witness here today from hhs, health and Human Services. And what we should do Going Forward especially if theres a second wave. If you have a loved one in a nursing home you absolutely have to figure out a way to protect them. And it sounds like that hearing is underway. We consulted with the department of health and Human Services and the center for Disease Control and from end. Individuals in the room are at least 60 apart and as a result there is no room for the press to attend in person. Members of the press are working as a pool to relay conversations to colleagues. An unedited recording will be available on the committees website. Witnesses are participating the videoconference at a onetime exception. Senators we have been advised may remove the mask and talk into the microphone in the hearing room as they are 6 feet apart. Im grateful to the rules committee, committee, sergeantatarms, capitol police, Committee Staff, all for their hard work to keep them safe. In our hearing last thursday, all roads back to work and back to school run through testing. What its done so far on testing is impressive, but not nearly enough. Over the weekend, the democratic leader was nice enough to put out a tweet quoting half of what i said. They left out the other half. The impressive part. What i said again, according to the Johns Hopkins University Study the United States has tested over 9 million americans for covid19 which is twice as many as any other country. We dont know what china has done and its more per capita than most countries including south korea, which many members of our committee have cited as an example of the country that had tested well. According to dr. Deborah birx, we tested in the month of may which could get us up to about 10 million tests. It is what i mean by impressive here in tennessee where ive been today. First anyone who is sick, First Responder or Health Care Worker can get tested. Our governor bill lee is also testing every prisoner and every resident staff member in a nursing home, as offered weekend drive through testing. They sent specific outreach for testing for low income communities and you can get a free test at the local health department. The governors slogan is, if in doubt, get a test. Governor lee sent his testing goals and made to the federal government as every state has done and federal government is helping him make sure that he has enough supplies in case he has trouble getting them through the labs and of the other sources. As a result, thats one of the best in the country. This impressive level of testing is sufficient, and as we said last week, it has not been nearly enough to provide confidence for 31,000 students and faculty members. We hope they will show up at the university of tennessee campus in august when school starts. Last week i talked with ut knoxville chancellor don deep plowman about that and he said what would persuade those 31,000 students as well as the 50 million k12 students in the country and the other 5,000 university students, what would persuade them to go back to campus in august . Thats where the new shark tank comes in. We had a hearing about that on thursday, a remarkable scientific exercise to take a a few earlystage concepts which are swimming around in what we call that competitive shark tank to see if dr. Collins and his associates, they had a few new technologies. And that will make it more likely that students will go back to school in august. For example, the fda authorized last week its first diagnostic test using saliva, that a person provides at home instead of a ao swab or blood. They authorized its first antigen test. Another proposal is not yet approved is, you put into your mouth a sort of lollipop sponge, take a photo of that with your cell phone and send it to your doctor. If it lights up, you are positive. The University May send that saliva lollipop to a nearby laboratory which could be a gene sequencing laboratory which can deal with thousands of those samples overnight. That same process could occur in the middle school. And that such a widespread screening of entire campuses, schools or places of work which will help identify those which are sick, traced on those which are exposed and that in turn should help persuade the rest of us to go back to school and back to work. In addition to more testing i expect dr. Fauci talk to us about different treatments which will be able to reduce the risk of death in the administrations plan to do something that ive never done before which will start manufacturing vaccines and those vaccines and treatments are the ultimate solution. But until we have them all worlds of back to work and school go through testing. Instead of trying to quarantine the whole thing. In my opinion this requires millions of new tests, many from new technologies. Some of these will fail but we only did a few successes to get where we want to go. Thats why i said on thursday that what our country had done so far in testing is impressive but not nearly enough. That will squeeze not all at from Current Technologies and tried to find new technologies to try to contain the disease. This is a bipartisan hearing to examine how well we are preparing to go safely back to work and, before we spend too much time fingerpointing, as far as i can tell underestimated this virus and underestimated eight how contagious it could be. How it can be especially deadly for certain segments of our population. The elderly, those are preexisting conditions in the minority populations. Let me go back to the march 3rd hearing six weeks after the first case was discovered in the United States, a day when only two deaths were recorded in this country. At that hearing i read from this paragraph, they reported this. Much about the about the coronavirus remains unclear, and its far from certain this is march 3rd to come march 1, that the outbreak will reach severe proportions in the United States or affect many regions at once. With its topnotch scientists, modern hospitals and sprawling Public Health and infrastructure, most experts agree, the United States is among the countries best prepared to prevent or manage such an epidemic. That was a New York Times on march 1. Bird flu, katrina, people live, past nine major laws to try to help get this country ready with what we are going through today. These laws stood up to Strategic National stockpiles, created an assistant secretary for preparedness, and created incentives for the develop mensa vaccines and medicines strengthened the centers for Disease Control. Thanks to the leadership of senator blunt and senator murr senator murray, all of this was part of a shared goal. Democrats, republicans, several congresses, and despite all that effort, even the experts. Underestimated covid19. This is about how we improve our response to this virus, as well as the next one. During the oversight hearing i also intend to focus on as i said the next pandemic which we know is coming. What can we learn from this one to be ready for the next one. What can we learn from the fast tracking of vaccines and treatments that we are about to hear about that will make it even faster than next time . How can we keep hospitals and states from selling off protective equipment when the budget gets tight, how can we make sure congress does our share of the funding responsibility and how do we provide enough extra hospital beds without canceling elective surgery and hurting other patients and bankrupting hospitals, whose job should it be. To coordinate supply lines so protective equipment. Whats the best way to manage the stockpile . My preacher once said im not worried about what you do on sunday but its the rest of the week that concerns me. Im afraid that during the rest of the week between pandemics that we relax our focus on preparedness. Our collective memory is short just three months ago. This country was preoccupied with impeaching a president and now it seems like ancient roman history. Now, as this crisis has our full attention, i believe we should put into law this year whatever improvements need to be made to be well prepared for the next pandemic. If there is to be fingerpointing, i hope they are pointed in that direction. Fortunately today we have four distinguished witnesses with the heart of the response in the coronavirus and they are grateful to our service to this country. And then we will have a fiveminute round of questions from each senator. I have agreed to come we will end their hearing about 12 30 after we have a full round of questions. Senator murray will then, there will be other hearings to follow that hearing. Senators may submit their questions in writing. There is not enough money available to help all those hurt by a closed economy. All roads back to work and back to school lead through testing, isolation, treatment and vaccines. This requires widespread testing. Millions more tests created mostly by a new technologies and identify those who are sick, and they can be quarantined. By containing their disease in this way, give the rest of america to go back to school in confidence. When those students show up in august we need widespread testing. Millions more tests created by new technologies to identify those who are sick and who have been exposed, and, senator murray . Thank you very much mr. Chairman. We will talk about your team, we always sure staff member a recovery. Also our Committee Staff are setting up assay format for members and witnesses and the public to participate in this hearing. Especially since it is clear they will not get it from trump. Truth is essential. So people have the facts, so they can make decisions for themselves and their families and their community. Lives are at stake. The president isnt telling the truth and we must. We are counting on you today. Their Trump Administration response to the Public Health emergency so far has been a disaster on its own. Efforts have been desperately needed for perfect personal protection equipment. We recently learned that as a experts for the centers for Disease Control and prevention spent weeks developing a detailed guide to help our community understand how to safely reopen, when the time comes, the Trump Administration tossed it in the trash bin for being too prescriptive. They do their job and put Public Health first. The fact of the matter is President Trump has been more focused on fighting against the truth than fighting the virus and americans have sadly paid the price. There have been over 900 deaths in the state of washington, still President Trump is trying to ignore the facts and annoy the experts who have been very clear that they are nowhere close to where they need to be to reopen safely. I hope today that we can cut through this and what is needed as to how to safely open. And how we actually get there. We need dramatically more testing. Its unacceptable we dont have a National Strategic plan to make sure that testing is free, fast and everywhere. Thats why i thought our last covid1covid19 package includen additional 25 million in testing and a requirement that the Administration Submit a plan by may 24th. And when i say a plan, i dont mean a p. R. Plan. A plane with the specific timeline and goals for supply and funding needs and distribution and disparity. And, what they can expect and what the administration will do to keep america safe. Testing alone wont be enough to reopen our country. And we need far more from other workers as we reopen. We desperately need this administration to step up and get that equipment to state for doing everything in their power to purchase supplies that simply cannot get nearly enough. Because the reality is, the federal government has the tools to fix a problem if only that administration would use them. We actually need that equipment to work and for the fda to act promptly if it does not, not weeks later when people may have already been exposed. And just as importantly, you cant expect people to go back to work or to restaurants or to competently send their kids to school if there is a clear detailed guidance isnt clear detailed guidance about how to do that safely. Schools from Early Childhood through college need to know how to keep their students and their staff and their educators safe. And, we even if there is educational disparity, students with disabilities, english language learners and other populations, of course, those arent the only things we need to be thinking about. We need to make sure industries know how to safely reopen it that people know there were places safe. Secretary scalia needs to stop dragging his feet, secretary scalia and secretary devos as well as experts in the days ahead. This is especially important to protect workers and residents in her nursing home. Theres a rash of outbreaks that the meatpacking plants shows, this isnt just an issue for the health care industry, but its an issue for everyone. This isnt just a plan for when we reopen but its a plan well before we have a safe and effective vaccine to guarantee that we can quickly produce and distribute that on a regular scale. I will be asking about our progress on those issues today. Today, reopening our country may be a ways off. The administrations planning may be way behind. Theres still a lot that Congress Needs to do. There isnt time to spare. Some including the white house say weve already provided enough economic relief. My question is, what good is a bridge if it only gets you to the middle of a river . We dont need to wait around to see. Protecting our workers, our students and our families and addressing this public Health Crisis, not bailing out corporations or protecting big business from accountability. People across the country are doing our part in the are washing their hands and Wearing Masks and social distancing and staying home. They need their government to do it in part two. They need leadership, i need a plan, they need honesty and they need it now before we reopen so they can rest assured that we are doing things safely and confidently with their health and wellbeing at the top priority. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Its an important hearing and i know lots of people may be watching it for the first time, and if they are hope they notice that we have 23 members of this committee. That we have some very strong views, where we are able to Work Together and express those in views and a big part of that goes to senator murray and her staff, so thank you for that. Each witness will have up to 5 minutes to give his testimony. Thank you for making an exception and agreeing to testify by video because of these our first witnesses dr. Anthony fauci, the director of the National Institutes of allergy. And he was involved in treating ebola patients which worked on vaccine trials for ebola. Next we will hear from Robert Redfield and hes the director of the u. S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention which has its headquarters in atlanta. In more than 30 years, theyve been related to chronic viral Infectious Diseases. The hiv research program, he spent 20 years with the u. S. Army medical corps. He is the assistant secretary for health and that puts him part, and focuses on increasing existing technology. This federal Service Includes a variety of activities with our defense department, in advanced research. And through that reduction, thats part of the Blueribbon Panel to reform the u. S. Veterans Health System. He is the commissioner of the food and drug administration. And there he was chair of the department of oncology and was the senior investigator at the National Institutes of health. Now we will ask each of our witnesses to summarize their remarks in 5 minutes. And we answer those in order of seniority. Dr. Fauci, lets begin with you. Thank you very much mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to discuss with you today the role the National Institutes of health and research are addressing covid19. The Strategic Plan that we have is fourfold. One, to improve a fundamental knowledge and the disease that causes. Next to develop new pointofcare diagnostics. Next to characterize and test therapeutics and finally the most safe and effects effective vaccines. First with regard to diagnostics. As you probably heard last thursday at the nih has developed a rapid acceleration of diagnostics programs called red x. With an word to that specific program up to half a billion dollars to support the development of covid19 diagnostics, it is a National Poll of Innovative Technologies that would be evaluated in a shark tank Selection Process to get to either success or failure rapidly. Moving onto therapeutics, i will talk about the remdesivir success in a moment. Let me emphasize that there are a number of broadspectrum antivirals that are in various stages of testing. In addition we will be looking at convalescent plasma which will recover from covid19 to be used in press of transfer either in prevention or treatment. In addition, hydro immune globulin which can be used as a globulin shot will be used as immunebased therapies and finally antibodies. Let me take a moment to describe the remdesivir placebo control randomized trial which was done internationally in the power of more than a thousand individuals throughout the world. It was hospitalized patients with lung disease. The end point, it was primarily time to recover it. The result was statistically significant but modest. It some modest results showing that the drug made 8 30 1 faster time for recovery. We hope to build on this modest success with combinations of drugs and do my drugs. Moving onto vaccines there are at least eight candidate covid19 vaccines in development. The nih has been collaborating with a number of pharmaceutical companies at various stages of development. I will describe one very briefly which is not the only one, and we might recall in this committee that in january of this year i said that it would take about one year18 months if we were successful in developing a vaccine. The nih trial moved very quickly. On january 10th the sequence will to develop a plan and on the 14th of january we officially started the vaccines element. 62 days later we are now in a phase one Clinical Trial with the two doses already fully controlled. In animal safety, it will go into phase two and three, late spring and early summer. If we are successful, we hope to know that in the late fall and early winter. There are some important issues however in the cove covid19 develop meant. In other words its multiple shots on goal. This will be important because it will be good for global availability if we have more than one successful candidate. We also as the chairman mentioned will be producing vaccine at risk which means we will be investigating considerable resources in developing doses even before we know any given candidate or candidates work. I must warn that this is all the possibility of negative consequences with certain vaccines where they can actually enhance the negative effect of the infection. The big unknown is efficacy. Will it be presence and absence . Finally the nih has launched a Publicprivate Partnership called accelerating covid19 therapeutic interventions and vaccines. The purpose of that is to prioritize therapeutic candidates with nearterm potential. Hopefully our Research Efforts together with the other Health Efforts will get us quickly to an end to this terrible ordeal that we will all go through. Thank you very much, happy to answer questions later. Thank you dr. Fauci. Dr. Redfield . Good morning chairman alexander. At our is confronting the most serious public Health Crisis in more than a century. Yet, we are not defenseless. We have powerful tools to fight the enemy. We have tried and true Public Health interventions such as early case identification, isolation and Contact Tracing combined with important Mitigation Strategy including social distancing, and at least Public Health tools have and will continue to slow the spread of covid19. I appreciate the opportunity this morning to provide a brief overview of some of the cdcs ongoing work in response to covid19. The cdc has been working 24 7 2o combat the pandemic. These public and private Health Partners particularly workforce, laboratory and predicted data and analytics. He put the milas as conducting Health System surveillance. Mitigation teams are providing guidance. The serological testing this will better define the asymptomatic populations. As local leadership makes decisions to reopen, we will require varying degrees of federal support. The cdc has conducted a statebystate assessment of Public Health testing capacity, and Contact Tracing capacity as well as search plans. Cdc is providing Technical Assistance and funding provided through the Supplemental Care is act and the paycheck protection program. We are working directly with the state Public Health leaders to define their leads to provide testing and testing supplies, manpower surveillance, data and outbreak investigation. Rapid, extensive and widely available timely testing is essential for reopening america. The cdcs role in testing continues to support a diagnosis and Contact Tracing surveillance and outbreak. When we work with the Public Health partners to define their particular testing strategy, their jurisdiction. Contact tracing. Its a critical part to stop the chains of transmission and prevent the occurrence of sustained community transmissi transmission. The cdcs role is to provide Technical Training and assistance and support of the states, they will be fully prepared to effectively respond to the Public Health challenges and this will be an expensive effort. Surveillance. Our nation Surveillance Program is built on a combination of systems including existing syndromic and respiratory viral disease which have been combined with commercial and research lab platforms. They are adopting these and optimizing it to have a Surveillance System in response to covid19. The surveillance for asymptomatic infection becomes an important Public Health tool and early case identification. The cdc is working with each Public Health jurisdiction to develop a prospective Surveillance Program to include active surveillance such as those individuals in longterm care facilities, inner city clinics and homeless shelters. We need to rebuild our Nations Health infrastructure. Now is the time to put in place. For the generations to come, not only for the Public Health system that our nation needs but for the Public Health system that our nation deserves. Before i could close i want to recognize the tireless commitment and more than 4,000 have deployed globally. This would be the background of the cdc contributions to the u. S. Response. I extend my serious gratitude to Health Care Workers in the front lines and protecting the most vulnerable. Its important to emphasize that we are not out of the woods yet. It remains imperative. We are a resilient nation and im confident that we will emerge from this pandemic longer together. Thank you dr. Redfield. Welcome. Im here to provide you with an update on the nations progress in testing for covid covid19. On march 12 secretary azar including oversight and coordination of the fdi and cdc with regard to testing. Sensing the nation has performed more than 9 million covid19 tests, a number far greater than any other country and doubled up per capita tests per date in south korea. To reach this point we implement it a phased approach during medication and now during the phase one reopening of america. Beginning march 20th we pioneered to committeebased drivethrough testing sites prioritized by the cdc. They tested over 167,000 highrisk individuals and demonstrating a prototype that is being duplicated multifold almost every state. Next the administration leveraged trusted retailers including cvs, rite aid, walgreens, kroger and health mart who are now providing testing at 240 locations. They are in communities with moderate to high social vulnerability. To meet the need for collection supplies we first secured the Global Supply chain through a military air bridge. We validate multiple swab and media types that vastly expanded supplies that minimize the need for ppe. Finally we used title iii of the defense production act to further invest in domestic manufacturing to prepare us for reopening. To support the need for surveillance testing during reopening, on april 27th we issued a new testing framework that also prioritize testing for persons without symptoms and that included asymptomatic individuals according to state and local plan. Next our federal multidisciplinary team, from each state to each state specific testing objective. Collectively states and territories establish an overall goal to perform 12. 9 million tests over the next four weeks. The federal government is able to and will support the achievement of this goal. Specifically, the federal government is shipping to states 12. 9 million swabs and over 9. 7 million tubes of media in may alone. Last month we also detailed the location and a capacity of every lab machine in every state that could potentially run covid19 assays and our team has worked with health suppliers to match match reagents to these machin machines. Looking forward from now until the end of 2020, and 132 million tubes of media and distribute those two states as requested to supplement the now robust commercial supply. We anticipate marked increases in current tests as well as the dramatic expansion of new point of care tests authorized by the fda. 300,000 tests today. And thats manufacturing and supply chain into consideration, we project that they will be capable, and if new technologies are authorized like whole genome sequencing, and that number will be much higher. Finally i want to acknowledge and express my heartfelt gratitude, the Unicorn Service i am honored to leave. Lead. 300,000 women have deployed on this pandemic. To fema and our task forces, to nursing facilities including king county, washington, and to field hospitals in hardhit communities across our nation. I thank each and every one of those officers and their families and on their behalf, i think the members of this committee for supporting our Training Need to supplement our ranks in future national emergencies. Thank you for the opportunity to provide these remarks. Thank you. Now dr. Steven hahn, our fourth and final witness. Ranking members of the committee, thank you for inviting me to participate in this hearing today. I first wanted to start by thanking the American People for their incredible efforts of mitigation and extend my condolences to those who have lost loved ones. From day one of this pandemic the 18,000 at employees who are incredible scientists, doctors and nurses take an active role in the government response to this pandemic. The fda has worked to facilitate the development of mechanical measures to diagnose, treat and prevent covid19. Weve worked closely with manufacturers, academia, product developers, our federal partners and companies, companies that dont even make medical products but want to pitch in. For example making personal protective equipment and ventilators, every decision we have made has been driven by data protecting the health of the American People. That the Public Health emergency however a response has balanced the urgent need to make medical products available with the provision of the level of oversight to help to ensure the safety and effectiveness of those medical products. Id like to take a few minutes to tell you what fda is doing to help the country at this point, which starts with testing as others have mentioned. Fda has worked with more than 500 developers who have or so they will be submergin submittig emergency use authorization tests for covid19 tests. This includes some newer technologies that heretofore have not been used as part of diagnostic diagnostic tests. We have issued Test Laboratories and they have been begun testing under regulatory flexibility so we have outlined in march. We are conducting ruling reviews so we can quickly authorize tests with which the data supports. In a Public Health emergency the accuracy of diagnostic tests is important not only for the individual patient but republic at large. Fda is helping to ensure the availability providing expert answers and also monitoring the marketplace for fraudulent tests and working to provide more clarity about which tests have been reviewed and authorized by the fda and which have not. Serologic tests will play a role in our recovery unlike diagnostic tests which detect the presence of the virus and serologic tests measure the antibodies and protein present in the blood of the body is responding to infection like covid19. These tests can help identify individuals who can help overcome an infection and develop an immune response. We will continue working with labs, manufacturers across the government to find a balance between the assurance and an Antibody Test is accurate and timely access to such tests. Of course the way we will eventually beat this virus is with the vaccine and the fda is working closely with our partners including nih vaccine developers, manufacturers and experts across the globe. We intend to use regulatory and flexibility to help ensure the most Efficient Development of a safe and effective vaccine to protect covid19. Until a preventative vaccine is approved we need medical products to bridge the gap and the fda has been working for several months to facilitate the therapeutiavailability of therad we have created a program called coronavirus treatment Acceleration Program. We reassigned staff to work with urgencies and we are using every available authority and regulatory flexibility thats appropriate to facilitate the development of safe and effective products to treat covid19. A variety of therapeutic areas are being evaluated as mentioned by dr. Fauci and others as well as convalescent plasma. He also mentioned we recently announced the positive results of the remdesivir trial and two other promising treatments that i mentioned are the antibody products and i am certainly willing to go into more detail if members of this committee have questions about this. We are working very aggressively and if shown to be safe and effective, that could act as a bridge therapy to the development of vaccines. We recognize that developing vaccines and therapies need to go handinhand ensuring that we have sufficient supply for our country. So we are also working with manufacturers to ensure that the supply chain is robust. Please know that you have a dedicated team of some of the nations finest scientists, and Public Health professionals. We are guided by science and data and will not let up until we facilitate the department of products that our nation needs to get back to work. Thank you to all four of you for your expertise and dedication to our country and our hard work. We will now begin a round of fiveminute questions from each senator on the committee alternating between republicans and democrats. Each senator has with the videoconference, i would ask you to try to stay within 5 minutes for your questions and answers. Doctor, lets look down the road three months. There will be about 5,000 campuses, what would you say to the chancellor of the university of tennessee knoxville, about how to persuade parents and students to return to school in august . Lets start with treatments and vaccines, first. Dr. Fauci, you can save about half of our 5 minutes for testing, i would appreciate it. Thank you very much. I would be very realistic with the chancellor and tell him that when we are thinking in terms its a her in this case. Im sorry. I would tell her that the idea of having treatments available for a vaccine to facilitate the reentry of students into the fall term would be something that would be a bit of a bridge too far. As i mentioned the drug that has shown some degree of efficacy was modest and was in hospitalized patients, not yet or maybe ever to be used as prophylaxis or treatment. So if the issue is that the young individuals who would be going back to school would like to have some comfort in that these would be useless treatment utilization would likely be passive transfer of convalescent serum. But we are not talking about necessarily treating us student who gets ill but how the student will feel safe going back to school. If this were a situation where we had a vaccine that would really be the end of that issue in a positive way. As i mentioned in my opening remarks even at the top speed we are going we dont see a vaccine playing in the ability of individuals to get back to school this term. What they really want is to know if they are safe. Thats a question that will have to be do with what we discussed earlier about testing. So im about halfway through the remarks and i would like to just pass the baton to the admiral who addressed the question of the availability of testing and what role that might play in returning to school. Thank you. Admiral, you said while we are doing about 10 million tests this month, and if we had for example the antigen test which is quick and easy, you want everyone on campus to come by and take it once. Then we can continue to monitor. Is that strategy possible in august and september . Thank you, mr. Chairman. I may reserve 20 seconds for dr. Redfield as well. The strategy thats going to be employed depends on the strategy at that time. If there is community strip, spread it, the strategy will be different. But yes, technically we will have the ability, and we expect there to be 25 or 30 million pointofcare tests available per month. Its certainly possible to test all of the students or, it is much more likely that there would be a surveillance strategy done or you may test some of the students at different times to get assurance that there is no circulation and that would be done. We know and some experimental labs, as many as ten or 20 samples can be pulled up so essentially one test contest 20 students. Finally there are some experiments with approaches that look interesting if not promising. For example, waste water from an entire dorm or segment of campus could be tested and there are other strategies being developed and i like to at least give 20 seconds to dr. Redfield who really will be working on the strategy of how to employ this in a Different Community spread. Dr. Redfield . Just some quick comments. I think its incredibly important to evaluate the role of changes and social distanci distancing, not to forget the importance of what we have learned. Clearly also developing aggressive programs for wellness education making sure that people i think we are going to have to look at the role of testing and i think there is going to be an Important Role of testing in the circumstances and i think it will be individualized based on where these different schools are and how much interaction there is. Im going to wrap it up the there. Senator murray . Dr. Fauci, you have warned of needless suffering and death if we pressure to reopen too soon. But the president has been sending the opposite message. What is the most Important Message you have for communities and states that are reopening even if our Public Health experts make it clear that its too soon . Tell us what the consequences are. What we have worked out is a guideline framework of how you safely open america again and there are several checkpoints of that come up with gateway first of showing depending on the dynamics of a particular region, state, city or area and that would really determine the speed and the pace with which one does reenter or reopen. So my word has been and ive been very consistent with this, theres an demanding outbreak that gradual decrease which how that would allow you to go to phase one and then pass the checkpoints that is my concern that some areas have gone over those various checkpoints and prematurely open up and be able to respond effectively and efficiently. My concern is that we will start to see little spikes that might turn into a brakes. Very clear in my message to try to the best extent possible to go by the guidelines which have been very wellthoughtout and very well delineated. So at the community or state or region does go by those guidelines and reopen. The consequences could be serious particularly and this is something that i think we should also Pay Attention to the states even if they are doing it at an appropriate pace which many of them are, and will, namely a pace that is commensurate with the dynamics of the outbreak, they have in place already where they will be cases. Even in the best of circumstances when you pull back on administrations, you will see some cases appear. You will see the capability, and we will continue to go forward. They will do it at the appropriate time and appropriate can constraints, that will be the return of the administrations. And last week, and yesterday, President Trump had the gall to prevail testing and conference which was filled with they dont think the u. S. Has prevailed. And they dont. And we know by the way that testing will persist along pass them. We with that Strategic Plan on testing include specific numeric targets for testing capacity, supply chain capacity, and protection of shortages. Thank you for that question. Yes, as we stated, we continue to have a work in progress as we build a testing capacity. And it, as communities go behind phase one and phase two of the targets need to change on the evidence that we see. So they could pull supply them what they need so they have those insurances. We will see numbers, so, we know the specific amounts of tests that we have we work with epidemiologists in the cpc so that overall in may we will test about 5. 9 of the u. S. Population. In may or june we will drive distances in the amount of goals that we have. We want to be very humble about this we i know the testing needs go up over may and june as we progressively open. Mr. Chairman, again what our Strategic Plan requires is what is the goal. Not how many we have but how many we need to. And thats what we will be looking for. I particularly appreciated your Opening Statement where we had a very succinct list of preparations we and that could coincide with the start of the season, potentially stressing our Health Care System even more than it already has been. Admiral, i thank you for your comments are understanding of the clinical picture of covid19 potentially affecting the heart, the brain and the kidneys, how does this involve or impact the clinical or surrogate end poin end points. Obviously the way this is manifesting, it does in fact inform the end points that we will work. And that, we have set up this program called the coronavirus Acceleration Program where are our scientists and clinicians have been at the table consulting with our colleague at the cdc and actually aggress those. One circumstance, and, we prioritize a review of agents that might be beneficial. Thats an agent that is antiviral like remdesivir, where dr. Fauci mentioned we are looking at time to recovery. I want to adapt into the clinical served circumstance as well as the type of therapy that is there for us. Another question to dr. Hahn. And that was a significant gap in pandemic preparedness. Thats a potential Vaccination Campaign to ensure that we have sufficient capacity to administer the vaccine. Thank you for that question. This is a really important point. As you mentioned its not just about the vaccine or hopefully vaccines that are developed. Its also about the supplies that are needed and its also an Operational Plan for administering the vaccine. This is a government approach, and his colleagues at nih and the department of defense as well as other members of hhs and fda. And thats how many times they administer and the route of administration. Weve been leaning in on the supply chain to ensure that when a vaccine is ready to go we will have the national supplies to actually administer it and operationalize the vaccination. The clock is not visible there so i suspect that he has met my time and i will submit those in writing. Thank you. Senatorsenator sanders . Thank you very much mr. Chairman and i would like to thank all the panelists for the hard work they are doing. It is sad to say that we have a president of the United States, the leader of our country who from day one downplayed the dangers facing this country from the pandemic, who told us that the crisis would be over in a few months and that we did not have to worry. Who fired those members of the government. Thats a cooperation in funding for the world health organization. They dont fully understand that all of the ramification of the covid19 epidemic official statistics are that 80,000 americans have died from the pandemic. Im not sure if it will be 50 higher but most of us feel that the number of deaths are likely higher than that number. Because given the situation particularly in new york city when they were really strapped with the very serious challenge to the Health Care System, there may have been people who died at home who did have covid who are not counted as covid because they never really got to the hospital. So in direct answer to your question i think you are corre correct. The number is likely higher and i dont know exactly whats higher but, almost certainly higher. Dr. Fauci, let me ask you this. In a terrible pandemic the virus exploded in the fall. Are we fearful that if we dont get our act together as bad as the situation is now, it has become worse in the fall or winter. I know the possibility does exist and the reason i say that is, we talk about, will this virus just disappear . Thats a highly transmissible virus and even if we get better control over the last few months its likely that there will be a virus somewhere on this planet that will eventually get back to us. So my approach towards the possibility of a rebound, it was entirely conceivable, and i would hope between now and then given the capability of doing the testing, of protective equipment in the workforce that the cdc, identified a contact trace. I hope that if we do have the threat of a second wave, we will do what they very effectively to prevent it from becoming an outbreak not only worse than now but much, much less. We heard a lot of discussion about vaccines obviously, and the vaccine is developed and produced as quickly as we all can. And everyone in america they need that income. Is that a fair assumption. And including those most vulnerable are included in the Clinical Trials. And if they have to pay a sum of money for it in order to profit the Drug Companies that will not be helpful. That will be open to all people regardless of income. So the payment of the vaccines is not a responsibility to the fda but i am glad to take this back to the task force. What do you think, poor people and working people should be last in line . If the vaccine or therapeutic or preventive is available at their ability to pay or any social determinants of health that there may be. So when you are telling the American People that, and they should gain access to it. I certainly advocate that everyone is a able to have access to the vaccine. Im sorry, thank you mr. Chairman. Its hard to see we can stay as close as possible. Thank you senator sanders. Centerburg . Thank you. And thanks to our Witnesses Today for what you have done to the people in this country. I want to ask you dr. Fauci because iv youve been any e of cure or countermeasure . We at nih as you know, and the vaccine for therapeutics. We actually started that. After the virus was known in the sequence was public. Ive never been known by anyone to pull back on the deponent of any countermeasure or any basis of the research project. This question is for dr. Redfield. Multiple times over the last few decades, money for the virus being available. We talked about it, and in the past four years its been 23 million per year and with the cares act is over a billion dollars and bio surveillance. We seen the private sector go out and use Data Available to track the progress and, why have they not contracted with private sector Tech Companies to use their tools for bio surveillan surveillance . Senator, thank you for the question. This is a critical issue as you know and also comes into one of the core capabilities that i talked about, Data Analytics and data modernization which we are pretty appreciative of the additional funding that congress is given. This is under a critical review and we do have contracts with some of the private sector groups now that try to make the type of availability of data that we seen with florida available in all of our jurisdictions across the country. In the process of making that happen. Dr. Redfield in june of last year we have reauthorized the pandemic and in all hazards authorization which at that time 30 new employees that the cdc specifically in surveillance. Now i asked in march how many of those 30s ha 30 had been filled and how many of those 30 employees with this committee have been filled today. Again thank you for the question. I know our staff has been in discussion with the testimony and i know we are in the process of continuing to try to figure out how to move that forward. I can get back to you on it as i discuss what progress has been made since we had that discussion post hearing with you when you brought that to light. I brought it to light the 1sn midmay. So im hopeful that we wont just talk about surveillance, we will actually execute it and we will focus the unbelievable amounts of money that we have provided for you, that they will show some benefit to the American People. Dr. Fauci, let me come back to you. This is one of the fastest develop a timeline that weve ever seen for vaccines. And that the American People and hopefully people around the world will be the beneficiary of what you find and eventual licensure of that product. What are the biggest unknowns with this particular virus, that can affect the developing process, and dr. Hana, if you have anything to add to that, please do. Dr. Fauci . A couple of things that i think are inherent in all vaccine development, first of all there is no guarantee that the vaccine will actually be effective. As you well know because weve discussed this many times in the past, you can add everything you think thats in place and you dont induce the kind of immune response that turns out to be effective. So given the way the body responds to viruses of this type, im cautiously optimistic. We will with one of the candidates get an efficacy signal. The other thing that is unknown that is a concern, we will be able to do that by doing the test properly. Do you get an enhancement effect . Mainly there have been a number of vaccines and particularly, and the vaccine that enhances the disease so we want to make sure that doesnt happen. Those are the two major unknowns, putting all those things together and i still feel cautiously optimistic that we will have a candidate that will give some degree of efficacy. Hopefully a percentage enough that we will induce the kind of herd immunity that was giving protection to the population at home. I think, we can appropriately assess one vaccine against the other. Then a master protocol that allows for a common control group and an assessment to very common and points that will let us be as efficient as possible to the development of the vaccine. We will evaluate approximately ten candidates preclinically, and that ensures safety and effectiveness. And its my hope that, we started to report covered numbers. Mr. Chairman, in particular across the state like ours. Its a high number of cases in pennsylvania, and at last count a 57,000 cases and the number of deaths have gone about 3,700 and a lot of those deaths are in Nursing Homes. We are told that nationally more than a third, as high as 35 of all deaths have been in Nursing Homes. That was a challenge in our longterm facilities. I think a lot of families want basic transparency and thats one of the reasons why senator wyden and i sent you a letter dated april the second who was directed to you as well as the administration of the centers for medicare and medicaid services. In that letter we asked for basic information about what the administration was doing to track the outbreaks in Nursing Homes, to provide information, basic information to families and residents, the families of residents in Nursing Homes, and surely to the workers as well to the communities and Public Health professionals. Now it took you over about a month to respond to that but in your response you didnt give us any information about the timeline. These families need this information and now we are told by the cms administrator that this information may not be available until the end of may. I need to hear from you today, why has there been a delay, a three month delay in basic information that families and people within a community thank you very much. Youve highlighted one of the great tragedy is that all experienced together. Clearly the longterm care facilities have been particularly hardhit by this pandemic. And several things have been done and i could get back to where they are at in terms of activation and our staff to the cdc and, and that we identify members of that nursing home and that they verify if thats after today were last week, i will get back to you with that. One of the most important things we talk about the key and reopening, as tony mentioned, we the most symptomatic cases, we need to Contact Tracing. But the other thing that we really need to do is do surveillance because this virus does appear to have high propensity for asymptomatic infection, which means for traditional ways of defining cases is going to be planted. And that, and all the Nursing Homes, and we will be doing that in partnership with the state and local Territorial Health departments. They will have the responsibility to do that within the inner city clinics for the Indian Health service clinics. We have comprehensive surveillance for everybody in these Nursing Homes. We are seeing outreach, and im pretty confident they are all reporting any protection with the workers or patients as well as member of my family members. I just have one question for dr. Fauci. You outlined a basic concern you have with regard to states reopening. My concern is for states and cities and regions. There is a checkpoint about our guidelines about when it is safe to seed. I feel if that occurs there is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak as you may not be able to control. Which in fact will set you back, not only leading to some suffering and death that could be avoided but could even set you back and almost turned the clock back rather than Going Forward. That is my major concern. Thank you, doctor. Thank you senator casey. Senator paul. Scientists have shown that rhesus monkeys that are infected with covid19 cannot be reinfected. Several studies have also shown that plasma from recently if infected coronavirus patients initializes the virus and lab experiments. Recoverinthey will be beneficias donated. From the asymptomatic to the very sick are showing significant and studies show that sars and m letter e rs showed immunity for two years. I think actually the truth is the opposite. We have no evidence that survivors of the coronavirus dont have immunity and a great deal of evidence to suggest they do. The question of immunity is linked to the Health Policy and a large portion of these workers now have immunity. These workers should be reassured that they likely wont get it again instead of being alarmed by reports that there is no evidence of immunity. You stated publicly that you bet all the survivors of coronavirus have some form of immunity. The record as is being accumulative is supportive that the virus leads to some form of immunity. You are correct. Given what we know about the recovery from viruses such as coronavirus is in general or even any Infectious Disease with very few exceptions, it very likely indicates a degree of protection. I think if in the semantics of how this is expressed, when you say has it been formally proven by longterm history studies which is the only way that you can prove number one, is it protective, and also what is the degree or titer of antibody that gives you the and as ive often said i think the reasonable assumption would be that it is protected. But National History studies over a period of months or years would then tell you definitively if thats the case. I think thats important because letter a come in all likelihood, the vast majority of people have immunity instead of saying, there is no evidence. And in fact a lot of they had different studies have shown its very unlikely to get it again in the short term. Regard to going back to school, one thing that was left out of the discussion is mortality. And the mortality between zero and 18, between 18 and 45 the mortality in new york it was 10 out of 100000. The mortality per capita less than spain, less than belgium and the netherlands, about the same as switzerland. I dont think theres anybody arguing that what happened in sweden is in an acceptable result. I dont think any of us are certain, thereve been more people wrong with modeling than right. In rural states, less deaths in kentucky that we have in an average flu season. We have a relatively benign course for this virus nationwide. I think its onesizefitsall and we have a National Strategy and its kind of ridiculous. Thats the School District and the power needs to be dispersed. I think they will have a little bit of a humility and our belief that we know whats best for the economy and as much as i respect you, dr. Fauci, i dont think you are the endall. There are people on the other side, and the facts will bear this out. That is something they will not learn for the full year. I think we will look at the swedish model, and its a huge mistake. Thank you. Can respond to that even though there are only 32 seconds left . Yes. And you might make it clear whether you suggest that we shouldnt go back to school in the fall. Thank you for your comments. I give advice for Scientific Evidence and there are a number of people that come into that and give advice that are more related to the number of things you spoke about, about the need to get the company back open again and economically. I dont give advice about anything other than Public Health so i want to respond to that. So we should be humble about what we dont know and that falls under the fact that we dont know everything about this virus and we have to be careful particularly when it comes to children. The more and more we learn with what seeing things about what this virus can do, for example right now children presented with covid19 who actually have a very strange inflammatory syndrome i think we ought to be careful if we are not cavalier. And children in general do much, much better than adults in the elderly, particularly those with underlying conditions. But im very careful and hopefully humble in that saying that i dont know everything about this disease which is why im very reserved and making broad predictions. Thank you. Thank you mr. Chairman and ranking number marie. And i would certainly be appreciative of concise answers. Dr. Rex field, the testing protocols at the white house present some models for other essential workplaces . Im sorry senator. Dr. Redfield, do you think that the testing protocols currently in place at the white house present a model for other essential workplaces . Thank you for the question. I think one of the important things that you bring up is the essential worker guidance at the cdc put out and i think that it was originally modeled obviously on Health Care Workers where there was Significant Health care shortages and individuals are there any workplaces im asking you if you think the white house protocol testings are a model for other essential workplaces . I would just say that i think each workplace has to define their own approach. Is there some considerable comments on the fact that osha has not stood up and enforceable mandatory standard for workers in all sorts of work settings, but that aside, would you say that the ppe rule are essential for other workplaces. I would go back to the guidelines that the cdc has put out about central workplaces for people, if they are an essential work force, if they go in public and maintain 6 feet distancing and where face coverings. Admiral, you have testified about how far you have come with regard to testing assessment. I want believed that we already have a National Testing strategy today that spans from the nationwide testing needs, and the strategy to fill that gap and, thats what we need in terms of bridging that gap. Thank you for that. We do have a strategy that spans us at least to the fall. And senator paul is correct that kentucky, wyoming, new jersey, and, i know you testified earlier, not only are you working with the states, and, those who have been working thats identifying the testing needs based on guidance and not mandatory. And are you on contact with that level over the last few months, weve done a lot of individual work. Relate down to the granule lever. Where we are right now, and then in the funding, we are asking very specifically in the cdc funding for specific plans, Nursing Homes and underserved et cetera. I dont have time for questions. Two more points, when its about the transparency that Needs Assessment and, it seems to me that the logistics for getting this out whether its ppe, testing or medical equipment is still extremely fragmented leading to price gouging and many other inefficiencies. Thats the full power of the defense production act. Would you like me to comment on that . And happy to have you comment with the intelligent comic indulgence of the chairman, we have gone over time. Lets try to get us distinct answer to the senator. Yes, maam, and yes, sir. Particular for things like media, there is still a very odd nonmature industry in the country. Thats why weve made the decision to procure that through december and then distribute that to the state. Too many variables to control without a very have very heavy federal man. And in more mature aspects of the industry, not procure it directly, and im i want to start with you. I am hearing all over the state of maine the facts that they cannot practice in our states despite following very strict infection is causing growing health problems. Now teeth with cavities that were going to be filled are now going to need root canals. Teeth that could have been treated with root canals are now going to require extraction. People with oral cancers, the treatments that he need dental health is clearly so important. And state officials as well as our dentists are seeking assistance in reaching the right decision. And they have reopened dental practices and my question to you is this. If dentists are following the American Dental Association guidelines, if they they are instituting strict protective measures for their patients and their staff and their hygienists, themselves, and they are closely examining and seeing the decline in the number of covid19 infections, we will consider seeing them reopen the practice of dentistry. Senator, thank you with the question. We have been interacting and we are working with the state and local Health Officials to update our guidelines on reopening a variety of medical services as you know. And i would not disagree with what you said about looking at the american dental associatio associations as well as the reality of the outbreak in the area. But we are in the process of updating those guidelines and they will include direct guidelines for dental practices. Thank you very much, dr. Dr. Period doctors, recently there has been a significant demand for remdesivir, i may be mispronouncing that, which transitions to receiving emergency youth authorization. The two largest Hospital Systems contacted me with questions about how this therapeutic will be allocated Going Forward. Hhs finally released the statement on saturday about allocations going to states. Interestingly and not directly to hospitals, but once again the decisionmaking behind those allocations is very unclear. Hhs and the assistant secretary for preparedness and response say that each state is expected to receive an allocation but no timetable has been provided. Beyond of those who are being tweeted comic treated with this drug through a Clinical Trial, im concerned that hospitalized patients have made little to no ability to be treated with this promising therapeutic for the foreseeable future. As this and more therapeutics and ultimately a vaccine come on to the marketplace, how can these allocations and distributions be resolved so that patient care is not delayed and so it doesnt depend on which state you live in whether or not you are going to get access to these treatments and ultimately a vaccine. Senator collins. This has to be an evidencebased approach getting some medical therapeutics and vaccines, remdesivir or whatever it needs to be, weve learned a lot of lessons from the remdesivir situation and, what you see in the most recent announcement is, what the task force did was provide guidance to hhs regarding where the most significant outbreak occurred and whether there is where the hospitalizations were. This represented about a quarter of the supply of the drugs that we had and more will be allocated, and i think valuable lessons can be learned and will be learned with respect to vaccines in particular and we must incorporate those into our Operational Plans moving forwa forward. Admiral, do you have anything . We are over time. If you have anything to add a period no, maam, i agree with the commissioner. Its actually critical that its evidencebased and also fair and just throughout our country. Thank you senator collins. Senator murphy . And this is obviously an exceptional hearing im starting to ask a simple yes or no question. I think we will be careful about the issue of quarantine i was out the white house yesterday and, thats the office at the nih. Its not strictly speaking quarantine as we know it but, is performing on duties as critical workers. Senator murphy, and i have continued to work during the quarantine. Our essential workers will participate in meetings facetoface when that attendance is considered critical. My point is, you all should draw a salary as you are taking precautionary steps because the contacts you have made it. My point is, quarantine is relatively easy for people like you and me. We can still work and get paid and we can telework but there are millions of other americans who work jobs that cant be performed from home or are paid by the hour. Its just remarkable to me, that this administration has not yet developed a mechanism for states to implement and to pay for a quarantine system and it, my state has no clue which leads me to my second question. Dr. Fauci and dr. Redfield, you made news today by warning us appropriately of the dangers of states opening to early. This is infuriating too many of us. They have prevailed over coronavirus, and i will tell you thats much harder on state leaders to key social distancing restrictions in place. It comes days after the president called on citizens from their states, and i think they are all noble Public Servants but i worry they are trying to have it both ways. The state shouldnt open to early, but many dont give us the resources to succeed. You work for a president who is frankly undermining our efforts to comply with the guidance that you have given us and the guidance you have provided is criminally vague. And i want to ask my last question on this topic. Obviously the plan to reopen america was meant to be followed by a more detailed new wants guidance. What is it downward trajectory . What happens if it is you develop this guidance, this Additional Guidance that is sitespecific, and some of it is not. And we need it. And we rely on you. So reporting suggests dr. Redfield that this guidance was developed by you and other experts was shelved by the administration my specific question was why didnt this plan get released. And if it was just being reviewed, when is it going to be released . States are reopening right now and we need this Additional Guidance to make those decisio decisions. Senator i appreciate your question. Clearly, we have generated a series of guidances as you know, and as this outbreak response is evolved from the eight cdc two and all of government response and a number of them go for interagency review and these guidances are more broadly applicable for different parts of our society. The guidance that you have talked about, your comments have come back to the cdc and i anticipate those will go back up to the task force for final review. Before we reopen can in five days or ten days, this guidance isnt use to this. So is it this week or next week . When will we get this expertise from the federal government. The other thing i will say is that the cdc stands by the Technical Assistance to your state and any state on funding many requests. I do anticipate this broader guidance to be posted o on the c website. But i can tell you, your state can reach out to the cdc and we will give guidance directly to anyone in your state on any circumstance at your state desires guidance from. Thats helpful. Thank you. Thank you very much for your service. I will have a set of questions so if your questions can be brief, i appreciate your answers will be brief. The test team for the population and vaccine trials now includes over americans. Older americans. My question is about children. It does include children, the obese, immunocompromised, those who are at risk but have a nonmedicated response to vaccination . Can you comment on that . Yes, sir. When the phase two and phase three trials are in place, they will include our most vulnerable populations including the individuals that youve described. We are working very closely if i could interrupt, phase two is normally checked for safety. You do not have to do a separate phase two and the patient who was younger. Thats data from the adult and out of the children. That is ones phase, perhaps dr. Fauci you can answer that. I did not say phase two, i said we are in the second dose of phase one and we will proceed when we finish phase one to go into phase two. So im thinking hearing that children will be included in phase two trials . Thats under discussion between fda and nih at this ti time. Dr. Redfield, the published guidelines for school openings, but you speak about testing, targeted testing at how we use testing but the guidelines for the School Systems and how they integrate testing. Is there any clue on how thats being released . Clearly there is going to need to be as already has been stated in the testing strategy. And it has to be integrated. It has general overarching guidelines and as i do think the testing strategy which is important, it needs to be i think, whether you are roll or frontier or suburban or urban, thats one setting in which they are the remarkable commonality. And i will echo, the most sophisticated and populous wealthy state. I do think it would be good to have, in a primary setting this is best practices. To say that each School District or private or parochial or Independent School and it seems to be wasted effort. Children play a role in both the protection of the disease and the spread of the disease. Its not cookiecutter followed. Senator, i must have been misunderstood. When i was talking about differences, i was thinking of the difference between an elementary school, a high school, a college, in terms of a trade school. There may be differences in how you integrate a testing strategy. I do think having a testing strategy with different options for people to evaluate based on different principles will be important in terms of guidance. Dr. Fauci, you persuasively argue that the risk of reopening prematurely is great. But i think the frustration, of children in particular, the risk and ratio of a

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