Acting deputy Homeland Security secretary Ken Cuccinelli and the head of the National Counterterrorism center. The fbi director said at the hearing that the fbi has not seen widespread voter fraud. Wisconsin senator ron johnson chaired this two hour, 40 minute hearing. Good morning. This hearing will come to order. I want to first welcome and thank our witnesses, christopher wray, the director of the federal bureau of investigation, christopher miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism center, and kenneth cuccinelli, the senior official performing the duties of the deputy secretary. This is our annual threat hearing. When i take a look at all of the threats that this committee has considered and all of the threats facing this nation, i think its pretty interesting, you know, how many hearings weve held on so many of these things. Before i proceed, i guess i would ask for unanimous consent to have my written Opening Statement be entered in the recor record. If you consider t
Chambers testify about their concerns. From february until april of 2020. But the closure rates for minority owned businesses are significantly higher with 41 of blackowned businesses, 32 of latino acts owned businesses and 22 of asian businesses. They closed over the same time frame. Now, in april of this year the federal return bank of new york reported that minority and women owned businesses are significantly more likely to show signs of limited Financial Health and are twice as likely to be classified as at risk for distress then nonminorities Small Businesses. Further, companies are three times likely as healthy businesses to close because of [inaudible]. The pcp program established under the cares act and administered by the Small Business administration and treasury as funding lifeline for distressed businesses responding to the culminating pandemic. What recent analysis by the color of change and the u no space United States found only one in ten African American and late lati
Chairman shelby and his staff for letting us try this and see how this kind of information gathering works for appropriators. Its not a markup. There will be no voting today, but were going to get some really important information. Yesterday, the new coronavirus cases passed 50,000 for the first time, making it a single day record. This morning, 128,000 americans have died and nearly 2. 7 million have tested positive for covid19. Of course, the thoughts of myself and everyone on this committee are with those individuals and those families whove been affected. I called this hearing really to look at an update on the efforts that the administrations put together and, frankly members of this committee were very involved in to see if we couldnt establish a new way to look at responding to pandemics. I think we have the chance to actually write a new important chapter in what that response looks like. Developing the right vaccine, the right therapeutics, the right testing is important. And
Senator blunt the appropriation subcommittee on labor, health and Human Services, education and related agencies will come together. Im glad to be here this morning with my colleagues, some offices or from some other location. This is the first appropriations hearing being held in person and virtually and want to thank chairman shelby and his staff for letting us try this and see how this kind of information gathering works for appropriators. Its not a markup. There will be no voting today, but were going to get some really important information. Yesterday, the new coronavirus cases passed 50,000 for the first time, making it a single day record. This morning, 128,000 americans have died and nearly 2. 7 million have tested positive for covid19. Of course, the thoughts of myself and everyone on this committee are with those individuals and those families whove been affected. I called this hearing really to look at an update on the efforts that the administrations put together and, frank
Seating has been spaced so we are six feet apart and we have made it possible for senators and witnesses to participate by Video Conference if they choose to do so, and several have. To maintain social distancing, we have very limited seating and dont have room formulas of the public to attend, however this hearing is available to watch a live online and a recording will be available on the committee health. Www. Senate. Gov. The hearing will be shown from gaveltogavel in its entirety, unedited by anyone from the moment that we start until the very end that we stop. Due to the limited seating, representatives of the press are working as a pool to relay observations to their colleagues and senators and staff present have been reminded about the safety guidelines put in place by the attending physician. We all wore our masks. Im not going to wear mine during the hearing, since we are six feet apart, but senators may do whatever they choose to do. I would like to thank the rules committee