Washington today, we are holding this hearing virtually in compliance with the regulations for Remote Committee proceedings pursuant to House Resolution 965. Remote hearings certainly are not the same as sitting together in our Committee Room and you should know. The new authority has allowed us to continue to do our work a behalf of the American People, while keeping our staff, families and broader communities this is the First Official Virtual Committee hearing in the United States house of representatives. As we begin this historic proceeding, i want to underscore that i plan to continue this committees long tradition of collegia collegiality and substantive debate even as we conduct our business from afar. I will continue to work with Ranking Member and his staff to make sure that all Ranking Members are respected in the knew virtual format. Before we turn to todays important topic, i want to remind members of a few procedures to help us all navigate this new platform. First, consi
And members of the committee and thank you for joining us of the subcommittees first official. I would like to especially thank the members of the committee. And Ranking Members, the and ms. Thank you so much for being with us today. We know that covid19 has also altered the daily lives of americans. That is impacting our health, how we were, how we engage in our communities and how we vote. It is also impacted how we are upholding todays hearing. People putting themselves at risk every day from doctors and nurses to first responders, postal workers and many others pretty including home workers. Congress however, as an option. Many workers do not. We can do our work remotely in a safe and secure online format. The highest levels of the federal government have both recognize the unique circumstances of the covid19 pandemic by holding remote or virtual hearings. And they include the house and the senate which held virtual hearings like this one. It includes a Supreme Court which has modi
Would be overwhelmed. We worried we would not have enough icu beds or ventilators. We knew we did not have enough ppe or testing supplies. So here in virginia, we asked you to stay home. We issued restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Urged houses of worship to give sermons online. And moved restaurants to take out and home delivery. Andnesses moved to telework online meetings. We put a hold on elective surgeries. And we all learned a new term, actually two terms, social distancing and physical distancing. We put these restrictions into place, and we waited to see if we were able to flatten the curve. And while we waited, our team monitored data, built new ppe supply chains, strengthened our unemployment system, planned for alternative care facilities, and a strengthened testing system, among other steps. In virginia made sacrifices. But everything you have done has truly made a difference. We flattened the curve, and our hospitals have not been overwhelmed. Im keenly aware that i
At that time across the country, americans feared that hospitals would be overwhelmed. We worried we would not have enough icu beds or ventilators. We knew we did not have enough ppe or testing supplies. So here in virginia, we asked you to stay home. We issued restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Urged houses of worship to give sermons online. And moved restaurants to take out and home delivery. Businesses moved to telework and online meetings. We put a hold on elective surgeries. And we all learned a new term, actually two terms, social distancing and physical distancing. We put these restrictions into place, and we waited to see if we were able to flatten the curve. And while we waited, our team monitored data, built new ppe supply chains, strengthened our unemployment system, planned for alternative care facilities, and a strengthened testing system, among other steps. And everyone in virginia made sacrifices. But everything you have done has truly made a difference. We flatt
Restrictions in his day to allow businesses to reopen that are this month. He talked about the phased approach and other issues related to the coronavirus at a News Conference and a richmond. G]ameras shutterin gov. Northam good afternoon and thanks again for joining us today. I hope that everybody had a nice weekend. Before we talk about the past four, i want to remind everyone of where we have been. Virginia saw its first covid positive case on march 7. Just shy of two months ago. Our lives have changed drastically since then. At that time across the country, americans feared that hospitals would be overwhelmed. We worried we would not have enough icu beds or ventilators. We knew we did not have enough ppe or testing supplies. So here in virginia, we asked you to stay home. We issued restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Urged houses of worship to give sermons online. And moved restaurants to take out and home delivery. Businesses moved to telework and online meetings. We put a