Come to order. I want to thank everybody for coming. I have a fairly short statement that i will read and then i will turn to the senator. Were convening under different circumstances of our previous meeting. Were following the guidance of the cdc and the office of attending physician. So were spaced further apart. Our staff is reduced. Were grateful for all of them. The general public is watching online rather than filling up the room. So our hearing today will look a little different. I think we can all agree that the capitol feels a little different, the halls of congress feel a little different. Small businesses, if theyre allowed to open at all, are operating on a very different circumstances. American homes have become classrooms and offices for millions of american families. And at least for a while, American Life as we know it has changed. Nonetheless, access or inaccess to Broadband Internet services, especially in rural areas, as remained unchanged and it might be a good topi
Task force held a briefing at the department of education to discuss the latest efforts to get schools reopened in the fall. The briefing came shortly after President Trump tweeted he disagreed with the cdcs guidelines for reopening schools which led to a response from cdc director dr. Robert redfield at this briefing. Vp pence good morning, all. The White House Coronavirus task force met here at the department of education, part of our ongoing effort to focus on a mission to save lives and meet the needs of our states, healthcare workers, to protect the vulnerable and safely reopen america and reopen americas schools. As you will hear today from admiral brett giroir, we have tested 139 million americans. Among those a million americans have tested positive and 1. 3 million americans have recovered. Sadly more than 133,000 americans have lost their lives and our sympathies are with all of the infected families. Those whoourn with mourn, but it has of the extraordinary work on the count
I see your commitment to justice and your voice and your work at this point is extremely important. We thank you for your leadership. We need to open the floor to any member who would like to say a few words, short comments, raise your hand, call on those members wishing to be recognized. Madam chair. Thank you for the recognition and happy belated birthday. If i could admit something to you i dont want to be here, this is the 20 fourth anniversary. If i cant be with her it is a privilege to spend a few. You know so moved. You and steve have been so kind as i engaged in a variety meaningful. Absolutely. Thank you for your leadership. I am deeply impressed by several of your qualities if i can put it that way, your graciousness, your 10 asset in pursuing what you believe and openness to dialogue on perspectives, youve been very generous to me, a highlight of which was the phone call i received from you the other day in which you talked about work on the middle east partnership for peace
Watch live coverage at 5 p. M. Eastern on cspan, online at cspan. Org, or listen live with the free cspan radio app. Illinois governor jb pritzker mississippi, joined a Public Health and Emergency Management officials from texas and alabama for hearing on the federal response to the coronavirus. Heres a portion of that hearing. The committee on Homeland Security will come to order. The committee is meeting today to receive testimony on examining the National Response to the coronavirus pandemic. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare the committee. Today, the committee is meeting to examine our National Response to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. This hearing comes at a critical moment. The number of u. S. Coronavirus cases are surging, topping 50,000 per day for the first time on july 1, and setting alarming records with new cases over the past weeks. Dr. Anthony fauci recently warned that u. S. Cases could double to 100,000 per day if current outbreaks are not cont
6 comes at a critical moment. The number of coronavirus cases are surging topping 50,000 per day for the first time july 1 and setting alarming records for new cases over the past week. Dr. Anthony fauci recently warned that u. S. Cases could double to 100,000 per day if current outbreaks in the south and west are not contained, putting the entire country at risk. As the infections spiral out of control President Trump has tried to downplay the impact of covid19, calling 99 of cases totally harmless even as more than 130,000 americans have died and many more have become seriously ill. Claimed the u. S. S death rate is the lowest in the world. When in fact, it is among the highest. Unfortunately, the president s this week he claimed its the lowest death rate in the world but its really the highest. The response has been an abject failure by any reasonable measure and he ignored early intelligence on the virus and continues to disregard the opinions of doctors and scientists including th