Respirators used in manufacturing and in mining and in construction could be used in health care settings. They are very similar but not the same but could be used that way. And the only thing thats keeping a lot of manufacturers from selling those masks to the Broader Health care population is because of Liability Provisions or lack of liability protections. There is the public readiness Emergency Preparedness act passed in 2005 that basically indemnifies manufacturers, distributors, and users of these mafpks pardon me of users of products defind as a device or covered counter measure. So i happen to be on the staff that did that legislation in 2005. We did not consider a situation like this today. We thought about cac vaccines. Therapeutics. But not respirators to be the first and only line of defense for Health Care Workers. Thats an important capacity and capability is to include language or modify the prep act to include language to include rest pritory protective devices for that
A. M. Eastern. The directors of the cdc and the National Institute of allergy and Infectious Diseases along with other public thecials testified before oversight and reform committee. Is two hours. The committee will come to order. I thank all of our witnesses for returning this morning. We appreciate the recognition of our interest. This is a crisis that is evolving quickly since our hearing yesterday. The World Health Organization declared a coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Cdc has reported we have almost 1000 confirmed cases. That is up from 100 reported cases a week ago. A 900 increase. Americans are worried. They are scared. It is essential we are able to hear directly from Health Officials leading this effort with just the facts. Im going to go to the republican side first, which is where we left off. The following three letters we debt dhhs and cdc are entered into the record. We have not gotten any response to those letters. With that, i recognize mr. Higgins. Thank you
Mrs. Maloney the committee will come to order. I thank our witnesses for returning this morning. We appreciate the recognition of our interest and oversight responsibilities. This is a crisis that is evolving quickly. Since our hearing yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. C. D. C. Has reported that we have 1,000 confirmed cases. That is up from 100 reported cases a week ago, a 900 increase. Americans are worried. They are scared. It is essential that we are able to hear directly from the Health Officials leading this effort. Im going to go to the republican side first, which is where we left off. Before i do that, without objection, the following three letters we sent on march 3 to h. H. S. And c. D. C. Requesting basic information including basic testing. We have not gotten response to those letters and with that, i represent mr. Higgins. I dont lead the task force. Its led by the Vice President of the United States. Mr. Higgins
Educe the national debt. As always, well take your calls and you can join the conversation on facebook and twitter as well. Washington journal is next. Host good morning. It is 7 00 eastern time here in washington. The start of a holiday week. Congress returning in two weeks. President trump spending christmas with his family in florida. It is monday, december 23. We begin our first hour with Foreign Policy. The leaders of china, south korea and japan meeting today in beijing it. Comes as the pentagon and u. S. Officials are on, quote, high alert, after new threats over the weekend by north korea. In the past President Trump has said that he and president kim jong un fell in love. But since that comment back in february, talks have broken down. We want to get your reaction to these developments in north korea, what it means for the u. S. And for the region. 2027488001, thats our line for republicans. 2027488922 for democrats. 2027488002 if oure democrats. Or on twit or facebook. Good m
Are making, this should be taken seriously, when taking about sending a Christmas Present to donald trump. I dont think that is a box of chocolates part they will probably test a longrange missile in coming days. They have ramped up the rhetoric. There has not been much agreement between the two sides. President trump has met three times with kim jongun. Not much has come of that. Sidesly because both fundamentally disagree about what they want from each other. The United States is looking for a total denuclearization. Kim jongun will not denuclearize. He might offer some more inspections but he wants sanctions limited. Host President Trump has said he likes to sit down and talk facetoface. Yet previous president s have said we will meet but only if we have an agreement to begin with. Trump,i think president and i say this in my book, one of his advisors i quote, President Trump puts an emphasis on interpersonal relationships, they can certainly be helpful. Ultimately, diplomacy is abo