The committee on health education, labor and pensions will please come to order. First, the usual administrative matters like the theater announcements we use to receive, we are getting used to those, we follow the advice of the attending physician and sergeantatarms consulted with all the right people, we are seated 6 feet apart, that means no room for public or the media here but the media is participating and we hope the public is as well. And the videoconference is a real change for the United States senate and a very welcome one because it makes it possible to attract witnesses who have busy schedules on the same day such as today, by video conference, you may remove your masks since were 6 feet apart. The sergeant at arms, press gallery, architect of the capital, capital police, committee staff, Evan Griffiths for their hard work to keep us safe. We will each have an Opening Statement and we turn to our witnesses we thank for being with us today, each witness we ask you summarize
Www. Health. Senate. Gov is our website. I think it makes it possible for us to be table to attract witnesses who have very busy schedules on the same day such as today. Some senators are participating by videoconference. Senators may remove their masks since were 6 feet apart. Im grateful to the rules committee, the sarge want at arms, the press gallery, the capitol police, our Committee Staff for all their hard work to help keep us safe. Senator murray and i will each have an opening statement, and then well turn to our witnesses who we thank very much for being with us today. Each witness we would ask that you summarize your remarks in five minutes, which will allow more time for the large number of senators who we expect to participate to present their testimony. Well have one round of questions for a five minute round. Less than four months ago on march 1st the coronavirus situation was about this. At the end of february there were 79,000 cases around the world, only 14 in the Uni
Education, labor, and pensions will please come to order. I have one goal today and that is Accurate Information. Accurate information that can help americans understand what they should do about the coronavirus and Accurate Information to help members of congress to help decide what else we ought to be doing about the coronavirus. Around the world, the spread of the Novel Coronavirus alarming. 90,000 cases in 65 countries. 3,000 deaths according to the world health organization. But most people in the United States are at low risk. Heres what the New York Times said on its front page two days ago on sunday in describing the situation in our country. Quote, much about the coronavirus remains unclear. And it is far from certain 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 infrastructure, most experts agree the United States is among the countries best prep
But you can see what happened afterwards. T 2 40 this afternoon. It had been going for about two hours. You can see the charred area. Firefighters say the b b b been squish been extinguished. Thanks for joining us. Now to our other story. Todays earthquakes. I felt this jolt. My front door started shaking. My dog went crazy. The hills in Contra Costa County came alive today. A pair of earthquakes hit. They were felt all over the bay area. This is a closer look where the earthquakes were is there centered on this map near blackhawk and livermore. Our Team Coverage with abc News Reporter lesley brinkley. Reporter well, dan, life goes on for californians who pauseded for an earthquake and then kept right ongoing. Proof is local authorities here in the blackhawk area say they got zero calls from the community about this pair of quakes. We felt a pretty good jolt. We followed our pro cocal and opened up our apparatus bay doors and pull the engines out to make sure they dont get stuck inside
Gunned down. Police say the suspect stopped to reload his gun at a bus stop and shooting a total of 16 rounds were fired. Investigators say theyve been looking for him for about one week after he shot two security guards at a motel 6 last thursday night. Unprovoked he shot one of those security guards unarmed. He then turned that firearm on a Second Security guard that was up on the stairwell landing and attempted to shoot him. However fortunately he was out of bullets at that time. Police say he had a previous record and some association with gangs. Now to reporter liz gonzalez who is in fresno. We are expecting another update from the police chief. Have you learned anything more about the gunmans motive . At this point, we are waiting to hear that from the police chief. I can tell you right now that this is a person who had posted antigovernment and antiwhite sentiment on social media. We are here where it happened earlier in the day. This was in virtual parking lot and now you can s