Im really pleased to be here this afternoon with brian hook and elliott abrams, both from the state department, to talk about two of the most pressing issues that the United States is facing today, iran and venezuela, and the next is the relationship with the evolving relationship between the two countries. Elliott abrams is a special representative for venezuela at the department of state and brian hook is a special representative for iran and a Senior Policy Adviser to secretary of state mike pompeo. He previously served as the director of policy planning in this administration at the state department. So, ive known both Brian Elliott for quite some time, and its always a pleasure to see both of you. I would like to start. I think author start with elliott to tell us a little bit about the evolution of the administrations policy, visavis venezuela, as i recall, elliott, i think it has been about a year and a half since you have been special representative. Why dont you tell us a litt
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
Federal agencies are working in response to the coronaVirus Outbreak. Ken cuccinelli is acting deputy Homeland Security secretary, and dr. Robert kadlec is assistant health and Human Services secretary. They testified before a senate committee. Topics included supply chain management, sick pay support, and travel issues, specifically, how the coast guard is working with cruise lines. This is just over two hours. Good morning. This hearing will come to order. I want to thank the witnesses first and foremost for your efforts as theyre related to the current, i guess weve got to call it a pandemic at this point in time, right . With covid19, the coronavirus. I guess its important to put things in perspective and i ask to submit my Opening Statement to the record. But i think we oftentimes fail to recognize and put this in proper perspective, so let me just rattle off a couple figures here. Ebola. Total cases worldwide ended up being less than 29,000. Now, i remember in the midst of that c
Good. The steering will come to order. I want to thank you witnesses for your efforts as they are wed to the current have to call it a pandemic at this point with covid19 karate coronavirus. I think it is important we put ever in perspective. I asked my Committee Members to include my Opening Statement in the record. Fail towe often recognize and put this in proper perspective. Let me battle off a couple figures. Worldwideal cases ended up being less than 29,000. In the mist of that crisis, we were talking about this spreading and it could be a Million People. Which would have been a huge problem because ebola had a mortality rate of already percent. In the end, because of effective action on the part of the world health organization, Obama Organization administration, we prevented that from spreading. Less than 29,000 people contracted that. We have had other topics of ebola where we are Getting Better at it. We have developed effective vaccines that helped protect Health Workers and