At a joint hearing on the coronavirus and the procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. This rants an hour and a half. Joint hearing will come to order. Let me begin by thanking everyone for joining us today. I hope that my colleagues, our witnesses and viewers are staying healthy and safe. I want to thank chairman pain and Ranking Member king of the Emergency Preparedness response and recovery subcommittee, for coming together with Ranking Member crenshaw and i to hold this hearing. We are here to discuss federal and state efforts to picker critical supplies and response to the coronavirus pandemic. First, i want to acknowledge that the federal Emergency Management agency, fema, who is put in charge of the federal governments response was asked to testify today. While fema is not here today, i understand that and miss straighter gaynor plans to appear before the full Committee Later this month. Im pleased to hear this because it is vital that we Work Tog
We are following the attending physicians guidance on wearing face coverings at all times while not under recognition and the chair will only recognize those who are following the guidance. Today, the committee on Homeland Security is meeting for part two of our hearing to examine the National Response to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Two weeks ago, the Committee Heard from state and local officials about how the Trump Administrations failure to respond to the pandemic has harmed their communities and our nation. We invited fema administrator peter gaynor to that hearing but he declined to attend based on white house guidance prohibiting administration witnesses from appearing before congress remotely. Guidance is that intended to undermine congressional oversight of the administration. The committee will move forward with his work today. Thecommittee also invited department of health and Human Services to participate in this hearing. Hhs refused to send a witness even though the
We are following the attending physicians guidance on wearing face coverings at all times while not under recognition and the chair will only recognize those who are following the guidance. Today, the committee on Homeland Security is meeting for part two of our hearing to examine the National Response to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Two weeks ago, the Committee Heard from state and local officials about how the Trump Administrations failure to respond to the pandemic has harmed their communities and our nation. We invited fema administrator peter gaynor to that hearing but he declined to attend based on white house guidance prohibiting administration witnesses from appearing before congress remotely. Guidance is that intended to undermine congressional oversight of the administration. The committee will move forward with his work today. Thecommittee also invited department of health and Human Services to participate in this hearing. Hhs refused to send a witness even though the
I hope my colleagues, witnesses, and viewers are staying healthy and safe. I want to thank chairman pain and Ranking Member kane at the Emergency Preparedness respond and Recovery Committee for coming together with the Ranking Member and me to hold this hearing. We are here to discuss federal and state efforts to procure critical supplies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. I want to acknowledge the federal Emergency Management agency, which was put in charge of the federal governments response, was asked to testify today. Fema is not here today, but i understand there is an administrator to appear before the full Committee Later this month. Im pleased to hear this, because its vital we Work Together to address this challenge. I look forward to meeting with administrator gaynor soon and hearing what administrators have to say to form the discussion. Theres no denying the coronavirus pandemic has presented unparalleled challenges. One of the greatest challenges has been procuring a
Including preparing to respond to multiple simultaneous disasters during the 2020 hurricane and wildfire season. From the House Oversight subcommittee, this is an hour and 15 minutes. To committee will come order. I would like to point out that we are glad to have representatives here in joining us today. Enjoyed is in the questioning as we pursue this hearing. It and i recognize myself for five minutes Opening Statement. Im convening todays subcommittee hearing in preparation by fema for responding to and helping our nation recover from Natural Disasters. This year will overlap with the nations ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus epidemic. Fema is the lead federal Agency Response for coordinating prevention mitigation in response andor Recovery Efforts for all domestic disasters including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In recent years, fema has struggled to anticipate the severity of multiple disasters in part to Climate Change, advancing security bands contractor supply, and