Fda commissioner along with the assistant secretary of health and Human Services for preparedness and response, along with an official with the centers for Disease Control. Id like to call this hearing to order, the Senate Health education labor and pensions committee. This morning were holding a hearing titled facing the 21st Century Public Health threats, our nations preparedness and response capabilities. Well hear from the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the department of health and Human Services, the director of the office of Public Health preparedness and response at the centers for Disease Control and prevention, and the commissioner of the food and Drug Administration. This is the first of two hearings we plan to have on this topic. The second will be noticed for tuesday, january 23rd. Senator murray and i each have an opening statement. Then im going to turn to senator alexander and senator casey for any opening remarks they might have. After that well in
Federal government and related agency until march 23rd, live house the floor of the here on cspan. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. Chaplain conroy let us pray. We give you thanks, o god, for giving us another day. Bless the members of the Minority Party as they prepare may her these next days, they with those who accompany them, travel safely and meet in peace. Bless also the Majority Party as they may to their those return constituencies, give them hearts and ears to listen. To listen well to all those whom they represent. May the work that needs to be done to their presently result progress toward addressing the needs of the nation to the benefit of all. May all that is done this day be for your greater honor and lrry glory, amen. The speaker pro tempore the chair has examined the journal of the last days proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. Pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journ
There must be whistleblower protection. Can you address how you feel about whistleblowers and retaliation within the department. I would be happy to. Should i be confirmed i would do everything in my power to make sure theres no retaliation. I feel whistleblowers are an important part of the way democracy functions and i was happily recently the president signed into law and other whistleblower due to efforts, but i believe within each department we need to ensure not only various environment of of trust and respect, but a safe place for voices to be heard. Its vital we understand concerns of employees. Let me also address contracting after disasters. We are all very worried about all of the americans. For the first time i believe, in my lifetime weve been unable to restore a sick living necessities to thousands of americans for weeks now. Im confident you will get other questions about puerto rico, but i want to hone in on contracting youve awarded more than 2 billion in contracts, tw
Okay. Lets get started. Im al teich, Research Professor here at the center for international be science and International Science and Technology Policy at George Washington universitys Elliott School which is where you are now, and i want to welcome you on behalf of our center and the center for science and democracy of the union of concerned scientists. They are cosponsoring this event together with George Washington university. Shawn otto, our speaker here, is an awardwinning science advocate. Hes a writer, hes a man of many talents. Really get to know him, hes quite an impressive guy. A writer, a teacher and a speaker, and hes a cofounder of science debates. Org for which he received the ieee usa National Distinguished Public Service award. Hes advised science debate efforts in other countries as well. Hes a novelist and a filmmaker. His novel sins of our fathers, which is a lit tear thriller, was literary thriller, was a finalist in the l. A. Times book prize, and his film, the hou
[inaudible conversations] heres a look at upcoming book fairs and festivals happening in september. On september 18th the brooklyn book festival in brooklyn, new york. Later in the month the annual baltimore book festival in the inner harbor. On saturday, september 24th book tvs live from the National Book festival at the Washington Convention center in the Nations Capital including author talks from an at gordon reed and joey warwick as well as your phone call for authors john lewis and others. For more information about the book fairs, booktv will be covering watch previous festival coverage, the book fair tab on our website at booktv. Org. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] okay. Lets get started. I am albert teich, Research Professor for International Science and technology and policy at George Washington university and i want to welcome you on behalf of our center, and the center for science and democracy in the union of concerned scientists, they are cosponsoring