Weeks agenda and reopening the u. S. During the pandemic. Mr. Hoyer i ask unanimous consent to speak out of order for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Hoyer thank you, madam speaker. As we face the crisis that covid19 has confronted with us, the house must do so in a way that contributes to the safety and welfare of our people and not that harms it. There will be no votes expected in the house next week. Members are further advised in an updated 2020 legislative calendar will be released in the coming days. I expect conversations to continue on additional legislation addressing covid19 and the legislation we passed honoring our heroes. In the event that an agreement is reached on a bipartisan or partisan bill, then we will make sure that the house has 72 hours before they need to come back to vote on that legislation. Im disappointed that leader mcconnell said when asked about the next phase of the next coronavirus relief, he said that is a decision to be made
Bill providing an additional 3 trillion in coronavirus economic stimulus. We expect to see that bill on the floor tomorrow. Also to discuss promoting voting and Committee Work. And now back to the start of todays hearing, this is cspan3. [inaudible conversations] the rules committee will come to order. Before i give my Opening Statement i just want to read a guidance from the attending physician, doctor monahan. We asked him specifically about the use of face coverings during proceedings like these and while he has not mandated their use he did share that and i quote, my preferences that members retain their face coverings when speaking as an activity which can release virus particles. Especially if the speaking is of a highspirited nature. S ive never had a meeting in the rules committee that hasnt been of a highspirited nature so we will leave it up to individual members to decide but i think to be cautious here i will keep mine on and i hope that everybody else will be mindful of th
Workers at hospitals and first responders. Having gone through this for we have seen now, the positive results of folks staying at home, bending the curve. We know thereure are protocols in place for health care. We understand the importance of testing. We have the goals others do to get the materials for testing and the supply of personal protective equipment. It has been an incredible response from the community and we have seen the decline in cases and that has been a result of the strong response. We took strong action. That has been from folks across the state, our governor, Public Health officials and Community Working together to bend the curve. Stayathome, doing Everything Possible to protect our families and keep people healthy. We have seen the impact of that, how important it is we increase the amount of testing that is available, the critical importance of the supply chain for personal protective equipment and have shared what we have learned across the country. It has been
That school about the research and what this means. The author of spillover, animal infections and the next human pandemic, he will be joining us from montana. 202 the area code and washington, dc. For the eastern time zone. 2027488001 for the pacific and Mountain Time zones. 2027488001 if you are 2027488002 if you are a medical expert. The very latest from Johns Hopkins university and the numbers on this pandemic. Around the world 3. 1 million cases and the death toll exceeding 214,000. Joining us from birmingham, alabama is dr. Michael saag. He is the director for the Infectious Disease division at the university of alabama Birmingham School of medicine. Thank you for being with us. Dr. Saag thank you for having me. Host the timing of this conversation, the breakthrough by the fda, this new drug used for emergency purposes. Your school and institution, part of the research. How significant is this . Dr. Saag this is an important breakthrough because it has proof of concept in inhibit
Is not we dont need to be captives or hostage to the idea that in an earlier age there was no physical way, there was no technological way for us to come together and i would suggest that only under the very narrow circumstances anticipated by this resolution could we continue to work on behalf of the american public. I appreciate and yield back you also raised are the point. I dont think theres any constitutional issues revolving revolving around whether or not committees can meet virtually. I mean, the constitution the commit constitution creates the committees. We all agree on that. Miss shalala. Mr. Chairman, i want to make a comment about the suggestion that scientists and Public Health people are making policy in this country. They are not. Were the policymakers. The governors, the mayors are the policymakers. They seek advice during a crisis like this one with a vicious virus from experienced scientists and Public Health officials, and they can take that advice or not take that