Good morning. The committee has come to order. One thing, i want to thank the witnesses for your testimony. Those appearing in person, traveling to d. C. To give it orally, and, also, answer our questions. The title of this hearing now is, i guess, examining the u. S. Approach to early covid19 treatments. I thought it was i originally set out a title of early treatments for covid, a essential component of a covid solution. It was inevitable that the coronavirus pandemic to be politicized into the tragedy it was. From the start, i knew it was impossible to have a perfect response. We were facing a new virus. No one wanted to underreact, and as a result i feared the tendency would be overreact. The challenges facing us were daunting. Our National Strategic stockpile had been reduced during the h1n 1 pandemic. It took time to develop a test. The fact that a large percentage of people that become infected exhibit no symptoms made the coronavirus even more difficult to detect and contain. I
Flags were on the Capitol Building and at the white house are being flown at half staff in members of pearl harbor. Now live coverage of the u. S. Senate here on cspan2. The senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Great redeemer, guide our lawmakers along the best path to fulfill your purposes on earth. May they submit to your wisdom and providential leading, believing that you will supply all of their needs. Remind them that your unfailing love accompanies those who put their trust in you. Give our senators an attitude of reverential awe that will keep them from evil. Inspire them to rejoice and be glad, as they strive to live lives of purity and obedience. And lord, as we remember pearl harbor on this december 7th, thank you for your loving and prevailing providence. May we show our gratitude by facing the future without fear. We pray in your majestic name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting
You should have a box on your screen that shows how much time is remaining. Some trouble and ive had senators tell me they just cant find that box or they dont see it. Last hearing one of the senators asked me to give them a reminder. I will do that this time for everybody. So at 30 seconds left on your clock, there will be a tone, a bell ring to remind senators and witnesses that their time is a most expired, then at the end of five minutes, another bell will ring. That way we can all know how the clock is working even though we dont find it on our screens. Today we will receive testimony from the securities and Exchange Commission chairman jay clayton regarding the work and the. Genda of the sec thank you for your appearance before the committee today which is essential to our oversight of the sec. And welcome. You last appeared before this committee in december of last year. The covid19 pandemic hit the United States shortly after that hearing and thesec has taken many important ste
Covid solution. It was inevitable was inevitable that the coronavirus pandemic would be politicized and this is a tragedy that it was paid from the start i knew it was impossible to have a perfect response and we are facing a new virus that caused an entirely new disease. No one wanted to under react and as a result i fear the tendency would be to overreact and create Unrealistic Expectations regarding our ability to stop a highly contagious pathogen. The challenges facing us were daunting and our National Strategic stockpile have been reduced during the h1n1 pandemic and had not been replenished. It took time to develop reliable tests and even more time to Scale Production to meet the demand. The fact that a large percentage of people that become infected exhibited no symptoms made the coronavirus even more difficult to detect and contain. I have tried not to criticize the elected officials that have had the response ability to make very tough decisions with limited and highly imperfe
Question, we will move to the next senator until resolved. I remind all senators that the five minute clock still aflies. You should have a box on your screen labeled clock that shows how much time is on your screen labeled clock that shows how much time is remaining. But we have had some troubles, and i have had senators who cant find that box or dont see it. And so, in fact, last hearing one of the senators ask me again to get a reminder, i will do that at this time for everybody. So at 30 seconds left on your clock, there will be a tone, a bell ring, to remind senators and the witnesses that their time has almost expired. At the end of the five minutes, a bill will ring. That way we can all know how the clock is working, even though we dont find it on our screens. Today we will receive testimony from the security and Exchange Commission chairman jay clayton, regarding the work and agenda of the sec. I thank you chair clayton for your appearance before the committee today, which is e