Agencies as well. This is our first hearing on the president s fiscal year 2021 budget request. However, i want to start with a matter of urgency. The coronavirus, covert 19, cases are growing as is alarm, this is both domestically and internationally. The u. S. Government has responded to the covert 19 outbreak with aggressive measures, significant travel restrictions, mandatory 14day quarantine for individuals returning to the u. S. From province. Mr. Secretary, i support your declaration of a Public Health emergency, we are dealing with the likelihood of a global pandemic, interesting to note yesterday from the cdc that commented that with regard to the United States its not a question of if but a question of when we will face the issue seriously here. That said, i have serious concerns about the administrations responsiveness with respect to funding, i understand senators of both parties expressed a similar concern to you at their hearing yesterday. I have repeatedly asked for info
Come to order. I just want all members to know that our Witnesses Today have to leave at 5 00 p. M. The questions for the first panel on the hhs budget with secretary, and, welcome, mr. Secretary, will be limited to four minutes. The second panel on the minutesl case, but only 10 members will be able to ask questions during that round. I will have to be strict with the gavel, since the witnesses have a tight timeframe. I know that you will all cooperate with that. Let us begin. Welcome, mr. Secretary. We are glad that you are here. We have a lot to take up. Every bit of it is, obviously, serious. The chair now recognizes herself for five minutes for an opening statement. Let me begin with mr. Secretary. I think that the confusion is the enemy of preparedness. Confusion is the enemy of preparedness. I believe that the administrations lack of coordination to the Coronavirus Response is on full display. We all know that. Markets are reacting, i think, at least in some parts, to the lack o
Year. Another was interrelated but sort of a distinct issue that we saw starting over the summer with vaping related illnesses that were beginning to emerge. We have now seen thousands injured and dozens dead from this. Thats related to illicit vaping from the use of ecigarettes. Beards and sea of those illnesses really prompted policymakers to want to respond more broadly to the vaping issues weird dealing with in the u. S. They will have to take their flavors off of the market. The other dive boat the cigarette product available, there are these devices that they have tanks that the users can refill them with liquid nicotine themselves. They tend to be more popular among adults. They are harder to conceal the products on juul. The flavor for those who continue to operate as they currently have as long as they have strict age verification in place. It is also not la favors that are obviously marketing to children. So they wouldbe able to sell things like flavors used on serial or Some
Just to be clear if the as guidance document on the september 11th announcement that the fda would clear the market of nontobacco flavors . I wont get into the substance of the document. On what basis are you not getting into the substance . There has been no final decision on this policy. One not going to get into the substance of the document. What about the substance of it . At the standard practice, ongoing policymaking we dont talk publicly about what is under consideration. There is a final decision, and ongoing discussions. The letter sent to me, ira concluded its review on november 4th, do they make changes to the initial guidance . I cant go into the details of ongoing discussions. You are familiar with executive order 12866. Yes, sir. According to eo 128660 fda is not allowed to publish in the federal register until they complete its review. For things that are subject to executive order. This is one of them. Because of its significance this is a policy we sent to omb for rev
Of the factors that drove us to the front of the policy debate this year. When waone was the yearoveryer increases in the number of teens reporting use and thats been increasing for several years between 19 we saw another significant increase over the last year. Another was this interrelated that sort of distinct issue of the smalthatwe saw starting over with the related illnesses that were getting to emerge that we have now seen thousands, dozens dead from this. Thats related to a but the urgency prompted policymakers to want to respond more broadly. And the Administration Starts the new year with an announcement. You are covering the story. What did they say . Guest the Administration Says early february, products like juul that are the most Popular Among Young People use nicotine cartridges are only able to be sold in flavors like tobacco or menthol. Previously it had been available in flavors like mint, mango and the Companies Already have taken a softer market because of public pr