We are live on capitol hill waiting for a house markup to get underway. The Appropriations Committee is working on 2021 spending for state Department Foreign operations, agriculture and military construction. This is live coverage on cspan2. Please be seated. We are ready to begin. My friends, ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. I call the meeting of the Appropriations Committee to order. I would first like to welcome all members to the first full Committee Markup of fiscal year 2021. This will be a markup season unlike any other. Not only are we going to complete our work in record time, but we will be joined by a handful of our colleagues who were unable to be here due to the pandemic. Before we begin i have a number of housekeeping announcements. First, we should all be mindful of our health, and take appropriate actions. Following doctor monahans guidance, everyone, everyone must wear a mask and provide social distancing. Also, this information was previously conveyed to your s
To do here. I have always been reluctant to say this truly could be one of the most important things we as members of this committee do. The world is experiencing today and what the american and as is americas face is one of the most significant challenges that a lot of us will face in our lifetime. The bad news, the really bad news is that its entirely possible that it will happen again. I say this of course because the experts tell us that this virus that made the leap from one species to another can very easily happen again and if there are 2000 of these viruses out there you have no idea what they can do when they get into a human being. Thats what experts and scientists tell us have identified within their branch about 2000 different viruses. Having said that we need to look forward and i want to stress what im trying to do with this and what about all of us are trying to do, to look forward. There are a lot of hearings going on and a lot of hyperbowl going on and a lot of blame a
Committee will come to order good good morning everyone. I want to think all of you who are attending this important hearing. Today we are going to discuss the International Response of the covid19 pandemic and the future pandemic preparedness prevention and response. The hearing will focus on senate bill 3829 with senator murphy and i have introduced, the Global Health diplomacy act. It is written on paper, not on stone which will we will talk about a little bit in the future here. This is an important endeavor that this committee will take up indeed, probably one of the weightiest matters that we will deal with as we attempt to create a new shield to prevent covid virus type attack from happening again. The covid19 Global Pandemic is reaffirmed what we long have known and that is Infectious Diseases particularly those of a viral nature do not respect borders but they are a threat, a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere. Weve been right here to focus on art of a sick responses to th
Let me take just a moment to talk about what we are attempting to do here in the senate. Exaggeration and hyperbole is the order of the day. Say always reluctant to this truly could be one of the most important things we as members of this committee do. What the world is experiencing today, what the United States is facing today, is one of the most significant challenges that a lot of us will face in our lifetime. The bad news, the really bad possibleit is entirely that it will happen again, and i say this because the experts virus thatt this made the leap from one species can very easily happen again. There are 2000 of these viruses out there. Dohave no idea what they can if they get into a human being. Us they haves tell identified within their ranks about 2000 different viruses. Having said that, we need to want toward, and i stress what i am trying to do with this and what all of us are trying to do, look forward. There are a lot of hearings going on. Theres a lot of hyperbole goin
Education, labor, and pensions will please come to order. I have one goal today and that is Accurate Information. Accurate information that can help americans understand what they should do about the coronavirus and Accurate Information to help members of congress to help decide what else we ought to be doing about the coronavirus. Around the world, the spread of the Novel Coronavirus alarming. 90,000 cases in 65 countries. 3,000 deaths according to the world health organization. But most people in the United States are at low risk. Heres what the New York Times said on its front page two days ago on sunday in describing the situation in our country. Quote, much about the coronavirus remains unclear. And it is far from certain that the outbreak will reach severe proportions in the United States. Or affect many regions at once. With its topnotch scientists, modern hospitals, and sprawling Public Health infrastructure, most experts agree the United States is among the countries best prep