Respirators used in manufacturing and in mining and in construction could be used in health care settings. They are very similar but not the same but could be used that way. And the only thing thats keeping a lot of manufacturers from selling those masks to the Broader Health care population is because of Liability Provisions or lack of liability protections. There is the public readiness Emergency Preparedness act passed in 2005 that basically indemnifies manufacturers, distributors, and users of these mafpks pardon me of users of products defind as a device or covered counter measure. So i happen to be on the staff that did that legislation in 2005. We did not consider a situation like this today. We thought about cac vaccines. Therapeutics. But not respirators to be the first and only line of defense for Health Care Workers. Thats an important capacity and capability is to include language or modify the prep act to include language to include rest pritory protective devices for that
The committee will come to order. I thank all of our witnesses for returning this morning. We appreciate the recognition of our interest and oversight responsibilities. This is a crisis that is evolving quickly. Since our hearing yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Cdc has now reported that we have almost 1,000 confirmed cases. That is up from 100 reported cases a week ago. A 900 increase. Americans are worried. They are scared. It is essential that we are able to hear directly from the Health Officials leading this effort with just the facts. Im going to go to the republican side first which is where we left off. Before i do that, without objection, the following three letters we sent on march 3rd to hhs and cdc requesting basic information including about t t testing are entered into the record. We have not gotten any response to those letters. And with that, i recognize mr. Higgins. Thank you, madam chair. Gentlemen, thank yo
Mrs. Maloney the committee will come to order. I thank our witnesses for returning this morning. We appreciate the recognition of our interest and oversight responsibilities. This is a crisis that is evolving quickly. Since our hearing yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. C. D. C. Has reported that we have 1,000 confirmed cases. That is up from 100 reported cases a week ago, a 900 increase. Americans are worried. They are scared. It is essential that we are able to hear directly from the Health Officials leading this effort. Im going to go to the republican side first, which is where we left off. Before i do that, without objection, the following three letters we sent on march 3 to h. H. S. And c. D. C. Requesting basic information including basic testing. We have not gotten response to those letters and with that, i represent mr. Higgins. I dont lead the task force. Its led by the Vice President of the United States. Mr. Higgins
Also to those that are joining us this morning the director of the Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Human Development and the subcommittee on health and education services. Doctor fauci director of National Institute of allergy and Infectious Diseases. And then the director of the National Cancer institute and director of the National Institute on drug abuse. Again, welcome to all of you leader hoyer asked me this morning you have the nih coming he said can you get all the Institute Directors and he said he will this is one of the most remarkable hearings that we have and we thank you for the great work that we loan that you do and saving lives the people of the great country. Let me touch on the matter of the coronavirus i just want to say i thank you to the director and all the institute tends particular thank you to doctor fauci i want to say Public Health experts deserve our praise for what is the excellent work that you are doing and clearly a matter of National Importance an
Mrs. Maloney the committee will come to order. I thank our witnesses for returning this morning. We appreciate the recognition of our interest and oversight responsibilities. Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. C. D. C. Has reported that we have 1,000 confirmed cases. That is up from 100 reported cases a week ago, a 900 increase. Americans are worried. They are scared. It is essential that we are able to hear directly from the Health Officials leading this effort. Im going to go to the republican side first, which is where we left off. Before i do that, without objection, the following three letters we sent on march 3 to h. H. S. And c. D. C. Requesting basic information including basic testing. We have not gotten response to those letters and with that, i represent mr. Higgins. I dont lead the task force. Its led by the Vice President of the United States. Mr. Higgins but youre the lead scientist . We have myself, dr. Redfield,