Coronavirus Crisis Subcommittee Hearing: Scalise Lays Out 5 Facts About COVID Response

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Whip and Ranking Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Steve Scalise (R-La.) opened today’s Select Subcommittee hearing on “The Administration’s Efforts to Procure, Stockpile, and Distribute Critical Supplies,” by thanking Americans across the country who have been working around the clock to ramp up production of personal protective equipment (PPE), even as China hoarded global supplies.

Whip Scalise highlighted the progress we’ve made in fighting this virus, but stressed the need to apply hard-won lessons and rapidly find a cure. He specifically blasted Democrats for their bill on the House floor this week to slow research into life-saving cures in the middle of a pandemic. We cannot stand in the way of an America that wants to get back to work.

You can watch Representative Scalise’s opening statements here.

Representative Scalise’s Selected Remarks: 

“Operation Warp Speed continues to make rapid progress on therapies and vaccines. Operation Warp Speed is focused on the development, manufacture, and distribution of needed drugs. The Energy and Commerce Committee Minority staff just issued an 88-page report yesterday on the progress of all efforts from the administration on therapies and vaccines. This is important and exciting stuff.

“Mr. Chairman, while some states are experiencing rapid spikes that are concerning and need to be watched closely – all Americans need to know the following:

1. No state has reached hospital capacity.  
2. Our doctors have a better understanding of how to treat patients.  
3. We know how to better protect our most vulnerable populations
4. Tremendous progress continues to be made on vaccines and therapies
5. The role and responsibilities of individual Americans in stopping the spread is better understood.

“America must continue to move forward. Schools must open, businesses need to operate. We all must protect the most vulnerable – with sound policies and responsible behavior.”