COMING UP. The Select Subcmte on the Covid-19 Crisis (formed to conduct rigorous oversight of the federal response to the pandemic) meets today at *noon ET* to talk about (and with) some very important people: essential workers! I will live-tweet today's hearing. Please join me!
I will have a full report as well for @CourthouseNews.
Related:
Today's @COVIDOversight hearing begins soon. Live-stream available via CSPAN here:
c-span.org/video/?472348-…
c-span.org/video/?472348-…
And away we go.
Committee chairman @WhipClyburn begins.
Covid-19 has killed over 90k Americans, more deaths than any other nation.
Throughout this frontline workers have continued to serve communities at great risk to themselves.
Committee chairman @WhipClyburn begins.
Covid-19 has killed over 90k Americans, more deaths than any other nation.
Throughout this frontline workers have continued to serve communities at great risk to themselves.
Clyburn: These heroes treat patients who are sick with the virus and confront the families of those who have lost loved ones. They respond to emergency calls and keep our communities safe. They stock our grocery and drug store shelves. They keep our transit systems running.
Clyburn on front line/essential workers: They clean our hospitals and offices to prevent the virus from spreading further. Tens of thousands of essential workers have been infected and many have lost their lives.
Clyburn: I am particularly concerned that many essential workers still lack basic protections needed to keep them/ their families safe and healthy. That must change.
It is unacceptable 4 months into this crisis, that many essential workers still face shortages of crit. supplies.
It is unacceptable 4 months into this crisis, that many essential workers still face shortages of crit. supplies.
Today we will hear the stories of some of these workers including Leilani Jordan, a Largo, Maryland resident who worked at a grocery store during the pandemic to serve her neighbors and her community. She died from Covid-19.
Her mother, Zenobia Shepard, will speak today.
Her mother, Zenobia Shepard, will speak today.
We will also hear from Eric Colts, friend of Jason Hargrove, a bus driver from Detroit who died from Covid-19.
We will also hear from Megan Ranny, an emergency physician and public health researcher at Brown University. She will discuss the shortages of PPE and the physical and mental health effects on doctors.
Ranking member Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana: "Too many families have been unable to say goodbye," he says.
Too many businesses have been shuttered.
He says to honor the families here today we "must hold China and the World Health Organization accountable."
Too many businesses have been shuttered.
He says to honor the families here today we "must hold China and the World Health Organization accountable."
We will also hear testimony today from Dr. Shanti Akers, a pulmonary critical care physician for the rural Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, a 448 bed hospital in Albany Georgia.
Talisa Hardin, a registered nurse at the Univ. of Chicago Medical Center in Chicago and member of @NationalNurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the United States, also testifies today.
Marcos Aranda, janitor and member of SEIU Local 87 will share his story with lawmakers as well.
A janitor for 10 years, he knows firsthand how easy it is for himself and those like him to come into contact with the virus and also how hard it is to deal with the consequences.
A janitor for 10 years, he knows firsthand how easy it is for himself and those like him to come into contact with the virus and also how hard it is to deal with the consequences.
Dr. Megan Ranney begins first discussing the PPE shortages.
Internally US production had not ramped up, CDC told them to use bandanas, and bandanas have no utility in the HC setting. Without these PPE, frontline workers went unprotected.
Her full remarks:
documentcloud.org/documents/6921…
Internally US production had not ramped up, CDC told them to use bandanas, and bandanas have no utility in the HC setting. Without these PPE, frontline workers went unprotected.
Her full remarks:
documentcloud.org/documents/6921…
Ranney: "Our patients were alone, no visitors were allowed. HC workers were scared both of getting sick themselves and failing their patients."
Because of PPE shortages, they couldn't sit at their bedside and hold their hands, she says.
Because of PPE shortages, they couldn't sit at their bedside and hold their hands, she says.
Ranney: Personally, I am frustrated and exhausted.
She notes that one of her colleagues committed suicide after struggling with the constant flow of patients and the lack of supplies to treat them.
She notes that one of her colleagues committed suicide after struggling with the constant flow of patients and the lack of supplies to treat them.
She co-founded GetUsPPE.org. And through that, 1.6M pieces of protective equipment were delivered to HC facilities throughout the US.
"But this is not enough," Ranney said.
Early on it was masks, now they need gowns.
"The PPE shortage continues in America."
"But this is not enough," Ranney said.
Early on it was masks, now they need gowns.
"The PPE shortage continues in America."
Next: Talisa Hardin, a reg. nurse who works at the Univ. of Chicago Med Ctr. Before the pandemic, PPE could be accessed from a supply room and when the pandemic hit, the supplies were removed and they haven't been restocked.
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
Talisa Hardin: It was deeply disappointing to listen to hospital attorneys refuse to listen to healthcare professionals in their hospitals. Management was consistently condescending and patronizing.
Would you rather run out of N95s or nurses? - Talisa Hardin
Two months later, Univ of Chicago Medical Center is still failing to protect them correctly, she says.
Two months later, Univ of Chicago Medical Center is still failing to protect them correctly, she says.
Hardin says the lack of protections in her unit have forced her to send her daughter away to her mother for her protection. She hasn't seen her daughter in 5 weeks and she doesn't know when she will see her again. Her child is worried, scared and experiencing separation anxiety.
We need an OSHA temporary standard right now.
We need the president to use Defense Production Act to create more PPE right now.
We need that PPE distributed immediately.
We needed them 3 months ago and we need them now.
- Talisa Hardin, nurse @ Univ of Chicago Med Center
We need the president to use Defense Production Act to create more PPE right now.
We need that PPE distributed immediately.
We needed them 3 months ago and we need them now.
- Talisa Hardin, nurse @ Univ of Chicago Med Center
Eric Colts, a bus driver with the Detroit Dept of Transportation now speaking and offering Americans insight into what it is like to be a bus driver during the pandemic.
His friend Jason Hargrove, a fellow bus driver, has died of Covid after a woman coughed openly on his bus.
His friend Jason Hargrove, a fellow bus driver, has died of Covid after a woman coughed openly on his bus.
Driving a bus in Detroit has always been a tough job, even before the coronavirus, Colts says. People will attack drivers because they don't like fares or regulations. ATU workers are regularly assaulted and have no barriers to protect themselves.
Now they are being attacked by an invisible enemy, Colts says.
He hopes every day he doesn't bring this virus back to his family.
"I'm really afraid because I go to a stop not knowing who is going to be at the stop. Who have they been in contact with or if they have the virus."
He hopes every day he doesn't bring this virus back to his family.
"I'm really afraid because I go to a stop not knowing who is going to be at the stop. Who have they been in contact with or if they have the virus."
As he is trying to pay attention to the road, it's a big distraction, he says.
They call buses a "40-foot incubator."
"You have no way of practicing social distancing on a coach," Colts says.
They call buses a "40-foot incubator."
"You have no way of practicing social distancing on a coach," Colts says.
The CDC guidelines for buses?
Colts says "There's no way a bus could have. They tried their best with seating charts, but that never works because people are still coming out with no masks."
His full remarks:
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
Colts says "There's no way a bus could have. They tried their best with seating charts, but that never works because people are still coming out with no masks."
His full remarks:
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
The mask Colts, a bus driver, wears for a full day, it becomes soiled of course. He doesn't know what to do the next day. He doesn't know how to clean the mask from day to day.
Colts and his wife ordered N95 masks and they were ordered in April.
He only got them 2 weeks ago.
Until recently he was wearing a bandana or an N95 mask that was old and of questionable integrity.
He only got them 2 weeks ago.
Until recently he was wearing a bandana or an N95 mask that was old and of questionable integrity.
We hear next from Diana Wilson, an EMT for FDNY.
She has been with the FDNY for 17 years. She has two sons and a daughter. She became a widow in '19.
She sent her sons to live with loved-ones to protect them. She has not seen her children in 10 weeks.
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
She has been with the FDNY for 17 years. She has two sons and a daughter. She became a widow in '19.
She sent her sons to live with loved-ones to protect them. She has not seen her children in 10 weeks.
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
On a normal shift, they respond to 1 or 2 cardiac arrest calls.
Now they respond to 6 to 10 cardiac arrest calls in an eight hour shift.
They are finding people dead in their cars, Diana Wilson says.
They need the proper equipment to keep working and saving lives.
Now they respond to 6 to 10 cardiac arrest calls in an eight hour shift.
They are finding people dead in their cars, Diana Wilson says.
They need the proper equipment to keep working and saving lives.
Coming to work and not knowing she was going to receive an N95 mask was deeply stressful to her family, Wilson says.
"We are first responders. First."
They are the first to enter into a home to determine if someone has Covid as police or firefighters secure the perimeter.
"We are first responders. First."
They are the first to enter into a home to determine if someone has Covid as police or firefighters secure the perimeter.
Wilson: When will EMS get the PPE we need to protect ourselves and save lives? When will EMS get the pay they deserve for being Medical First responders? When and how will Hazard pay reach us?
Diana Wilson, an EMT in NY: The government failed us by not protecting First Responders by providing us with a plan and PPE. We are haunted by our choices and the patients we could not save."
We next hear from Marcos Aranda, a janitor for 10 years for SEIU Local 87.
"COVID-19 has made it harder for janitors to do our jobs safely. We are coming into frequent contact with objects touched that could be contaminated with coronavirus."
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
"COVID-19 has made it harder for janitors to do our jobs safely. We are coming into frequent contact with objects touched that could be contaminated with coronavirus."
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
"We use regular latex gloves and a dust mask, but nothing medical grade. I’m lucky, there are many janitors out there who work without PPE," Marcos Aranda says.
Let that sit with you for a second. Because the thing is, he isn't wrong. He's fortunate to have what he does.
Let that sit with you for a second. Because the thing is, he isn't wrong. He's fortunate to have what he does.
His wife was laid off in March when the San Francisco stay at home order went into place.
He is trying to raise his family with one paycheck.
School lunch programs helped feed his children before the pandemic.
Now, the cost of covering extra meals on one income is a challenge.
He is trying to raise his family with one paycheck.
School lunch programs helped feed his children before the pandemic.
Now, the cost of covering extra meals on one income is a challenge.
Marcos Aranda has six children. He lives with his wife, his mother, his sister and his sister's two children.
His company just laid off 200 workers in one day. He has no idea if he will have a job in a week or two.
His company just laid off 200 workers in one day. He has no idea if he will have a job in a week or two.
People should not be forced to go to work simply because they cannot afford not to, Aranda says.
We hear next from Dr. Shanti Akers a pulmonary critical care physician for the rural Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, a 448 bed hospital in Albany Georgia.
Of those 448 beds, 38 are ICU beds.
Her full statement available here:
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
Of those 448 beds, 38 are ICU beds.
Her full statement available here:
documentcloud.org/documents/6922…
Dr. Akers:
What started as one case spread like wildfire.
A funeral had become a super spreader event, and one case quickly became 5 and then 15 and then the 38 ICU beds quickly filled.
They filled ward after ward until 5 floors were dedicated just to Covid-19 patients.
What started as one case spread like wildfire.
A funeral had become a super spreader event, and one case quickly became 5 and then 15 and then the 38 ICU beds quickly filled.
They filled ward after ward until 5 floors were dedicated just to Covid-19 patients.
Local construction firms were donating N95 masks to this hospital when it became clear supplies were limited.
What PPE was stocked to last 6 months lasted one week at the rural hospital.
We were and still are forced to make that supply stretch, Dr. Shanti Akers says.
What PPE was stocked to last 6 months lasted one week at the rural hospital.
We were and still are forced to make that supply stretch, Dr. Shanti Akers says.
Dr. Akers: "Hugging our children and loved ones felt reckless. I spent many weeks not seeing my children awake because the hours this pandemic required. I minimized physical contact with my family in case my PPE had not been protective enough."
@CourthouseNews
@CourthouseNews
"I stayed awake at night, even after working a long day, thinking of what we could try next to take care of our patients. I stayed up reading and learning from other people’s experiences." - Dr. Shanti Akers
Some families lost multiple generations in the span of weeks. Her hospital came close to running out of sedatives for patients on ventilators.
"I wish I could explain to you all how terrifying it feels to be that helpless," Dr. Akers says.
@CourthouseNews
"I wish I could explain to you all how terrifying it feels to be that helpless," Dr. Akers says.
@CourthouseNews
Zenobia Shepherd speaks of her daughter, Leilani Jordan a 27 year old woman with cerebral palsy worker at a Giant in Largo, Md. Her mother says she loved going to work to help seniors and the disadvantaged. She died of Covid-19 because of the lack of resources available to her
20 doctors and nurses scrambled to save her life. TO get her off a ventilator. Trying to get her the right supplies.
Why couldn't grocery store workers receive the basic items they needed? Gloves? Disinfectants to clean the store.
Why couldn't grocery store workers receive the basic items they needed? Gloves? Disinfectants to clean the store.
Leilani Jordan said "Mommy, I want to go work. No one is showing up. I want to help the elderly.
Her mother, Zenobia, says this with her voice choking.
Her mother, Zenobia, says this with her voice choking.
My baby, my purple butterfly is gone. She rests now at Arlington Cemetery. I miss her so much. - Zenobia Shepherd
Her daughter died in her arms.
We have to do better to keep people safe, including and especially our seniors and the disabled, she says.
Her daughter died in her arms.
We have to do better to keep people safe, including and especially our seniors and the disabled, she says.
Members will now begin questions, each member will have 5 minutes.
.@WhipClyburn, as chair, begins with a Q. to Eric Coats, the bus driver from Detroit whose friend Jason Hargrove died after a woman coughed openly on the bus.
Clyburn says he thinks about this daily. He wants Coats to explain what keeps him going to work knowing the danger.
Clyburn says he thinks about this daily. He wants Coats to explain what keeps him going to work knowing the danger.
Eric Coats as a child, was taught by his mother to be proud of what he does. He takes pride in the city that raised him and he knows people still have to get around.
"Even in my fear, even in my quest to get over the hurdle of being afraid of the virus, I still know I have a job to do. I am a public servant. I took a civil servant exam," he says.
He wants people in his city to see him and know that he is there, like others, to help them.
He wants people in his city to see him and know that he is there, like others, to help them.
Clyburn asks Zenobia Shepherd if she feels her daughter Leilani had the proper equipment to work at the grocery store.
They had to bring their own hand sanitizer, but at the time, everywhere in PG County Md, it was hard to get that, let alone a basic mask or gloves.
They had to bring their own hand sanitizer, but at the time, everywhere in PG County Md, it was hard to get that, let alone a basic mask or gloves.
Her daughter's last paycheck was $20.63.
The committee's vicechair Steve Scalise says again, that his prayers go out to all who lost their lives. Says they are working on getting the cure and have "put a lot of money" into CDC and NIH to do so.
He says they are trying to improve safety for frontline workers. Scalise notes how witnesses have said, if they only had more time, they could have saved more lives.
Scalise says as the admin has been working to get resources out there, "China knew about this long ago."
Scalise says as the admin has been working to get resources out there, "China knew about this long ago."
Scalise says China wouldn't sell PPE to the U.S. and this outrages him. "We need to bring more of that manufacturing back to America... we need to encourage more of those life-saving supplies to be made here."
Scalise highlights the frontline staff at Ochsner Hospital in Louisiana before turning to Steve Pettus, managing partner for Dickie Brennan and Co. Restaurant Group, for insight on what they are doing to reduce spread of Covid-19.
Pettus says all employees are having temps taken, everyone in their kitchens wears masks and gloves. They have an all clean call once an hour, wiping down surfaces with sanitizer.
Seating is 10 feet apart for tables. Front house wears masks too.
Seating is 10 feet apart for tables. Front house wears masks too.
.@RepMaxineWaters speaks of the essential services custodians provide, wiping away the sneezes and coughs of those with and without Covid.
She notes how custodians are often the lowest-paid workers and supports his call for increased pay and supports organized labor.
She notes how custodians are often the lowest-paid workers and supports his call for increased pay and supports organized labor.
Rep Waters asks even with an increase in pay, would it be helpful for janitor Marcos Aranda to get a bonus to help feed his six children and extended family.
Waters asks him to explain what other struggles he faces.
Waters asks him to explain what other struggles he faces.
Aranda says without a car (he was in a car accident recently) things have become more difficult, he has to pay someone to take him to the grocery store.
He says he is doing the best he can and it's hard on his pride to feel the stress of food insecurity.
He says he is doing the best he can and it's hard on his pride to feel the stress of food insecurity.
When you are financially strapped, Aranda explains, just going to the grocery store is exhausting mentally. And it includes the additional risk, you have to root through and touch more items to find what is on sale.
He says it's tough to explain to his children why they can't have a $5 box of cereal and must go with the cheapest option. "The facade that everything is going to be OK," is difficult to maintain he says.
Custodian Marcos Aranda "It is difficult trying to illustrate that to them without showing the emotions behind all of this."
Rep. Jim Jordan, immediately aggressive, asks Dr. Megan Ranney why stay at home orders were issued.
Ranney says she wasn't the one responsible for issuing them, but says the shut downs helped ease pressure on the hospitals.
Ranney says she wasn't the one responsible for issuing them, but says the shut downs helped ease pressure on the hospitals.
Rep. Jim Jordan is making the argument that testing was sufficient, that wasn't why we closed, towing the Trump line.
If we have accomplished the goal, isn't it time to get back, he asks.
If we have accomplished the goal, isn't it time to get back, he asks.
Dr. Ranney says she would like nothing more than to resume life as usual but stresses:
"We should be going back to work using data and science to inform this so we don't undo all of the hard work and sacrifices that Americans have made over the last 10 weeks."
@CourthouseNews
"We should be going back to work using data and science to inform this so we don't undo all of the hard work and sacrifices that Americans have made over the last 10 weeks."
@CourthouseNews
Rep Jim Jordan is blaming Democrats and China.
Steve Pettus, a GOP-minority invited-witness and managing partner of Dickie Brennan, has lost people to the virus himself and says China should be held accountable.
.@RepMaloney picks up the thread on testing after Jim Jordan makes the argument that testing is sufficient.
She asks Talisa Hardin, a frontline nurse in Chicago.
Patients are waiting to take tests there or are waiting for results to come back.
She asks Talisa Hardin, a frontline nurse in Chicago.
Patients are waiting to take tests there or are waiting for results to come back.
Talisa says one of the reasons she sent her daughter away is because she doesn't know if she is a carrier.
If she could be tested, if more workers could be tested and get those results back faster, some of the things that make life harder right now would go away, she says.
If she could be tested, if more workers could be tested and get those results back faster, some of the things that make life harder right now would go away, she says.
Talisa Hardin: "I didn't realize how much not seeing my family effected me until we started talking about this. It makes every day a little harder knowing at the end of the day I can't go home and see my family."
"If we knew quicker if they had the virus or not, then maybe we could have some kind of normal life, " nurse Talisa Hardin says.
Maloney says its not just normal life either, it's life or death.
Medical workers in NY still cant get testing.
Maloney says its not just normal life either, it's life or death.
Medical workers in NY still cant get testing.
Dr. Ranney says the testing out there now is not always reliable nor able to catch every single case.
It would be "transformative" if she could test every person with a quick result in 15 minutes. She could separate those with Covid from those who dont have it.
It would be "transformative" if she could test every person with a quick result in 15 minutes. She could separate those with Covid from those who dont have it.
Dr. Ranney says tests protect frontline workers. It would also help isolate those in the community and prevent spread.
Rep. Maloney: If the federal govt. won't use DPA to get PPE, the power should be given to governors.
"We are at war," Maloney underlines.
Rep. Maloney: If the federal govt. won't use DPA to get PPE, the power should be given to governors.
"We are at war," Maloney underlines.
Rep Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Missouri, is talking about the need to reopen, how doctors want to get back to work on non-covid related cases. He laments that the US is "letting felons out but putting seniors back in nursing homes where they are more likely to be infected."
Rep Luetkemyer, asks Steve Pettus to recount what the reopening experience has been like.
Pettus says the anxiety about waiting to reopen is considerable and that the second wave they are concerned with is the thousands of people that will be laid off.
Pettus says the anxiety about waiting to reopen is considerable and that the second wave they are concerned with is the thousands of people that will be laid off.
Rep @NydiaVelazquez begins.
She calls for the Senate to pass the Heroes Act.
"It is great to say thank you but it will be much more important to encourage the Senate to provide the kind of resources we need."
Background: courthousenews.com/house-democrat…
She calls for the Senate to pass the Heroes Act.
"It is great to say thank you but it will be much more important to encourage the Senate to provide the kind of resources we need."
Background: courthousenews.com/house-democrat…
Dr. Ranney tells the cmte that if we are not careful as we reopen "we could end up right back where we started in March."
Nurse Talisa Hardin says in Chicago, they are starting to see things level out. But the patients they are seeing now are sicker than the ones they've seen before and they are struggling to treat them.
Talisa Hardin says if we rush to reopen without right resources in place, their hospital in Chicago would be "even more overwhelmed.
"We dont have enough nurses to take care of the patients we have now," Hardin says.
They don't want to take "two steps back."
"We dont have enough nurses to take care of the patients we have now," Hardin says.
They don't want to take "two steps back."
Sorry folks, had a quick break but I am back and now it is
@RepBillFoster speaking.
@RepBillFoster speaking.
Foster says "it is interesting what we can learn from the experience of other countries. Canada was lied to by China too."
But, he says, "because Canada listened to scientific advice and nat. sec. advice instead of mocking it" Canada has a much lower death rate than the US.
But, he says, "because Canada listened to scientific advice and nat. sec. advice instead of mocking it" Canada has a much lower death rate than the US.
Canadians also have the right to walk off their job if they feel unsafe, Foster notes. He then puts it in sharp relief:
91 nurses have died in the US
0 nurses have died in Canada.
91 nurses have died in the US
0 nurses have died in Canada.
Rep. Foster says the safety of health care workers in Canada far outstrips the U.S. because they have "leadership that listens to science, exhibits competence and planning and a real commitment to worker safety"
Nurse Talisa Hardin notes how hard it is for frontline workers in hospitals to social distance, and recalls how nurses will say to each other: "It's probably inevitable, we'll probably contract this disease, so the best thing we can do is not see our families."
Talisa recounts what fellow nurses have told her about the forced separation from families due to fear of infection. One nurse said her parents told her "Oh, we will get sick, we miss you and want you to come see us."
Talisa's daughter has told her she should quit her job.
"But I love being a nurse and that's not something I would ever do," Talisa Hardin say.
Note: Hard to say how many lives Ms. Hardin has saved by making these sacrifices to stay away from her family.
"But I love being a nurse and that's not something I would ever do," Talisa Hardin say.
Note: Hard to say how many lives Ms. Hardin has saved by making these sacrifices to stay away from her family.
.@RepRaskin calls for more support of HC workers, calls for more PPE.
These frontline workers may be heroes, "but that doesn't give your government the right to turn you into martyrs," he says to witnesses.
These frontline workers may be heroes, "but that doesn't give your government the right to turn you into martyrs," he says to witnesses.
The feds should be coordinating distro of masks, gowns, PPE. Instead, feds have pit states in a "brutal competition" Raskin says, forcing them to fend for themselves while people continue to get sick and die.
"The federal govt has been acting like a spectator or a heckler."
"The federal govt has been acting like a spectator or a heckler."
Dr. Ranney notes how there was limited ability to import supplies. Much PPE was overseas. When they would get goods from overseas, they were often counterfeit.
And the price gouging: A protective gown that might cost 30 or 50 cents, suddenly cost $10-$20.
And the price gouging: A protective gown that might cost 30 or 50 cents, suddenly cost $10-$20.
Rep. Andy Kim, D-NJ says he wants to talk through the next steps. An important part of this cmte is not only to think about where things are now and what can be done to get through tomorrow, but to think about next big challenges. He taps Dr. Ranney for her insight.
Are we prepared for the second wave of outbreaks?
Ranney: I do not think we are currently prepared. We still lack adequate PPE in most hospitals throughout the country.
Ranney: I do not think we are currently prepared. We still lack adequate PPE in most hospitals throughout the country.
CDC has done a lot but it is not enough, Dr. Ranney says. She calls for consistency in messaging to the public "so they can believe us."
"We need to give accurate data so we can explain where and why our answers change and how those answers depend on science."
"We need to give accurate data so we can explain where and why our answers change and how those answers depend on science."
"We need adequate testing not just in healthcare or nursing homes, but everyone out there facing the public needs to be safe. And to do that, they need tests. And healthcare workers need masks, gowns and sanitizer," Dr Ranney tells Rep. Kim.
The briefing will end soon.
Rep Scalise, as vicechair of the cmte, delivers his closing remarks and says the biggest challenge is figuring out what we can do together to move forward safely.
"Nobody is suggesting there should be a trade-off between your fiscal health and physical health," Scalise says.
"Nobody is suggesting there should be a trade-off between your fiscal health and physical health," Scalise says.
Scalise laments people not going to the doctor as they normally would to catch things earlier.
"We need to be cognizant of all of the human costs of shutting down," Scalise says.
"If we can focus on what China did and how they hurt the world," Scalise argues, that is start.
"We need to be cognizant of all of the human costs of shutting down," Scalise says.
"If we can focus on what China did and how they hurt the world," Scalise argues, that is start.
Rep Clyburn now delivers his closing remarks but before that, he wants to address concerns over a remark he made about what the aim should be in addressing this pandemic.
He said this crisis presented an opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.
He said this crisis presented an opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.
Clyburn: That vision of mine is a country that provides for all of its citizens, liberty, and justice for all.
As he closed the committee hearing today, @WhipClyburn leaves us with this thought: 
If you missed my live-tweet session today, fear not!
I will have a full report up soon for @CourthouseNews.
I will have a full report up soon for @CourthouseNews.
STORY: Leilani Jordan was a 27 year old grocery clerk when she died in her mother’s arms after catching Covid19. Today, her story was one of several Congress heard about those working without protection on the front lines of the pandemic.
courthousenews.com/congress-hears…
@CourthouseNews
courthousenews.com/congress-hears…
@CourthouseNews
