Congressional Record — Senate, S1825 (March 19, 2020)
Summary
Page S1825 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 19, 2020. A speaker wants a commission to look quickly at epidemics such as Ebola, swine flu, bird flu, Zika and SARS over the next two or three years. Another asks whether this is the United States when a hospital treating a global pandemic cannot get a mask, a swab or a test, comparing South Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom. A speaker applauds the bipartisan work with the White House on two laws, thanks Americans for the sacrifice of social distancing, and says China has found a vulnerability in the system.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, S1825 (March 19, 2020).”
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March 19, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1825
over the next 2 or 3 years. That is what sent of the governed, and the guide- with not only the best healthcare pro-
we are going to be asking this commis- lines about social distancing, for exam- viders but the best healthcare institu-
sion to look at, and we want it to look ple, require some significant sacrifice. tions in the world—I had to ask myself:
at it quickly. Overwhelmingly, I see Americans tak- Where am I? Is this the United States
This is a priority. It has become an ing steps to make that sacrifice, and I of America, where a hospital treating
immediate priority. We need to know, want to thank them. people on a global pandemic cannot get
as we now look at another one of these I applaud the bipartisan work that a mask, cannot get a swab, cannot get
in a series of epidemics where this has Congress has done with the White a test? Why are nations like South
been a concern; whether it is Ebola or House in the past 2 weeks to pass two Korea and Australia and the United
swine flu, or bird flu or Zika or SARS, important laws. We passed the supple- Kingdom so much more able to do
we have had too many of these in too mental appropriations bill, providing things this country should be able to
short a period of time. And during that more than $8 billion to invest in our do?
same period of time, the globalization public health response with resources I don’t think we should become nor-
of the supply chain has dramatically for States, territories, and Tribes, in- malized or just accept that. I think
changed. vestments in vaccine development and this is so profound a question about
So as we prepare for future hazards, testing, and other key health prior- why this Nation, with the best
we want to ensure that a supply chain ities. healthcare providers and the best
is in place to allow us to provide the Just yesterday, the Senate passed healthcare institutions in the world, is
kind of healthcare we need, the kind of the second piece of legislation to pro- so far behind other nations. So let me
response we need, and the kind of pro- vide emergency relief for workers and offer these recommendations—blunt
tection we need. This should be part of their families: paid sick leave, ex- recommendations—for the road ahead.
the bill we send to the President, hope- tended unemployment insurance, and First, in the words of the Hippocratic
fully, between now and no later than other measures. But we still have so Oath, do no harm. The administration
the end of next week. It is one of the much more to do, and I am going to be lost 6 to 8 weeks in responding to this
things that will begin to move us in a very candid about this. crisis—critical time that was used pro-
better direction and create greater se- I offer these thoughts as a former ductively by other nations—because
curity—greater health security—as we mayor and Governor who has overseen the President continually downplayed
look at our other security concerns. significant emergency response efforts the threat of COVID–19.
With that, I yield the floor. in my city and in my State: hurri- No American has a louder micro-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- canes, floods, mass shootings, the H1N1 phone than he does, and again and
ator from Virginia. epidemic, and the economic collapse of again he downplayed the threat, sug-
f 2008 and 2009. While those give me a gested it was contained, suggested ev-
perspective on what must be done, I eryone would be tested, suggested it
CORONAVIRUS have to acknowledge that the current was a hoax, and suggested the Demo-
Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, like my challenge is a massive one, arguably crats or the Chinese or the media were
colleague from Missouri, I also rise to bigger than any I have seen in my life. blowing it out of proportion. Whether
address the Nation’s response to the Because it is so big, it will require un- his comments were due to ignorance or
COVID–19 virus. In particular, I want usual degrees of innovation and co- a political desire to hide bad news is ir-
to discuss the next steps we need to operation, and the need for that inno- relevant.
take at the Federal level to deal with vation and cooperation is urgent. I was shocked that the President sub-
this health emergency and the severe I got off a phone call this morning— mitted a budget to Congress on Feb-
economic dislocation resulting from it. and I am sure all 100 of my colleagues ruary 10, when the virus’s global spread
Before I offer my comments, I want are making calls like this. I got on the was clear to all, that dramatically cut
to offer some thanks. I want to thank phone with my fellow Virginia Senator, funding for key public health agen-
the Senate staff and all those in the Mr. WARNER, to talk to Virginia’s hos- cies—the NIH, CDC, HHS—and our in-
Capitol who are working here under pitals. Now, Virginia is a State that, vestments in global partnerships like
tough circumstances. economically, is pretty well off. It gen- the World Health Organization. The
I notice that the pages are not here, erally tends to have top-quarter per- White House foolishly eliminated the
and that is because the Senate has capita income for a significant metro- global health security team at the Na-
wisely decided that, while we ought to politan area, but the stories from my tional Security Council that was set up
be here doing the people’s business, hospitals were just, frankly, shocking. after the Ebola crisis to practically
even at some risk to ourselves, the They can’t get tests to test patients deal with pandemics like COVID–19.
young people who would normally be who are presenting with symptoms of I remain stunned—stunned—that the
here should be home with their fami- COVID–19. If they have tests, they President’s lawyers are still in court
lies. don’t have the swabs to administer the all over this country attempting to re-
I want to thank healthcare workers test or they don’t have some of the peal the Affordable Care Act to take
all across the United States. They are chemical components needed so that healthcare away from millions of
doing very difficult work right now, once a swab is taken, they can run the Americans. There is never a good
and they are doing it under very stress- test to determine whether somebody time—never—to take an ax to the pub-
ful circumstances. So many people who has the virus or not. lic health infrastructure and scheme to
work at our healthcare facilities are They don’t have masks. Hospitals take away people’s health insurance,
there trying to protect patients. They were telling me that masks, which but there is surely no worse time to do
have kids in schools that have been they would normally buy for about $1 it—to take an ax to the public health
closed, and they are grappling with apiece, are now being charged at $9 infrastructure and take away people’s
where their own children are during apiece with severely limited quan- health insurance—than during a global
the day and whether they can find tities. pandemic.
childcare during what would normally Major hospitals in a major metro- So my recommendations here are
be the school day. I particularly want politan area like Northern Virginia, on pretty simple. Quit lying and
to thank them. the testing front—one of my hospitals downplaying the threat. Let the trust-
Finally, I want to thank the Amer- said they got enough tests from their ed scientists and public health leaders
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
ican public. I will return to this point main supplier to test 40 people. That in your administration take center
at the end of my comments. lasted for about 2 days. And when they stage.
We are not an authoritarian nation. said ‘‘We need more tests,’’ the supplier In recent days, the President seems
There are steps that other nations are said ‘‘Well, look, we only have so much to have adopted this approach, thank
taking with respect to this virus, that we can distribute. That is all you goodness, and it is long overdue. Con-
where they can sort of order or quar- get.’’ gress should ignore the President’s
antine in ways that we can’t here. When I heard this story, one after the budget that urged foolish cuts to our
What we do here depends upon the con- next—and I know I live in a nation public health infrastructure, and the
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S1826 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 19, 2020
administration should cease efforts to We need to continue the good work This is the message that I am hear-
dismantle the Affordable Care Act. that is already being done to accelerate ing again and again as I talk to Vir-
One more thing: Quit the inflam- the development of a safe and effective ginia residents and business leaders. I
matory China-bashing. Did this virus vaccine. We need to make sure that our had a wonderful conversation with the
originate in China? Yes. But, Mr. Presi- hospitals and healthcare providers president of my statewide chamber of
dent, that does not excuse your weeks have the resources they need to treat commerce the other day, and he said
and weeks of tweeting lies and misin- sick people and protect their frontline candidly: Look, more of our members
formation about the virus, while the health workers. are actually medium and large busi-
leaders of other nations were taking Finally, this is looking down the nesses, but the most important thing
steps to make sure their populations road a bit, but I think it is important you can do is focus on the needs of
could be safe. that we think about it now. Policy- small businesses and their employees.
The fact that the virus originated in makers should try to develop the I appreciated that he was advocating
China does not excuse the massive science-based criteria that will enable even for a business sector that isn’t the
missteps that have led to the United them to confidently tell Americans core of his membership, but this is
States being so far behind other na- when it is time to return to normal so- what he was hearing and what I think
tions in the world in the ability to pro- cial and economic activity. I remember most of us are hearing.
vide testing—basic testing—to citizens, President Bush doing that at some I support direct cash payments to
including citizens who have serious point after 9/11. He said: It is now safe. low- and middle-income Americans and
signs of illness. The President’s deci- It is time for Americans to go back to their dependents to help them through
sion to call this the China virus or normal, everyday activity. A strong this crisis, and it is nice to hear there
Wuhan virus or other epithets that he signal of that type, when it is war- may be some agreement on that. I sup-
and members of his team have used are ranted by science, will be critical— port strategies to provide grants and
a crass effort to deflect blame away critical—to our recovery. That day loans to small businesses, particularly
from the acceptance of responsibility may be weeks or months away, but de- if they use those resources to keep em-
that a President should have. veloping the criteria that we can agree ployees on the payroll. I hope direct
The buck stops with you, Mr. Presi- support to individuals and small busi-
on that should be the signal for a re-
dent. You cannot blame this on anyone nesses will be the heart of the eco-
turn to relevant normalcy is something
else. You have to own responsibility. nomic package that the Senate, the
we should all be working on right now.
You should stop inflammatory China- Third, we should make full use of White House, and the House put to-
bashing that is exposing Asian Ameri- gether.
State and local governments. Polling
cans in this country to prejudice. Now, for the larger businesses and in-
shows that Americans are skeptical
The second thing we need to do is dustry sectors who need Federal help,
continue to focus, first and foremost, about what they hear about this virus
we have to stand ready to assist, but if
on managing the public health crisis from President Trump and, indeed,
we are to invest in these businesses yet
presented by COVID–19. The economic Washington. But the same poll shows
again, a few years after providing them
dislocation is significant. We are work- that they do have trust in how State
with massive and—in my view—unnec-
ing on a package with respect to that and local officials are handling this cri-
essary tax breaks, we must not simply
now. I am going to talk about it in a sis. Use the network of State and local
rescue them but demand that they re-
minute, but no economic intervention officials to communicate clear mes-
form, and our investments must be de-
will work if the American public con- sages. Continuously seek their input on
signed to keep workers on payrolls to
tinues to lack confidence in our public how their schools, hospitals, nursing the maximum extent possible.
health response. And a strong public homes, and local economies are af- The Business Roundtable, an influen-
health response that will effectively fected. That is what I am doing every tial voice for the business community,
manage the spread of this virus and co- day, and I suspect every Member of the said last year that businesses need to
ordinate medical care for those af- Senate is doing the same thing—con- expand their priorities beyond share-
fected will be the single best strategy ference calls with leaders around my holder concerns and invest in employ-
for enabling the economy to get back State to make sure that we are doing ees by compensating them fairly, pro-
on track. the things that are most helpful. And viding important benefits, and sup-
To accomplish this public health we should reality test any legislation, porting communities they work in. I
goal, we need to have strong policy at especially an economic package, with couldn’t agree more. These businesses
the Federal level to make—continue to these leaders to make sure it is respon- employ many Americans and deliver us
make—science-based recommendations sive to the real needs they are seeing important goods and services, but if
on the extent and timing of social on the ground. American taxpayers are stepping in to
distancing guidelines. Fourth, Congress needs to move cover their losses, I think it is fair to
We need to overcome the shockingly promptly to pass this strong economic expect and, indeed, require that these
poor start to testing Americans for the package, backstopping the American businesses channel the benefits toward
virus. Testing helps us flatten the economy from being ravaged by people who are on their payroll, who
curve of the infection so that our COVID–19. work for wages and salaries, not those
health system is not overwhelmed, and In 2008, structural issues like the ac- who live off investment income.
it also helps reduce anxiety by giving cumulation of debt, bad public policy I will do all I can in the coming days
people information about their status leaving huge swaths of economic trans- to help shape our economic package to
so they know what to do. actions unregulated, and predatory make it responsive to these goals.
Americans are used to being tested. mortgage practices helped bring down Fifth—and in this I echo some of the
If we feel ill, we go to a doctor. We get not only the American but the global comments made by my colleague from
a test to see if we have a flu. We get a financial system. Missouri—the crisis does raise long-
test to see if we have pneumonia. We Today, the American economy has term questions that must be addressed
get our children tested to see if they been performing relatively well, and it going forward. We have to have real
have strep throat. We are used to this, now labors under a severe healthcare discussions about the virtues and dis-
and when we see it happening around shock. There is reason to believe that, advantages of global interconnected-
the globe, and when we hear the Presi- once we get the healthcare strategy ness. Better travel leads to economic
dent and Vice President say that ev- right, we will be poised for the econ- growth and a better understanding of
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
erybody will get tested, but when peo- omy to resume its upward trajectory. the world, and it also facilitates the
ple call their healthcare providers and But we must provide protection and spread of viruses. Instantaneous global
are told that there are no tests or see support in the meantime. communication networks are an eco-
drive-thru testing sites, such as ones I believe that the focus of an eco- nomic plus but increase vulnerability
we had in Hampton Roads, shut down nomic package should be workers and to cyber attack.
after a day and a half because they ran small businesses. They are the most How do we increase American resil-
out of tests, it tremendously raises vulnerable to the current challenge and ience to these threats without inhib-
their anxiety. most in need of intervention. iting our economic prospects? There
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March 19, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1827
are elements of our supply chains— SECURING AMERICA’S MEDICINE percentage how dependent we are on
pharmaceuticals and medical products CABINET these Chinese APIs, we do know that
and supplies in particular—that must Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, we the more Chinese products that flow
be viewed through a national security are continuing to roll out our response into the United States, the more poten-
lens and progressively brought back to to the coronavirus and to this pan- tial there is for trouble and the more
this country to enhance safety and an demic, and I want to encourage my col- vulnerable our supply chain is.
adequate supply of supplies in times leagues to begin to think about how we The bottom line is that, if we con-
like this. move past this immediate crisis that tinue to rely on the Chinese to stay
we are in and begin to look toward healthy, we will be doing so at our own
A second long-term question that has
what is going to happen in the future peril. So I am asking my colleagues to
been raised for years by my Virginia
join Senator MENENDEZ and me and
colleague Senator WARNER deals with with our supply chains and our
support this legislation as a part of
the new reality of how Americans healthcare delivery systems.
As we talk about the problems that these coronavirus response efforts that
work. Many of the people most affected we are making.
by this shock would be part-time and are before us today, let us not forget
The spread of the Chinese
gig workers. The safety-net mecha- that 3 months from now, 6 months from
coronavirus has put considerable
nisms that our policies provide for full- now, a year from now, we need to be
strains on our healthcare delivery sys-
time workers who get a W–2 every year looking at today and say: Here were
tem. Primary care physicians are over-
are not as available to the increasing the lessons learned, and these are the
booked, and potential patients are
percentage of the American workforce steps that we have taken to make cer-
afraid of going to clinics at all for fear
who are in multiple part-time jobs tain that it doesn’t happen again.
What we have learned and what of putting an elderly or a vulnerable
without benefits or who work as inde- person at risk. I am in daily contact
pendent contractors or are otherwise many Americans know is something
that some of us started working on a with physicians’ offices and nurses’
self-employed. practices. I am hearing from those who
couple of years back. It was looking at
In addition to making sure that the care for the elderly and from care-
the fact that Americans and American
economic relief package provides as- givers for those who have complex
drug manufacturers rely heavily on
sistance to this large group of Ameri- medical conditions, and this is a pri-
Chinese companies to produce active
cans, we have to examine our work- mary concern. For that reason, con-
pharmaceutical ingredients, or APIs,
force policies so that these workers versations here on Capitol Hill have
as they are called. We also know that
also have a social safety net to fall turned toward boosting telehealth
bad actors in China are poised to use
back on during times of crisis. services in order to free up in-person
that vulnerability as leverage and to
Finally, every American needs to do appointments for those who need them
use it as a way to disrupt and interrupt
their part to confront this crisis. The the most.
the supply chain of those active phar- I am so grateful that the Vice Presi-
best way to slow the spread of COVID– maceutical ingredients coming into
19 and minimize its impact to individ- dent and the coronavirus task force
our country. have made this a priority. We appre-
uals, to our healthcare system, and to This is an issue that we cannot wait
our economy is to adhere to science- ciate that. The coverage of these ef-
to address. This is something we need forts has made telemedicine feel, to
based social distancing and personal to do right now. That is why my col-
hygiene recommendations in our ev- many, like a new concept, but thank
league from New Jersey, Senator goodness we started building the foun-
eryday lives. MENENDEZ, and I introduced the Secur- dation to support healthcare tech-
Because America is not an authori- ing America’s Medicine Cabinet Act, or nology years before COVID–19 spread
tarian nation, there are some options the SAM-C Act, as a way to encourage beyond China’s borders.
used by other nations that will not and increase American manufacturing As just a little bit of history, back in
likely be used here. Our public health of these active pharmaceutical ingredi- 2015, when I was over in the House, I in-
measures will depend upon the coopera- ents. troduced the SOFTWARE Act, which
tion and adherence of every single per- Here is what it would do. It would ex- was to eliminate redtape that was pre-
son. Sacrifice is hard, but a modest pand upon the Emerging Technology venting innovation in healthcare deliv-
sacrifice in the near term can help save Program, which is housed within the ery. The bill ended up being rolled into
the lives of people we love. FDA, to prioritize issues related to na- a piece of legislation called the 21st
So I implore every Virginian and tional security and critical drug short- Century Cures Act, which we passed
every American to follow the rec- ages and bring that pharmaceutical through the House in late 2015. In 2016,
ommendations we get from our public manufacturing out of China and back it cleared the Senate.
health officials and find ways to safely into the United States, not in 5 years The SOFTWARE Act directs the FDA
reach out and connect with friends and or 10 years but now. It is something to come up with a more efficient way
family during this challenging time. that we need to do right now. of approving healthcare software so it
In addition, the SAM-C Act author- will not discourage innovation because,
To my colleagues: We must rise to izes $100 million to develop centers of
meet this challenge. This is one of the at that point, that is what we were be-
excellence for advanced pharma- ginning to see. The redtape would just
moments for which we were destined to ceutical manufacturing in order to de- pile up on the new concepts in delivery,
be in the Senate. The people we serve velop these innovations. These centers and by the time one would get ap-
are relying on us to calmly and will be partnerships between institutes proved, a new generation of technology
promptly address a grave health crisis of learning and the private sector. Cer- would begin to emerge.
with the tools needed to keep families tainly, we have talked a lot about pub- SOFTWARE’s provisions made it pos-
safe and protect the American econ- lic-private partnerships and the neces- sible for regulators and the private sec-
omy. It is a serious responsibility. May sity of them to move us through this tor to bring us a lot of new innova-
we all live up to it. crisis, and we have cheered as the tions. We have Teladoc, Noom, Fitbit,
I yield the floor. President has brought private sector and hundreds of other healthcare appli-
I suggest the absence of a quorum. companies into the White House to cations that we carry on our mobile de-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The work with him on addressing these vices. We have also seen many hos-
clerk will call the roll. issues. pitals conduct post-operation care to
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE
One thing we have to realize—and patients once they go home. They are
The senior assistant legislative clerk why this is important that we do it entering their data on iPads that are
proceeded to call the roll. now—is that the number of API manu- specific to their surgeries, and those
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I facturing facilities in China is still physicians are monitoring their care
ask unanimous consent that the order growing. China has found a vulnerabil- and recoveries. This push for respon-
for the quorum call be rescinded. ity in our system, and it is continuing sible tech policy has gone hand in hand
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without to exploit that vulnerability. Although with efforts to bring broadband to
objection, it is so ordered. we don’t yet know down to the precise rural and unserved areas.
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