Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Coronavirus Commission Act. Representative Adam Schiff has introduced companion legislation in the House. This bill would establish a commission on the coronavirus pandemic to better understand the vulnerabilities it has revealed in our national security and healthcare system and improve our preparedness for future crises. It is crucial to improve our understanding of pandemic threats and health issues that the United States could face in the coming decades to better protect our population and mitigate the risk of a similar human and economic catastrophe. Nearly 130,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. Hospitals have struggled to secure enough personal protective equipment to keep health workers safe, testing levels remain inadequate, and a breakthrough therapeutic, let alone a vaccine, has yet to be developed. More than 41 million Americans have been laid off, and the unemployment rate is likely well over 20 percent. Large numbers of businesses have permanently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The commission that would be created by our bill would conduct a comprehensive review of the government's coronavirus response and make recommendations on how we can be better prepared in the future. The commission would complement other oversight efforts in Congress and elsewhere. The coronavirus commission would examine U.S.…”