Obviously is being held remotely. All members and witnesses will participate Via Videoconferencing as part of our hearing microphones will be set on mute to eliminate background noise. Members and witnesses, youre going to have to unmute your microphone each time you wish to speak. So i just say that as a reminder and as a little housekeeping issue, but please remember to do that. Documents for the record can be sent to megan mullen at the email address we provided to your staff. All documents will be entered into the record at the conclusion of the hearing. The chair now recognizes herself for five minutes for an Opening Statement. Lets see, where is the clock on the screen . There it is, okay. In any given year, one in five adults experience a Mental Illness such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. But 2020 has been a year like no other. In a recent poll, half of adults report that their Mental Health has been negatively impacted due to the coronavirus. One can only imagine
And make sure that they get exactly what they need. The chair would like to recognize the gentleman from oregon, mister schrader. Is he available . Not seeing or hearing him. The chair recognizes Mister Kennedy. Mister kennedy available . Not in his chair. Then the chair will recognize thegentleman from New Hampshire , miss custer or five minutes of questions. You need to unmute. You. Thank you very much. Thank you madam chair. I appreciate this hearing and i appreciate the opportunity to address you on this important issue. Here in New Hampshire weve had a dramatic increase. Depression, anxiety, trauma and grief as a result of covid and we are struggling as well with changes to the Economic Impact on our Healthcare Providers particularly Mental Health providers. 83 percent of small and large groups Substance Abuse providers have described what is a Financial Hardship as a result of covid and 48 percent of those providers have had to cancel income generating events while 74 percent hav
I is possible. They also appreciate the chance to bring some ten i ten unseat e Trump Administrations work speed effort. This transparency will be crucial to secure the american Peoples Trust that the vaccine will be made available only once it is proven to be safe and effective. Congress has already taken actions to support these efforts. This spring, congress provided the Vaccine Development and manufacturing of birds and other medical countermeasures. Then two months ago the house passed the heroes act, the comprehensive legislation to strengthen the nations ability to fight the pandemic like altering the Strategic National stockpile and increase funding for Research Development and manufacturing vaccines and treatments. It would also require the administration to get to congress a vaccine plan identifying the activities undertaken to manufacture distributed vaccines safely. The house passed the act more than two months ago and the senate has failed to take it on into the death rate
Second wave of coronavirus cases came from cdc director robert redfield. The White House Coronavirus Task Force Said they are preparing. On the surface, when a patient comes in with early flu and early covid19, close to identical. We need to have testing in place to separate and ensure those patients receive the best treatment. Reporter this pandemic has taken more than 40,000 lives in the u. S. So far. That timing came in march and april, at the end of the flu season. But if large numbers of people get covid19 next winter and fall during influenza season , it could overwhelm the u. S. Healthcare system. Influenza, even in a normal season, can be taxing to our clinics and hospitals. Reporter doctor michael stacy, chief medical officer at Lifelong Medical care clinics says frontline medical workers are trying to prepare, but they worry about shortages. We need a lot of testing. Testing supplies are still quite limited. We are woefully behind in terms of our ability to direct test how e
I will have to be strict with the gavel. The witnesses have a tight timeframe, i know you will all cooperate with that. Let us begin. Welcome, mr. Secretary. We are glad that you are here. We have a lot to take up and every bit of it is obviously serious. The chair now recognizes herself for an Opening Statement let me begin with this, mr. Secretary. I think that confusion is the enemy of preparedness. Confusion is the enemy of preparedness. I believe that the administrations lack of fairness the Coronavirus Response is on full display. Markets are reacting, in some part, to the lack of trusted information amongst many other factors. Our government has to speak with credibility and authority. Instead, it is like a greek chorus chanting through the state. That adds to the confusion. There are key questions that need to be addressed for the American People. What is the full plan should this virusinfected american in high numbers what is the plan for increasing diagnostic capacity . Limit