Schools. Stepping down from her role at the end of this month. Thesu subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic will come to order. I want to welcome everyone here today. Without objection, the chair may declare a recess at any time. Pursuant to rule 70 of the committee on oversight and accountability and at the discretion of chairman comber, mr. Jordan and members of the committee may participate for the purposes of questions. Ii now recognize myself for the purpose of making an Opening Statement. Today the selected subcommittee is holding a hearing to examine the centers for Disease Control r and preventions policies and decisions during the pandemic. The pandemic sent shockwaves to all aspects of american life. School, work and family, sports and faith. This was a novel virus. There was much we didnt know. And we didnt know how to react. Educated guesses were the best we could do in some cases especially early on. But throughout, i maintain hope. What should heavy and could have united the country but did not instead drove division unfortunately. I was hopeful that the pandemic would be a Unifying Force for the country. And for the world. After all, the common danger unites even the bitter of enemies. Unfortunately in many ways, the Public Health leadership didnt always rise to the occasion. Instead of being a call me on aa trusted voice of science and reason, the American People often filled rundown, deceived and left damaged. Director, given how difficult it was to get you here today, with of the hhs often negotiating on your behalf it appears that maybe this administration didnt want you to speak regarding these topics. In case you were unaware, nearly ten weeks ago on april 5th the select subcommittee requested that the cdc make available to testify today. May 202nd the select subcommittee officially invited you to testify. Through the negotiation process the Biden Administration said there was insufficient time for you to prepare. Now this may even astonish you, considering the select subcommittee provided nearly ten weeks notice. Hhs then rejecteded to other das and provided more seemingly logical excuses. Again in case you were unaware, the threat of a subpoena for the administration to finally allow you to attend this hearing. We think that maybe you were willing the whole time, so i want to thank you personally for being here today. It is however curious that the administration tried so hard to hide you from the American People. I suppose some people simply move on. But without the review of processes and decisionmaking, its difficult to plan for the future and there will be a problem again in the future. It is the duty of the select subcommittee to ensure that we address failings so we are not doomed to repeat them. As well, lets affirm the positives. These are our duties and obligations. Throughout the pandemic the cdc publishedus confusing guidance d made divisive and confusing statements and we must talk about these things. Director, you made several of the statements were so cumbersome that even contradicted the official guidance. We have many questions about some of the statements made by several people and directives made. Beginning with on february 3rd, 2020 when you said, quote, there is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely open, reopen, and fatah say three opening t dozen to suggest teachers need to be vaccinated. The next day the then White House Press secretary said, quote, doctor wilensky spoke to her c personal capacity. Thats interesting. You wereak speaking at a White House Press briefing when you made the statement, the official logo was behind you and the transcript is on the white house website. Doesnt sound like personal capacity it seems to me the administration disagreed with what you were saying and we will ask you about that today. March 29, 2021, you also stated, quote, the data from the cdc today suggests vaccinated people do not carry the virus and dont get sick. Three days later the cdc spoke and said you were speaking broadly and some people who are fully vaccinated might indeed catch covid19. So this raises the question of whether the science of which you were saying was not. At the lack of awareness became clear when on july 21, 2021, President Biden made the unequivocal statement if youre vaccinated, youre not going to be hospitalized. Youre not goingng to be in the intensive care unit and you are not going to die. We will ask you about that and are interested in hearing the data at the cdc had supported or if it wasr made for political r other purposes. At times the cdc accepted guidance from Political Organization instead of relying on the real time scientific data. Atat the hearing in april with e American Federation of teachers, president Randi Weingarten we experienced the introductions. Doctor henry a scientist at the cdc described the level of access as uncommon. She testified to having the direct phone number and provided the cdc with line by line edits and received an advanced copy of the full draft guidance and some of the edits were even accepted. This level of access is uncommon. It even suggested adding a closure to automatically shut schools down. Even though the specific and it wasnt accepted, the others that were have some severe consequences. I believe that it is appropriate for them to seek the cdc guidance but not to give you order the cdc medical and scientific advice. Drug use, violence, Mental Health issues and suicide among the nations children have skyrocketed while test scores have severely fallen some will attempt to undermine the select subcommitteessa efforts by sayg hindsight is 20 20 or that we are playing monday morning quarterback but the role is to investigate the pandemic. This requires looking back in order to plan ahead. Requires asking questions to evaluate how the decisions were made and how they were implemented. Once that is done we may put forth a solution based on facts, not suppositions. So i look forward to a strong, respectful and ontopic discussion. Honesty is nonnegotiable. Ne again, i think you for being here today voluntarily and i look forward to your testimony. With that, i will yield to the Ranking Member for any Opening Statement that he would like to make. Thank you mr. Chairman and director for being here today. As the Ranking Member of the select subcommittee, ive often said howis important it is thate focus onth forwardlooking poliy solutions that will leave us better prepared in the event of another deadly novel airborne virus. At the forefront of this work is the nations centers for Disease Control and prevention which under the direction helped guide us out of the darkest days of the pandemic. Her steadfast leadership mobilized the most successful Vaccination Campaign in the nations history leading to more than 600 million shots in arms, prevented 18. 5 million hospitalizations and saved 3. 2 million lives from covid19. Under her leadership, 95 of americas schools that were forced to close doing the Previous Administrations failed pandemicly response safely reopened for in Person Learning within just one year. And because of the tireless efforts, the nations Public Health workforce was fortified and the cdc made critical strides to ensure that the American People received accurate data informed Public Health guidance that we know about any evolving everchanging pandemic and crucial points in time. I say this to not only think doctor wilensky for her service to the nation but also to stress where we were and where we are today because of her leadership. You see, when doctor wilensky began her tenure at the cdc, she inherited a Beleaguered Agency earning the pandemics deadliest two month stretch on record in the United States. In fact, every day, more than 3,000 people in the United States died from covid19. Whats more, doctor wilensky ascended to the role as director not only is the agency in the midst of battling a deadly novel virus but also as it was suffering from the severe side effects and damaged morale that resulted for months of political interference by the former president and his administration. Throughout the early months of the pandemic, the nations scientists were sidelined by white house officials and the president s political allies who meddled in the cdc communications, Public Health guidance and scientific reports. That is inn addition to the downplaying of the coronavirus which hampered the nations Pandemic Response during one of the deadliest periods in americas history. This politicaler interference ad harmful messaging by the former president also manufactured a deep distrust in the nations Public Health institutions. Fundamentally undermining the ability to respond to future threats and that coupled with the ongoing vilification of Public Health experts with a purpose of advancing a partisan narrative, and now we are seeing the really into dangerous consequences. In fact february, 2022 Research Center report found fewer than three in ten adults in the United States now have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists act in the publics interest. As a physician of Public Health experts, this is deeply concerning to me, and it should be to us all. Our ability to prevent harm and save lives in the event of another pandemic is intrinsically tied to a strong relationship between there nations Public Health experts and the American People. So, where do we go from here and howo do we move forward . Now that we are on the other side of the pandemic thanks to director wilensky out of the Biden Administrations leadership and delivering vaccines and safely reopening workplaces and schools in the economy, we have the opportunity to rebuild the trust that has been eroded. We have the chance to right the wrongs of the Previous Administration by identifying and implementing Real Solutions that leave us better prepared in the event of another deadly virus. Solutions like empowering thete cdc to promote comprehensive and timely Data Collection reporting, equipping the cdc with tools and resources necessary to continue rapidly disseminating Accurate Information and guidance to the American Public without political interference and investing in the cdc so that it can continue to support its states and local partners in the face ofrs the future public heah threats. It is now that we should work to re inspire confidence in the nations Public Health officials, not to continue today i hope we can make progress on advancing these objectives because if we do we can and will ensure the nation is better prepared in a future Public Health crisis. That means future harm will be prevented and more lives will bere saved. Thank you and i yield back. Thank you dr. Ruiz, our witness today dr. Rochelle walensky, serves as director cdc and prevention she was chief of division of infectious h decisions, received a doctor of medicine from Johns Hopkins school of medicine and master of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health. Thank you for being here today. On oversight and. The went will stand and raise her right hand. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth t so help you god, thank you, let the record go that witness answered in the affirmative. Select subcommittee appreciates you being here today, we look forward to your testimony, let me remind the went we have read your witness statement, it will appear in full in the hearing record, limit your oral statement to 5 minuteses and press button on microphone in front of you so it is on and members can hear you, when you begin to speak the light in front of you will turn green. I recognize dr. Walensky to give an Opening Statement. Thank you. It iss an honor to be here with you. I came do cdc in january of 2021 as a practicing doctor, and researcher who was on front lines of the pandemic treating patients with covid19. I leave later this month with a great sent of accomplishment that publish people emergency has ended and with an unwavering respect and admiration for dedicated people across cdc working of day to protect the health of americans. When i started, cdc faced challenges. For example sharing of date was too slow and often relied on fax machines which hindered federal and state and local leaders from having timely access to critical Public Health data. As a nation, we have mourned loss of over 1. 1 million Family Members neighbors, colleagues and friends from covid19. Were still losing people to the disease every day. Were in a different place, end of Public Health emergency marked a transition for country and Public Health. We have the tools we need to protect people in the communities from severe infection, thanks to work of cdc,th our partners in state and local government, private sector and front line healthcare workers, more c than 676 million doses of vaccines have been administered across u. S. Saving millions of lives. These vaccines built a wall of protection which decreased risk of severe disease and death from covid19. When i started at cdc, onethird of School Districts were offering daily in person instruction. With my three boys at home with me, getting schools open was a top priority for me. I like many of you recognized that Critical Role that schools play in supporting social, physical behaviorial, emotional and mental well being of our children, one of first documents released by cdc 23 days after i started was Operational Strategy for k12 schools to phased mitigation on february 12, 2021. This road map to reopen schools and help them remain open was result of countless work hours by cdc staff. Along with feedback from over 50 organization who participation was essential. And it worked. By fall of 2021, nearly every School District in the United States opened offered daily inperson instruction. Throughout my tenure, i used best available and often emerging data to inform realtime policy decisions. Rarely did cdc new scientific findings that were clear and consistent. At cdc we have a strong commitment to acting quickly with transparency when new science gives us better ways to protect Public Health needs of our most vulnerable. When two studies released in march of 2021 showing that we could reduce physical distances in schools from 6 feet to 3 feet, we acted on release newew updated School Guidance 4 weeks after our initial effort. Today we know that so much more about this virus than we did when it first, merged in 2023, we believe that darkest phase of the pandemic areda now part of our history. Despite important accomplishments and improvements to Public Health lab comments and ability to share high quality Public Health data and bolster Public Health infrastructure, cdc still has more work to do im motivatedte to make improvements based on what i have seen, i launched a review cdc moving forward to address Lessons Learned from covid19, increase accountability and im prove how we deliver information to americans. Cdc continues to work, we need partnership with congress to better position for success. In closing rate of Infectious Disease threats should be a warning, as a nation we fail to heedlessons from previous disease outbreaks, were once again faced with opportunity. Collectively we should focus our work on moving the agency and Public Health federal, our response to the next threet will rely how we come together and have product conversations, i commit to further this goal in my last weeks at cdc and beyond, it is too important and too many lives are at stake. I hope you will continue to work with me and cdc to support sustainable Public Health investments and updated authorities that will protect the security of americans, by being better prepared for Tomorrows Health threats. Thank you, i look forward to your questions. Mr. Comer from kentucky. Thank you. Cdc communicated with big tech and social media companiesen to coordinate censorship of posts that expressed skepticism or criticism of covid19 vaccine. Is there a differ