Press Release

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, announced the first congressional hearing on the coronavirus outbreak.

"While the threat of the coronavirus is relatively low in the United States at this time, we must be vigilant and prepared," said Chairman Bera. "I look forward to hearing from our expert witnesses on ways in which we can plan and respond to this virus. Congress needs to ensure the administration has the tools it needs to respond to and limit the outbreak. As a doctor and public health expert, I know that we must take every necessary step to ensure the health and safety of every American."

As of Thursday morning, there were more than 7,500 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, and nearly 200 deaths.

In addition to the witnesses noted below, Chairman Bera has also invited witnesses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of State to update the subcommittee on measures they are taking to limit the spread of the coronavirus internationally and to ensure the safety of Americans overseas who may be impacted by the outbreak.

Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Time: 2:00 p.m. EST

Subject: The Wuhan Coronavirus: Assessing the Outbreak, the Response, and Regional Implications

Witnesses:

As a doctor, Congressman Bera has always been a strong supporter of American leadership in global health. In March 2019, Rep. Bera led a bipartisan letter urging Congress to sustain global health security funding. In May 2018, Rep. Bera successfully urged the Administration to halt shortsighted Ebola funding cuts. He also led efforts by the Foreign Affairs Committee to address the global Zika epidemic and has pushed Congress to do more to stop future outbreaks.

Rep. Bera is a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Commission on Strengthening America's Health Security. Their report, published in November 2019, made a series of recommendations to enhance America's ability to prevent and respond to new and emerging diseases overseas.