Press Release

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, announced today the second subcommittee hearing on the coronavirus outbreak. Witnesses will include U.S. government officials who have led the response to the virus.

"I applaud the tremendous work our public servants have taken to ensure the safety and health of the American people from the coronavirus. I know that personnel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, and the State Department have been working around-the-clock to keep us all safe," said Chairman Bera. "We must continue to remain vigilant and prepared. This hearing is an opportunity for the American public to hear directly from the Administration on the steps they are taking to keep our people safe and for Congress to provide oversight on the Administration's response. In addition, it's critical that Congress and the public understand the coronavirus' impact on American citizens around the world, as well as how it is affecting the U.S. and international economies."

Rep. Bera chaired the first congressional hearing on February 5, where experts, including epidemiologists, provided recommendations to improve U.S. readiness. Click here to watch the hearing.

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020

Time: 2:00 p.m. EST

Subject: Coronavirus Disease 2019: The U.S. and International Response

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.