March 3, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 42 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H1445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SENATE DEMOCRATS BLOCK PRO-LIFE VOTE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Marshall) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, last week, Senate Democrats blocked a vote 
in the Senate on two pro-life bills: the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors 
Protection Act, which would require doctors to provide medical care to 
a child who survives an abortion, and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child 
Protection Act, which would ban abortions beginning at 20 weeks. Senate 
Democrats prevented a vote on both of these commonsense bills as House 
Democrats have already done 80 times.
  I call on the Democrats on both sides of the Capitol, as Senate 
Majority Leader McConnell said last week, to take a ``clear and moral 
stand'' to protect innocent life.


                     Severe Weather Awareness Week

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, this week is Severe Weather Awareness 
Week, and it is a good reminder to always be prepared for extreme 
weather events, which we too often face in Kansas.
  Ready.gov--that is, r-e-a-d-y.gov--which is run by FEMA, is a great 
place to find resources related to flooding, thunderstorms, winter 
weather, or advice on building an emergency kit.
  Similarly, FEMA offers a free smartphone app which provides real-time 
alerts, shelter locations, and other resources to help during and after 
a severe weather event.
  But it is not enough to just communicate severe weather events to the 
public. We need to continue to invest in tools and encourage innovation 
when it comes to weather modeling and forecasting so that we can ensure 
as much lead time as possible before a severe weather event occurs.
  From coastal regions to the heartland, severe weather impacts us all, 
and the Federal Government not only needs to be working with public and 
private partners to improve systems, but also to encourage and 
incentivize innovation in the field.
  Recently, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has 
taken a look at the various forecasting and modeling efforts across the 
country and discussed how we can better improve these systems to give 
people increased warning in the event of severe weather events.
  Furthermore, I met with those on the front line in forecasting, such 
as our hardworking meteorologists back home at our National Weather 
Service, along with research institutions across the country, 
discussing the advances they are making thanks to new tools and 
technologies.
  It is important to stay safe, informed, and prepared as we head into 
the severe weather season, and I hope all Americans will take advantage 
of the tools available to achieve these goals.


        Steps United States is Taking to Respond to Coronavirus

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, the spread of the coronavirus and its 
dominance in the news has been at the top of my mind as well as for 
many Kansans.
  While there is no reason to panic, it is prudent for all of us to be 
mindful of the ongoing challenging situation. As a physician and 
Congressman, I feel it is important that I convey the steps the Federal 
Government is currently taking to best respond.
  First, we must demand more transparency from the Chinese and Iranian 
Governments. American experts must be allowed to get access to 
information on the ground in both China and Iran, particularly in 
Wuhan--ground zero of the outbreak. Unfortunately, these countries have 
a long history of misinformation and coverups, and we need to know the 
full truth to best protect Americans.
  Some in the American medical industry are concerned about a shortage 
of supplies which are largely manufactured in China. Currently, the FDA 
is not aware of any national shortages of medical products. Federal 
agencies have been proactively reaching out to hundreds of 
manufacturers to assess potential shortages and to let manufacturers 
know they can provide assistance. That being said, this is an excellent 
time to review our supply chain for both American healthcare as well as 
all other industries.

  I personally believe President Trump and Vice President Pence are 
doing everything in their power to protect Americans. Consulting with 
the top medical experts, this administration is moving to swiftly 
mitigate outbreaks of coronavirus here at home.
  Attempts by the national media and Democrats in Congress to place 
blame on the President for these outbreaks are inexcusable--they are 
unprofessional; they are unnecessary; and they are actually very 
harmful.
  Anything President Trump can possibly do to expedite the development 
of testing, antivirals, and vaccines is already being done--and, I 
might add, is being accomplished in record time.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of 
Health and Human Services have been preparing for outbreaks like this 
for years. We are the most prepared and the best equipped nation in the 
world to take on this coronavirus.
  On the eve of a potentially global epidemic, this situation 
underscores how imperative it is for our country to be able to prevent 
unidentified individuals from entering this country. Border security is 
national security, and families in Kansas deserve a home safe from 
unvetted individuals who may knowingly or unknowingly be carrying 
contagious diseases.
  I visited with the CDC over 5 weeks ago, asking what preventative 
measures they were taking when this virus was in the early stages of 
outbreak. I have been staying in close, constant contact with the White 
House, the CDC, and all agencies responsible for controlling the spread 
of this disease. The safety of Kansans is my top priority, and I will 
continue monitoring developments closely and communicate with officials 
across our State.
  In the meantime, as a physician, I recommend some commonsense 
practices: regular handwashing, applying hand sanitizer, proper 
nutrition, and minimal travel outside your community. This is a time to 
prepare and plan, a time to make sure you have a plan for your 
children, for your elderly parents, perhaps, that you have a plan for 
your place of work and for your place of worship, wherever you might 
gather in your own community.
  The event also underscores what an absolute disaster a government 
takeover of the medical system would be. America's healthcare 
capabilities are second to none because of competition and free market 
innovation. Radical socialist policies would effectively eliminate 
private investment in new medicines and technologies. That would be 
unacceptable.

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