[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 4, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PREPARATION AND PREVENTION OF CORONAVIRUS

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, just returning from my district, I am 
well aware of the sense of concern of our constituents regarding the 
coronavirus, having been the first Member to present this to her 
community after unclassified briefings left me with many more answers.
  I believe it is imperative that we not panic, but prepare.
  In San Antonio, this headline reads: ``San Antonio declares emergency 
after CDC released a woman infected with the coronavirus: `Totally 
unacceptable.' ''
  ``Coronavirus: You may need to take a 2-week break from your life,'' 
CDC says.
  I am intending to introduce legislation that deals with hourly wage 
makers in order to protect them if such happens.
  But I think it is important, as well, to determine what equipment we 
have in the United States, to explain to the American people that there 
are now two strains--one more deadly than the other--and to be as 
forthright as you possibly can.
  Information provides opportunity to prepare, and it embraces all of 
the community.

  Finally, it is important that local health departments have test kits 
and that we explain to the Nation that a vaccine is not easily done. It 
has to be researched, tested, and vetted, and there will be a period of 
time.
  So our actions should be preparation and prevention, not panic; but 
the reality is that we are dealing with something enormously serious, 
and I intend to continue to do that on behalf of my constituents.

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