[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 87 (Friday, May 8, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICA'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 8, 2020

  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise with deep concern regarding the 
state of U.S. leadership during the global COVID-19 pandemic. 
Tragically, over 200,000 people have died worldwide, with more than 3 
million confirmed cases. This likely represents just the tip of the 
viral iceberg.
  The Coronavirus pandemic has caused the worst global health crisis 
since the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.
  Real leadership could have contained this devastation. Instead of 
leading the global response though, the Administration ignored repeated 
warnings from his intelligence experts and undermined the seriousness 
of the threat. Those at the very top called it a hoax, squabbled over 
the name of the virus, undermined G-7 unity, closed the U.S. border 
with Europe without consulting our closest allies, and significantly 
delayed the opportunity to slow the spread of the disease both globally 
and domestically.
  Worse yet, despite warnings during the administration transition of 
the possible security threats of a viral pandemic, they hollowed out 
and eliminated the National Security Council's Directorate for Global 
Health Security and Biodefense at Home. Now, we face the highest number 
of reported infections in the world, with more than 970,000 cases, and 
an alarming risk of spread rates because we still lack adequate testing 
capabilities.
  In the absence of American leadership, malign actors including China, 
Russia and Cuba have filled the void. They provided and pledged 
humanitarian assistance to Italy, the Philippines, and other nations in 
desperate need of assistance. Authoritarian governments have used the 
ensuing chaos to consolidate their rule. Take Russian President Putin's 
constitutional referendum to extend presidential term limits or 
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban's recent parliamentary moves to rule by 
decree. But worse yet, also to spread misinformation about the disease 
and democratic response. Threatening further the domestic political 
divisions already ripe with tension.
  What makes our nation great is not only the American people's 
ingenuity to solve problems at home, but also our generosity and 
creativity to lead with our values when the world faces crisis. Six 
years ago, the U.S. led the fight against the Ebola crisis from the 
beginning. We developed, coordinated, and led a worldwide response to 
the Ebola outbreak, as well as strengthened our preparedness at home. 
As a result, we stopped the outbreak and kept the homeland safe.
  It is long past time for the Administration to play a leading role in 
the global pandemic coordination response. As the richest nation on 
earth with leading global health experts, real leadership would 
coordinate and contain the virus domestically then turn to aid the 
international community. Real leadership would not cast blame and 
withhold international aid to organizations leading the global fight. 
Real leadership would be fully supporting critical, independent news 
outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America who 
are providing credible news services and countering Russian and Chinese 
disinformation.
  Americans are at risk of further waves of infection back in the 
homeland. The most vulnerable around the world are suffering. Global 
coordination and collaboration is vital, not only to keep Americans 
safe, but also to maintain the U.S.'s position as the leader of the 
free world and to maintain democratic values in countries across the 
globe.

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