Over the past year, COVID-19 has caused great devastation and hardship around the world. In the United States, this new, vicious virus has claimed more than 250,000 lives. We now know this virus is hardest on the elderly, those with underlying health issues, and people of color, but it has affected everyone in some way.
The Trump administration has known from day one that the federal government couldn’t fight this virus alone. Civilians couldn’t fight it alone, and private companies couldn’t fight it alone. That’s why President Trump launched public-private partnerships such as those formed through Operation Warp Speed. As a result, we have a real chance to conquer this new public health threat faster than at any similar time in human history.
From day one, Trump has taken swift action to mitigate and combat the spread of COVID-19. He quickly halted travel from China, provided billions in funding for healthcare providers across the nation, and used the Defense Production Act to support the manufacturing and distribution of essential personal protective equipment to those who need it.
In the past few weeks, in part because of Operation Warp Speed, Pfizer and Moderna have both reported their COVID-19 vaccines are safe and have high rates of efficacy, with Pfizer reporting 95% efficacy and Moderna 94.5% efficacy. Thankfully, the Trump administration has worked closely with our states to develop localized plans to distribute the new vaccines rapidly to those most in need, such as healthcare workers and people in nursing homes.
That’s why Operation Warp Speed does more than help ensure the swift creation of a safe and effective vaccine. It also has helped us create therapeutics and plan and prepare in advance for the distribution of a vaccine once authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Moderna and Pfizer have already submitted their applications to the FDA for emergency use authorization. Tens of millions of people could start receiving vaccinations as early as next week. This kind of quick turnaround has never happened before and is only happening now because of Operation Warp Speed.
At the White House this week, Trump is gathering leaders from federal, state, and local governments, as well as from the military, scientific community, and private sector, to further discuss plans to distribute safe and effective vaccines swiftly.
As the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over public health, I have worked closely with our country’s top public health officials and those tasked with our nation’s response to this deadly virus. Throughout this pandemic, our committee conducted oversight of efforts to develop a vaccine, including hearings with top officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the FDA. We have also held hearings with vaccine manufacturers. I am confident that both vaccine manufacturers and the scientists overseeing vaccine approval are adhering to the highest safety standards.
By leveraging the strengths of the private sector and those of the federal government, we can achieve more, faster. The historic progress we have seen in the fight against COVID-19 is only made possible by the federal government using the knowledge and resources of industry leaders and the world’s top scientific experts.
Trump’s Operation Warp Speed showcases the American spirit of coming together when times are tough. Today, I want to tell the public that help is on the way. In the meantime, we must remain diligent with hand washing, minding our distance, and wearing masks when we cannot socially distance. We will get through this together.
