Providing for Adoption of H. Res. Establishing A Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. It is sad to say, but this coronavirus pandemic has caused some of the greatest suffering in our time for individuals and for our country at large. And yet there are those few who would see this as an opportunity to benefit for themselves and their companies by price gouging or, one might say, pandemic profiteering.

We have good reason to be skeptical about many of these companies, including the pharmaceutical industry. For example, even during this crisis, we saw Gilead seek and receive from the FDA 7 years of orphan drug exclusivity for a possible treatment for the virus. Only after organizations stepped in and protested did Gilead go back to the FDA to withdraw their request.

Do we really need an oversight committee? Look what has happened already.

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Headlines such as a $55 million contract to a bankrupt company, who is a baker, in order to make N95 masks.

``Hedge Fund Managers Claiming Bailouts As Small Businesses.''

``Over 43,000 U.S. Millionaires Will Get `stimulus' Averaging $1.6 Million Each.''

Yes, we need an oversight committee, and we need it now.

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