America's Global Leadership During Covid-19

Floor Speech

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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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