Covid-19 Pandemic Timeline
Floor Speech
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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership.
We are going to miss him. I know Dr. Roe is retiring, and there is going to be a great void there with him not being here, but I thank him for his service to the Doctor's Caucus and his service to our country.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the amazing work our Nation's top scientists are doing to get a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine to the American people.
Earlier this year, President Trump initiated Operation Warp Speed, a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and the private sector to research, develop, and distribute a coronavirus vaccine.
The merits of this initiative were quickly realized, and Congress came together in a bipartisan fashion and invested $10 billion to support the effort. The focus of the initiative works by accelerating development of vaccines through staggered clinical trials, completely overseen by Federal regulatory authorities. You have heard that time and time again tonight as each of the physicians here have explained how this is taking place.
Traditionally, a vaccine would undergo several separate phases of trials, with the average trial lasting nearly 7 years. Mr. Speaker, we don't have 7 years. Our country--our world--needs a vaccine now, and that is why Operation Warp Speed is on track to deliver vaccines in record speed, potentially even by the end of the year. This is nothing short of a miracle. It is phenomenal.
And it is critically important to stress that any vaccine approved by the FDA will be safe and effective.
Mr. Speaker, I have been a practicing pharmacist for over 30 years. I have witnessed the process by which the FDA approves medications. They will not approve it unless it is safe and effective. Don't think for one minute that any administration or any person is going to have an impact on that. They are not. It will be safe and effective if it is approved by the FDA.
I repeat: Only vaccines that are proven to be completely safe and effective will be allowed for use.
But recently, we have heard dangerous rhetoric from certain politicians and candidates about Operation Warp Speed, rhetoric and comments that are lies based in politics instead of science; even doubting the thousands of scientists who have spent their life working to find cures and casting fear on the American people.
I have outright confidence in this administration's commitment to safety and science. And I can tell my constituents and the American people right now, I will be in line to get the vaccine when approved.
Our communities are suffering, and we are losing loved ones. This effort will save thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives.
I commend this administration and the thousands of scientists working to find a cure, and I thank them for all they are doing to save lives, to produce a safe and effective vaccine.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?
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