Global Health Security Act of 2020

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2166, the bipartisan Global Health Security Act. This very important bill will greatly bolster the United States' ability to prevent and respond to global health threats like the coronavirus pandemic.

As we have seen during this tragedy, infectious diseases can spread across borders and oceans with deadly speed. Improving nations' abilities to address public health threats before they spin out of control is, in fact, a matter of national security.

The United States must lead the way in strengthening international health security measures. Investing in multilateral initiatives that reduce the threat of global health catastrophes is a bipartisan priority, and I am proud to colead this landmark bill with Representatives Connolly, Chabot, Bera, Fitzpatrick, and Larsen.

The Global Health Security Act establishes a special adviser for global health security at the National Security Council, ensuring that U.S. efforts to respond to public health emergencies are efficient and well-coordinated.

It also requires the United States to proactively strategize for future crises and strengthens our ability to help our partners fight and contain outbreaks within their own borders.

The Global Health Security Act will save lives by helping us prepare for or prevent the next pandemic. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source