Congress must respond to the coronavirus crisis not only by immediately passing emergency funding, but also by making a unified commitment to the American public, and to the rest of the world, that puts coronavirus prevention, testing and treatment ahead of politics.
The coronavirus does not distinguish between Democrats and Republicans; neither should Congress.
Congress and “official” Washington must pull together, communicate with each other and recognize that the learning curve on the virus response is continuous and shallow for all concerned. What we know starts now, and it does not stop until the last patient is treated, the new best practices for prevention and treatment become second nature and we become better prepared for the future. It takes serious work to be successful at detecting, treating and preventing the spread of new infectious diseases.
In the impending virus outbreak, members of Congress must not only check their egos at the door of the Capitol. They must also check in with U.S. government infectious disease experts, scientists and health care leaders. They proved they can do so in the February 27 hearing that included heads of the relevant U.S. agencies. It was the first step in a key shift of elected, appointed and career government officials working with a shared purpose that is professional – not political – and in service to the public.
With the coronavirus, Congress is also being given a special opportunity to uphold its constitutional responsibility of checks and balances, where access to critical information is not obstructed for reasons of political prerogative, secrecy or potential embarrassment. That translates into accountability and transparency of what our government is doing about the coronavirus in the taxpayers’ name, and holding the administration’s feet to the fire. It means ensuring that science and the advance of scientific knowledge developed by government scientists and others is respected and supported.
It especially means being disciplined — not seeking to score political points or take advantage, get personal or political credit, or engage in meaningless puffery or blame. Members of Congress must accept that this coronavirus has reinforced the adage to either act, stand in the door or get out of the way. Any failure to grasp these distinctions under current circumstances may mean the difference between life and death, the health of our economy and the disruption of our society.
What should Congress do immediately and simultaneously?
First, pass the initial emergency funding measure, and support the full mobilization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies. Provide the necessary support to the governors of every single state, all state and territorial health departments, and private hospital and health care systems.
Second, establish a Coronavirus Communications Plan that updates existing pandemic preparedness and response plans to cover the novel coronavirus, and creates an independent, accurate and reliable reporting system. The ultimate goal of the Communications Plan must be to keep the American people informed, assured and involved in the virus response in a positive, constructive way in their own communities.
Third, Congress and the Trump administration must work cooperatively to enable government agencies and other health care agencies and professionals around the U.S. to provide a well-coordinated response. An immediate example is the need to overcome the shortage in the supply of protective apparel for health care workers, due to the coronavirus impact on factories in China. Our free market system may be an advantage, but supply and demand should not be a deciding factor. Clear manufacturing and protective wear standards must be established. We cannot allow expedience to undermine the need to ensure that protective apparel and virus test kits are manufactured according to strict quality standards; are supplied in a timely fashion to health care facilities where needed; and used according to rigorous procedures.
We want to defeat the coronavirus, and we want to do it on our terms, as a free, open, democratic people. Congress is well placed to reflect the will and diversity of the American people, state by state, in how best to fight a potential epidemic. We have the tools and capacities that no other nation possesses, and we should set an example for other nations to follow. We have done it before. Congress can help do it again.
Carl Henn, MPH, is an infectious disease specialist who has spent more than 30 years working as a global health expert in Africa and other regions to address AIDS, TB, malaria, Ebola and other infectious diseases. Steven L. Katz served in senior legislative and counsel positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.