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In Congress, Doctors Are Pressing for a More Aggressive Coronavirus Response In Congress, Doctors Are Pressing for a More Aggressive Coronavirus Response
(2 days later)
WASHINGTON — There were just 160 documented cases of the coronavirus in the United States when Representative Raul Ruiz, Democrat of California, told Vice President Mike Pence in a closed-door meeting that President Trump needed to “think about declaring a national emergency.” It took nine more days for Mr. Trump to do so.WASHINGTON — There were just 160 documented cases of the coronavirus in the United States when Representative Raul Ruiz, Democrat of California, told Vice President Mike Pence in a closed-door meeting that President Trump needed to “think about declaring a national emergency.” It took nine more days for Mr. Trump to do so.
That was in early March. A month earlier, Representative Phil Roe, Republican of Tennessee, concluded that the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship, was a “viral petri dish” for the coronavirus. He badgered top federal health officials until the Trump administration eventually evacuated Americans from the ship.That was in early March. A month earlier, Representative Phil Roe, Republican of Tennessee, concluded that the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship, was a “viral petri dish” for the coronavirus. He badgered top federal health officials until the Trump administration eventually evacuated Americans from the ship.
Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, also watched the spread of coronavirus with alarm. He is now seeking an audience with Mr. Pence to push several ideas, including the creation of a national “immunity registry” for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, that would collect data from widespread blood testing to determine who could safely return to work.Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, also watched the spread of coronavirus with alarm. He is now seeking an audience with Mr. Pence to push several ideas, including the creation of a national “immunity registry” for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, that would collect data from widespread blood testing to determine who could safely return to work.
The senator and the congressmen share a common background: all are medical doctors, part of a small corps of roughly two dozen health professionals in Congress, many of whom were sounding the alarm about the coming pandemic back when Mr. Trump was still calling criticism of his administration’s response a “hoax.” Now, with more than 275,000 Americans infected and 7,000 dead from Covid-19, the doctors of Congress are drawing on their expertise to push for more aggressive federal measures to cope with the disease.The senator and the congressmen share a common background: all are medical doctors, part of a small corps of roughly two dozen health professionals in Congress, many of whom were sounding the alarm about the coming pandemic back when Mr. Trump was still calling criticism of his administration’s response a “hoax.” Now, with more than 275,000 Americans infected and 7,000 dead from Covid-19, the doctors of Congress are drawing on their expertise to push for more aggressive federal measures to cope with the disease.
The doctor-turned-lawmaker who garnered the most attention in recent weeks was Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky and an eye surgeon, who drew widespread derision for going about his business — including exercising in a shuttered Senate gym — while quietly awaiting test results for Covid-19 after having been exposed to someone who was infected. He later learned he was positive, which sent some of his colleagues, including Dr. Cassidy, into quarantine.The doctor-turned-lawmaker who garnered the most attention in recent weeks was Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky and an eye surgeon, who drew widespread derision for going about his business — including exercising in a shuttered Senate gym — while quietly awaiting test results for Covid-19 after having been exposed to someone who was infected. He later learned he was positive, which sent some of his colleagues, including Dr. Cassidy, into quarantine.
But others have been trying — sometimes in vain — to put their training to use. The first coronavirus hearing in Congress was convened by a Democratic doctor from California, Representative Ami Bera, on Feb. 5, before the disease it caused even had a name.But others have been trying — sometimes in vain — to put their training to use. The first coronavirus hearing in Congress was convened by a Democratic doctor from California, Representative Ami Bera, on Feb. 5, before the disease it caused even had a name.
Mr. Trump had imposed a ban on travel from China just days earlier. But Dr. Bera, the former chief medical officer for Sacramento County, said he was concerned at the time about the lack of “a clear command control structure” inside the White House, and felt the travel ban was an inadequate response.Mr. Trump had imposed a ban on travel from China just days earlier. But Dr. Bera, the former chief medical officer for Sacramento County, said he was concerned at the time about the lack of “a clear command control structure” inside the White House, and felt the travel ban was an inadequate response.
“We were sounding the alarms,” he said, recounting his message: “The travel ban on China wasn’t going to stop this virus. It was going to buy us time, but this virus is coming to the United States.”“We were sounding the alarms,” he said, recounting his message: “The travel ban on China wasn’t going to stop this virus. It was going to buy us time, but this virus is coming to the United States.”
Now that it is here in full force, a bipartisan trio of doctors — Dr. Cassidy, a gastroenterologist with expertise in immunization; Dr. Ruiz, an emergency room doctor with a master’s degree in public health; and Representative Kim Schrier, Democrat of Washington and a pediatrician — are collaborating on what Dr. Ruiz called “a three-point immediate triage response for mass production and restocking” of medical supplies and equipment, including much-needed masks and ventilators.Now that it is here in full force, a bipartisan trio of doctors — Dr. Cassidy, a gastroenterologist with expertise in immunization; Dr. Ruiz, an emergency room doctor with a master’s degree in public health; and Representative Kim Schrier, Democrat of Washington and a pediatrician — are collaborating on what Dr. Ruiz called “a three-point immediate triage response for mass production and restocking” of medical supplies and equipment, including much-needed masks and ventilators.
The idea, all three said in interviews, is to have a centralized command structure, anchored inside the White House, to manage production and distribution. Ventilators and other equipment would be shipped across the country based on data about where outbreaks were emerging. If, for example, Des Moines had 5,000 ventilators but few cases of coronavirus, those machines could be sent to New York, with the promise that New York or other cities would supply Des Moines when that city was in need.The idea, all three said in interviews, is to have a centralized command structure, anchored inside the White House, to manage production and distribution. Ventilators and other equipment would be shipped across the country based on data about where outbreaks were emerging. If, for example, Des Moines had 5,000 ventilators but few cases of coronavirus, those machines could be sent to New York, with the promise that New York or other cities would supply Des Moines when that city was in need.
“We need a way to get out of the mess we’re currently in, and I think this is part of the solution,” Dr. Cassidy said in an interview. He also outlined his idea for the immunity registry, which he said would be akin to “vaccine registries” maintained by schools.“We need a way to get out of the mess we’re currently in, and I think this is part of the solution,” Dr. Cassidy said in an interview. He also outlined his idea for the immunity registry, which he said would be akin to “vaccine registries” maintained by schools.
Not all of Congress’ doctors, however, are so actively engaged. In a brief interview in the Capitol before his diagnosis became public, Mr. Paul insisted that he had little relevant expertise: “I am a physician,” he said. “I’m aware of science, I’m able to read scientific papers and I think, make judgments. But I don’t put myself out as an expert.”Not all of Congress’ doctors, however, are so actively engaged. In a brief interview in the Capitol before his diagnosis became public, Mr. Paul insisted that he had little relevant expertise: “I am a physician,” he said. “I’m aware of science, I’m able to read scientific papers and I think, make judgments. But I don’t put myself out as an expert.”
Others, like Dr. Schrier, the only female doctor in Congress, have simply been trying to keep their colleagues and constituents well. Dr. Schrier recounted how, after coronavirus cases first appeared in the United States but before social distancing became a household phrase, she watched in horror as her colleagues were still coughing into their hands and sharing fruit and other food, including with Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon who is batting pancreatic cancer.Others, like Dr. Schrier, the only female doctor in Congress, have simply been trying to keep their colleagues and constituents well. Dr. Schrier recounted how, after coronavirus cases first appeared in the United States but before social distancing became a household phrase, she watched in horror as her colleagues were still coughing into their hands and sharing fruit and other food, including with Representative John Lewis, the civil rights icon who is batting pancreatic cancer.
“They did a birthday party for John Lewis with a cake,” she said, sounding incredulous. “I pulled my friends aside and said, ‘You can’t do this with an 80-year-old whose immune system is already compromised.’”“They did a birthday party for John Lewis with a cake,” she said, sounding incredulous. “I pulled my friends aside and said, ‘You can’t do this with an 80-year-old whose immune system is already compromised.’”
There are 17 doctors in Congress — 14 in the House and three in the Senate — as well as three dentists, two nurses, a pharmacist and a former health secretary, Representative Donna E. Shalala, Democrat of Florida, who served under President Bill Clinton. The group is overwhelmingly white, male and Republican. Only the two nurses and three of the doctors are Democrats. The Republican doctors have their own group, the G.O.P. Doctors Caucus.There are 17 doctors in Congress — 14 in the House and three in the Senate — as well as three dentists, two nurses, a pharmacist and a former health secretary, Representative Donna E. Shalala, Democrat of Florida, who served under President Bill Clinton. The group is overwhelmingly white, male and Republican. Only the two nurses and three of the doctors are Democrats. The Republican doctors have their own group, the G.O.P. Doctors Caucus.
This being Washington, party affiliation tends to color their views of how the president has handled the crisis. Representative Neal Dunn, Republican of Florida and a urologist, organized a classified briefing for members of the doctors caucus in early February, he said, to dispel conspiracy theories that coronavirus was a biological weapon. Dr. Dunn, who also served as a surgeon in the military, said he was not troubled by Mr. Trump’s early attempts to play down the disease.This being Washington, party affiliation tends to color their views of how the president has handled the crisis. Representative Neal Dunn, Republican of Florida and a urologist, organized a classified briefing for members of the doctors caucus in early February, he said, to dispel conspiracy theories that coronavirus was a biological weapon. Dr. Dunn, who also served as a surgeon in the military, said he was not troubled by Mr. Trump’s early attempts to play down the disease.
Updated August 4, 2020 Updated August 6, 2020
“I think what he was saying is, ‘Don’t panic, this is a flu, Americans are largely not at risk,’” Dr. Neal said, echoing Mr. Trump’s language as he deemed the federal response “unprecedented, unlike any response in history.”“I think what he was saying is, ‘Don’t panic, this is a flu, Americans are largely not at risk,’” Dr. Neal said, echoing Mr. Trump’s language as he deemed the federal response “unprecedented, unlike any response in history.”
Representative Mark E. Green, Republican of Tennessee and a retired Army flight surgeon, said much the same: “The president, I admit, was trying to create calm as a leader should — he was saying it’s like flu.”Representative Mark E. Green, Republican of Tennessee and a retired Army flight surgeon, said much the same: “The president, I admit, was trying to create calm as a leader should — he was saying it’s like flu.”
The Democrats, not surprisingly, have been far more critical. Dr. Ruiz was one of four Democrats selected by leadership to question Mr. Pence when the vice president came to the Capitol on March 4 to brief lawmakers privately. The congressman said he had been frustrated to see Mr. Trump “downplay and deny” the emerging threat, and that Mr. Pence offered no response to the suggestion that the president declare a national emergency.The Democrats, not surprisingly, have been far more critical. Dr. Ruiz was one of four Democrats selected by leadership to question Mr. Pence when the vice president came to the Capitol on March 4 to brief lawmakers privately. The congressman said he had been frustrated to see Mr. Trump “downplay and deny” the emerging threat, and that Mr. Pence offered no response to the suggestion that the president declare a national emergency.
And Dr. Ruiz was so irked by the administration’s early failure to put out public service announcements that he donned a white lab coat and made his own. They are posted on his website.And Dr. Ruiz was so irked by the administration’s early failure to put out public service announcements that he donned a white lab coat and made his own. They are posted on his website.
Representative Lauren Underwood, Democrat of Illinois and a nurse who worked in pandemic preparedness for the Obama administration, said she drew on her knowledge of federal laws and rules to feed information about free government testing to Representative Katie Porter, Democrat of California. Ms. Porter used it to confront the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a moment that went viral on Twitter.Representative Lauren Underwood, Democrat of Illinois and a nurse who worked in pandemic preparedness for the Obama administration, said she drew on her knowledge of federal laws and rules to feed information about free government testing to Representative Katie Porter, Democrat of California. Ms. Porter used it to confront the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a moment that went viral on Twitter.
Ms. Shalala, who at 79 is the oldest freshman in Congress, lacks a medical degree but has deep experience in managing epidemics. She is on a first-name basis with the nation’s senior health officials, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, from their work together fighting AIDS.Ms. Shalala, who at 79 is the oldest freshman in Congress, lacks a medical degree but has deep experience in managing epidemics. She is on a first-name basis with the nation’s senior health officials, including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, from their work together fighting AIDS.
Ms. Shalala has been warning about the nation’s lack of pandemic preparedness for years, and says Congress bears some responsibility for the nation’s flat-footed response.Ms. Shalala has been warning about the nation’s lack of pandemic preparedness for years, and says Congress bears some responsibility for the nation’s flat-footed response.
“Every time I said ‘public health infrastructure’ to Congress, their eyes glazed over,” she said. “So I blame both parties for not paying attention.”“Every time I said ‘public health infrastructure’ to Congress, their eyes glazed over,” she said. “So I blame both parties for not paying attention.”
Dr. Roe, the chairman of the G.O.P. Doctors Caucus, agreed that this is no time for politics: “I spent a career and a lifetime taking care of patients,” he said. “This ought to be all hands on deck. This is ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ where we both hold hands and jump off together.”Dr. Roe, the chairman of the G.O.P. Doctors Caucus, agreed that this is no time for politics: “I spent a career and a lifetime taking care of patients,” he said. “This ought to be all hands on deck. This is ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ where we both hold hands and jump off together.”
Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.