JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS GEORGIA SENATOR, BUDGET COMMITTEE AND

SENATOR, BUDGET COMMITTEE AND BANKING COMMITTEE MEMBER DAVID

BANKING COMMITTEE MEMBER DAVID PURDUE AND SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE

PURDUE AND SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING.

YOU THIS MORNING. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> GOOD MORNING, MARIA.

>> GOOD MORNING, MARIA. MARIA: YOU’LL BE TRAVELING WITH

MARIA: YOU’LL BE TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT TOMORROW TO

THE PRESIDENT TOMORROW TO GEORGIA TO VISIT THE CDC.

GEORGIA TO VISIT THE CDC. BEFORE WE GET TO THAT VISIT AND

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT VISIT AND WHAT YOU’RE EXPECTING, ARE YOU

WHAT YOU’RE EXPECTING, ARE YOU EXPECTING THE SENATE TO PASS

EXPECTING THE SENATE TO PASS THIS BILL?

THIS BILL? >> OH, I THINK SO, ABSOLUTELY.

>> OH, I THINK SO, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WHAT WE’RE SEE, MARIA,

I THINK WHAT WE’RE SEE, MARIA, WHEN YOU HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP

WHEN YOU HAVE STRONG LEADERSHIP FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS CAN ACTUALLY ACT IN A SITUATION

CAN ACTUALLY ACT IN A SITUATION OF SERIOUSNESS LIKE THIS.

OF SERIOUSNESS LIKE THIS. BUT I GIVE PRESIDENT TRUMP A LOT

BUT I GIVE PRESIDENT TRUMP A LOT OF CREDIT.

OF CREDIT. HE RECOGNIZED EARLY THIS COULD

HE RECOGNIZED EARLY THIS COULD BE SERIOUS.

BE SERIOUS. AND HE AND VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

AND HE AND VICE PRESIDENT PENCE HAVE MOBILEIZED AND MOVED.

HAVE MOBILEIZED AND MOVED. WE GET UPDATES PRETTY MUCH EVERY

WE GET UPDATES PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.

DAY. I THINK WE GAINED A COUPLE OF

I THINK WE GAINED A COUPLE OF MONTHS, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OF THE

MONTHS, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OF THE EARLY MOVES WE MADE ABOUT

EARLY MOVES WE MADE ABOUT QUARANTINES AND TRAVEL

QUARANTINES AND TRAVEL LIMITATIONS AND SO FORTH AND

LIMITATIONS AND SO FORTH AND WE’RE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT

WE’RE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AND HOW TO

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AND HOW TO DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST THIS

DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

VIRUS. MARIA: YOU’RE GOING TO BE WITH

MARIA: YOU’RE GOING TO BE WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY GOING TO THE

THE PRESIDENT TODAY GOING TO THE CDC.

CDC. WHAT’S THE STORY WITH THE CDC?

WHAT’S THE STORY WITH THE CDC? BECAUSE THERE’S BEEN SOME

BECAUSE THERE’S BEEN SOME SERIOUS INCOMPETENCE THERE.

SERIOUS INCOMPETENCE THERE. THE CDC FIRST SENDS OUT ALL

THE CDC FIRST SENDS OUT ALL THESE TEST KITS TO THE 50 STATES

THESE TEST KITS TO THE 50 STATES AND THEN THEY CALL THEM BACK AND

AND THEN THEY CALL THEM BACK AND SAY WAIT, DON’T TEST ANYBODY,

SAY WAIT, DON’T TEST ANYBODY, THE KITS ARE DEFECTIVE.

THE KITS ARE DEFECTIVE. DO WE HAVE THE KITS IN PLACE NOW

DO WE HAVE THE KITS IN PLACE NOW AND DO YOU SEE ISSUES IN THE CDC

AND DO YOU SEE ISSUES IN THE CDC IN TERMS OF HANDLING THIS?

IN TERMS OF HANDLING THIS? >> WELL, FIRST OF AUTOMOBILE I’M

>> WELL, FIRST OF AUTOMOBILE I’M EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE THE CDC

EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE THE CDC IN GEORGIA.

IN GEORGIA. THEY’VE BEEN A STALWART OVER THE

THEY’VE BEEN A STALWART OVER THE POTENTIAL PANDEMICS.

POTENTIAL PANDEMICS. I GIVE PRESIDENT -- VICE

I GIVE PRESIDENT -- VICE PRESIDENT PENCE CREDIT ON THIS

PRESIDENT PENCE CREDIT ON THIS TOO.

TOO. WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO

WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO OVER 1.5 MILLION TESTS RIGHT

OVER 1.5 MILLION TESTS RIGHT NOW.

NOW. SO I THINK THEY MOVED ON THAT

SO I THINK THEY MOVED ON THAT VERY QUICKLY, THE CDC HAS.

VERY QUICKLY, THE CDC HAS. THE NIH IS GETTING ADDITIONAL

THE NIH IS GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

FUNDING. THAT’S ALMOST 10% INCREASE IN

THAT’S ALMOST 10% INCREASE IN THE NIH RESEARCH BUDGET IS WHAT

THE NIH RESEARCH BUDGET IS WHAT WE’RE DOING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

WE’RE DOING IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL. THIS 8.3 IS A LOT OF MONEY AND

THIS 8.3 IS A LOT OF MONEY AND FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME THAT’S A

FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME THAT’S A FISCAL HAWK, IT’S A

FISCAL HAWK, IT’S A SERIOUS ISSUE TO PUT THAT MUCH

SERIOUS ISSUE TO PUT THAT MUCH MONEY AT THIS BUT I THINK WHAT

MONEY AT THIS BUT I THINK WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS ASKING US TO

THE WHITE HOUSE IS ASKING US TO DO IS TO PUT ENOUGH MONEY ASIDE

DO IS TO PUT ENOUGH MONEY ASIDE SO WE DON’T HAVE TO BE HERE

SO WE DON’T HAVE TO BE HERE EVERY TWO OR THREE MONTHS TRYING

EVERY TWO OR THREE MONTHS TRYING TO APPROPRIATE MONEY TO SOLVE

TO APPROPRIATE MONEY TO SOLVE THE CRISIS.

THE CRISIS. >> SENATOR, STEVE FORBES HERE.

>> SENATOR, STEVE FORBES HERE. IN TERMS OF MEASURES BEING

IN TERMS OF MEASURES BEING TAKEN, IS THERE DISCUSSIONS AT

TAKEN, IS THERE DISCUSSIONS AT LEAST BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE

LEAST BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DO QUARANTINES IN

MAY HAVE TO DO QUARANTINES IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY?

CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SORT

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SORT OF EXPECT THAT MAJOR

OF EXPECT THAT MAJOR INCONVENIENCES TO USE A MILD

INCONVENIENCES TO USE A MILD WORD ARE IN STORE FOR THIS.

WORD ARE IN STORE FOR THIS. IS THE CDC AND THE FDA, DO THEY

IS THE CDC AND THE FDA, DO THEY HAVE PLANS TO IMPOSE QUARANTINES

HAVE PLANS TO IMPOSE QUARANTINES IF NECESSARY WHERE WE JUST DON’T

IF NECESSARY WHERE WE JUST DON’T MOVE?

MOVE? >> WE’VE ALREADY DONE SOME OF

>> WE’VE ALREADY DONE SOME OF THAT WITH FLIGHTS THAT CAME BACK

THAT WITH FLIGHTS THAT CAME BACK EARLY IN THIS PROCESS.

EARLY IN THIS PROCESS. >> I MEAN HERE IN THE UNITED

>> I MEAN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, CERTAIN PARTS OF THE

STATES, CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY JUST NOT ALLOWED TO

COUNTRY JUST NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE FOR A WHILE.

LEAVE FOR A WHILE. >> THERE ARE PLANS IN PLACE AS

>> THERE ARE PLANS IN PLACE AS THIS THING MIGHT ESCALATE.

THIS THING MIGHT ESCALATE. LET’S KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

LET’S KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE. IN THIS FLU SEASON AS YOU KNOW,

IN THIS FLU SEASON AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD 32 MILLION NORMAL FLU

WE HAD 32 MILLION NORMAL FLU CASES AND 18,000 DEATHS ALREADY.

CASES AND 18,000 DEATHS ALREADY. THAT’S TRAINING.

THAT’S TRAINING. HERE WE HAVE 160 CASES AND 11

HERE WE HAVE 160 CASES AND 11 TRAGIC DEATHS.

TRAGIC DEATHS. WITH THOSE NUMBERS, THE

WITH THOSE NUMBERS, THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND ALL OF THE PROFESSIONALS

AND ALL OF THE PROFESSIONALS HERE, THIS IS A BIPARTISAN

HERE, THIS IS A BIPARTISAN APPROACH.

APPROACH. EVERYBODY IS ON NOTICE THAT MAKE

EVERYBODY IS ON NOTICE THAT MAKE SURE -- TO MAKE SURE WE’RE READY

SURE -- TO MAKE SURE WE’RE READY FOR ANY RESULTS IN THIS THING,

FOR ANY RESULTS IN THIS THING, INCLUDING PLANS FOR QUARANTINES

INCLUDING PLANS FOR QUARANTINES OR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS OR

OR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS OR WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO

WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO CONTAIN THIS IN THE UNITED

CONTAIN THIS IN THE UNITED STATES.

STATES. DAGEN: SENATOR, IT’S DAGEN

DAGEN: SENATOR, IT’S DAGEN McDOWELL.

McDOWELL. DO YOU THINK THAT THIS VIRUS

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS VIRUS OUTBREAK IN THE UNITED STATES IS

OUTBREAK IN THE UNITED STATES IS A REASON TO MAKE SURE THAT IN

A REASON TO MAKE SURE THAT IN ANNUAL BUDGETS THAT THE CDC AND

ANNUAL BUDGETS THAT THE CDC AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ARE FUNDED BETTER THAN AT

HEALTH ARE FUNDED BETTER THAN AT LEAST WAS PROJECTED IN THE

LEAST WAS PROJECTED IN THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET FROM EARLIER

PRESIDENT’S BUDGET FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR. I KNOW THAT’S JUST A BLUEPRINT

I KNOW THAT’S JUST A BLUEPRINT AND A PLAN BUT THERE WERE CUTS

AND A PLAN BUT THERE WERE CUTS TO THE CDC, WERE THERE NOT.

TO THE CDC, WERE THERE NOT. >> YES.

>> YES. MERE’S A BIGGER ISSUE.

MERE’S A BIGGER ISSUE. YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, SO

YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE, SO HAVE I.

HAVE I. GO BACK TO THE DISASTER RELIEF

GO BACK TO THE DISASTER RELIEF AROUND THE HURRICANES IN THE

AROUND THE HURRICANES IN THE SOUTHEAST, THE FIRES IN

SOUTHEAST, THE FIRES IN CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA. WHAT WE NEED IN OUR FEDERAL

WHAT WE NEED IN OUR FEDERAL BUDGET IS A CONTINGENCY PLAN,

BUDGET IS A CONTINGENCY PLAN, CONTINGENCY BUDGET FOR THESE

CONTINGENCY BUDGET FOR THESE THINGS.

THINGS. MOST STATES HAVE THAT.

MOST STATES HAVE THAT. MOST BUSINESSES HAVE THAT.

MOST BUSINESSES HAVE THAT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES OVER HERE, WE BORROW MORE MONEY

OVER HERE, WE BORROW MORE MONEY AND SPEND IT IN THE EMERGENCIES.

AND SPEND IT IN THE EMERGENCIES. WE NEED A CONTINGENCY PLAN TO

WE NEED A CONTINGENCY PLAN TO DEAL WITH THESE THINGS.

DEAL WITH THESE THINGS. WITH REGARD TO NIH, I THINK WE

WITH REGARD TO NIH, I THINK WE NEED MORE FUNDING THERE.

NEED MORE FUNDING THERE. HERE’S THE ISSUE.

HERE’S THE ISSUE. CANCER, DIABETES AND ALZHEIMER’S

CANCER, DIABETES AND ALZHEIMER’S ARE THE THREE MOST EXPENSIVE

ARE THE THREE MOST EXPENSIVE DISEASES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

DISEASES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE IN A

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE IN A WAY WE HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE PAST.

WAY WE HAVEN’T BEEN IN THE PAST. AND IN A WAY THAT I THINK RIGHT

AND IN A WAY THAT I THINK RIGHT NOW WE CAN PREPARE FOR THESE

NOW WE CAN PREPARE FOR THESE UNEXPECTED EMERGENCIES LIKE THIS

UNEXPECTED EMERGENCIES LIKE THIS BY HAVING A CONTINGENCY PLAN.

BY HAVING A CONTINGENCY PLAN. MARIA: LET ME ASK YOU THIS

MARIA: LET ME ASK YOU THIS BEFORE YOU GO.

BEFORE YOU GO. DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ANY

DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ANY PLANS TO USE THE MILITARY TO SET

PLANS TO USE THE MILITARY TO SET UP TEMPORARY CLINICS AND

UP TEMPORARY CLINICS AND HOSPITALS, SHOULD THEY BE

HOSPITALS, SHOULD THEY BE NEEDED, GIVEN THE FACT THAT

NEEDED, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE COULD BE A SHORTAGE OF

THERE COULD BE A SHORTAGE OF BEDS?

BEDS? >> WELL, WE’VE HAD IT

>> WELL, WE’VE HAD IT HISTORICALLY, WE’VE HAD NATIONAL

HISTORICALLY, WE’VE HAD NATIONAL GUARD MOBILIZE WITH ISSUES.

GUARD MOBILIZE WITH ISSUES. THE PROFESSIONALS ARE ADVISING

THE PROFESSIONALS ARE ADVISING THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS

THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS ABOUT ALL THE CONTINGENCY

ABOUT ALL THE CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS THAT MAY BE

OPERATIONS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY.

NECESSARY. I THINK IT’S WAY TOO EARLY TO

I THINK IT’S WAY TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING

TALK ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING BUT I WILL SAY THIS TO THE

BUT I WILL SAY THIS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AMERICAN PEOPLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AROUND

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AROUND THE WORLD.

THE WORLD. WE’VE GOT SOMETHING LIKE 95,000

WE’VE GOT SOMETHING LIKE 95,000 CASES.

CASES. BUT OVER 90% OF THOSE CASES ARE

BUT OVER 90% OF THOSE CASES ARE STILL ISOLATED IN CHINA.

STILL ISOLATED IN CHINA. LET’S KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE.

LET’S KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE. WE’RE PREPARING FOR THE WORST TO

WE’RE PREPARING FOR THE WORST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE

MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE COUNTRY.

COUNTRY. MARIA: SENATOR, THANKS VERY

MARIA: SENATOR, THANKS VERY MUCH.

MUCH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPDATE