Press Releases

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after President-elect Joe Biden announced the formation of his Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board:

“Unlike the Trump Administration, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris take this pandemic seriously. Their swift formation of a COVID-19 advisory board should reassure the American people that crushing the virus and reviving our economy will be top priorities in the next White House. Experts like former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler, and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith of the Yale School of Medicine are the types of tested experts who can craft and execute bold, science-based solutions to this unprecedented challenge.

“For months, Senate Republicans have refused to vote on the Heroes Act, sweeping House-passed legislation that would meaningfully address the health and economic emergencies confronting the nation. Due to that inaction and President Trump’s lack of leadership, there are fundamental steps we still need to take to tackle the pandemic effectively: developing and implementing a comprehensive testing and tracing strategy, equipping all frontline workers with the protective gear they require, ensuring a future vaccine is distributed equitably across the country, and providing state and local governments with resources to keep their communities safe. Ways and Means Democrats stand ready to work closely with the new administration to ensure that the Biden-Harris COVID plan succeeds and that our nation can finally recover from this crisis.”

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