Sens. Peters, Murray seek report from Trump administration on COVID-19 response

U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) are calling on the Trump Administration to report to Congress on the federal government’s COVID-19 response.

Specifically, they are seeking information about nationwide testing capacity, hospital bed space, personal protective equipment inventories, the number of positive COVID-19 cases, and more.

The Senators, in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, said transparency and openness will help to build public trust and confidence in the Administration’s response. It will also allow public health experts to assess the effectiveness of the government’s actions and make the necessary adjustments.

“We are calling on you to publicly report to Congress and the American people a list of critical metrics surrounding COVID-19 response. These metrics can be used to assess if steps currently being taken to combat this pandemic are effective, or if we need to implement alternative solutions. To ensure Congress and the public have access to this critical information, broken out by U.S. state and territory, please identify critical metrics to report by one week from today,” the Senators wrote to Pence.

The lawmakers said that transparency and communication are vital to reducing panic and assuring citizens that the government is taking the necessary steps to respond effectively.

“These metrics will allow Congress and the public to assess critical supply chain issues and ensure that the funds are effectively distributed to states, territories, and other federal partners as we combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Senators added. “Today’s statistics will determine tomorrow’s actions. We must make informed, evidence-based decisions as we continue to fight this pandemic.”