WEBVTT 00:01.640 --> 00:03.862 Thank you , Mr Chairman , And thank all 00:03.862 --> 00:05.973 of you for your service and for being 00:05.973 --> 00:08.196 with us today . And , um , let me start 00:08.196 --> 00:10.362 out also by by thanking the Department 00:10.362 --> 00:12.529 of Defense for heroic effort and and a 00:12.529 --> 00:14.529 great job , general per know when I 00:14.529 --> 00:16.840 think about the the contribution , the 00:16.840 --> 00:18.896 logic , the obvious contribution , I 00:18.896 --> 00:20.784 guess . And maybe I wouldn't have 00:20.784 --> 00:23.007 thought of it at the beginning that the 00:23.007 --> 00:25.062 expertise of the military brings toe 00:25.062 --> 00:27.173 operation warp speed . Just thank you 00:27.173 --> 00:29.284 so much . And and I've joined Senator 00:29.284 --> 00:31.451 Kaine and Senator Ernst and the others 00:31.451 --> 00:33.673 who have pointed out that , but for our 00:33.673 --> 00:35.618 national Guard , I'm not sure what 00:35.618 --> 00:37.673 we're many states would have been in 00:37.673 --> 00:37.420 North Dakota . They are along with 00:37.420 --> 00:39.476 their frontline healthcare workers , 00:39.476 --> 00:41.420 the unsung heroes who brought ah , 00:41.420 --> 00:43.640 level of expertise and logistics that 00:43.650 --> 00:47.070 provided efficiency and productivity to 00:47.070 --> 00:49.181 everything from standing up temporary 00:49.181 --> 00:51.181 hospitals , thio , certainly to the 00:51.181 --> 00:53.514 testing and now to vaccine distribution . 00:53.514 --> 00:55.626 So thank you to all of you for that . 00:55.640 --> 00:58.730 Um , I want to speak . Ask you General 00:58.730 --> 01:00.619 Pernis specifically about vaccine 01:00.619 --> 01:02.786 manufacturing , and I wanna be able to 01:02.786 --> 01:05.340 be part of the solution . Perhaps , um , 01:05.350 --> 01:07.860 it's my understanding that Ah lot of 01:07.860 --> 01:10.620 the , uh , that the messenger RNA 01:10.630 --> 01:12.650 vaccines use raw materials . Air 01:12.650 --> 01:15.390 developed at El de Voronin , Fargo , 01:15.390 --> 01:17.980 North Dakota . L D Veron is the , uh 01:17.990 --> 01:20.530 both the most advanced and large has 01:20.530 --> 01:23.840 the largest capacity of any DNA plasmid , 01:23.850 --> 01:26.860 uh , company in the world . Um , and 01:26.860 --> 01:28.916 for several months , the company has 01:28.916 --> 01:31.160 been trying its darndest to get a 01:31.160 --> 01:33.271 meaningful meeting with somebody from 01:33.271 --> 01:35.680 from Operation Warp Speed . I've tried 01:35.680 --> 01:38.570 to facilitate that . We've been largely 01:38.570 --> 01:40.620 unsuccessful with some progress 01:40.630 --> 01:43.700 recently . Uh , January 19th l Deborah 01:43.700 --> 01:46.190 and finally sent a sent a letter toe . 01:46.200 --> 01:48.290 Carlo didn't utter Stefanie you . 01:48.300 --> 01:50.522 Obviously , you work closely with him , 01:50.640 --> 01:54.330 um , at Operation Warp speed . And it's 01:54.330 --> 01:56.274 my understanding that they finally 01:56.274 --> 01:58.370 received a return called within the 01:58.370 --> 02:01.210 last week . That's taken way too long , 02:01.560 --> 02:04.900 but I think that there's a There's been 02:04.900 --> 02:07.067 a tendency to overlook some of the mid 02:07.067 --> 02:10.530 sized maybe Midwestern problem 02:10.530 --> 02:14.080 solvers , Uh , and and as we build 02:14.090 --> 02:17.670 a domestic supply chain , which I 02:17.680 --> 02:20.660 commend you and the whole of government 02:20.660 --> 02:22.493 for doing , we need to do that . 02:22.493 --> 02:25.150 Certainly . Covert 19 has has exposed 02:25.160 --> 02:27.382 some frailties and our supply chain not 02:27.382 --> 02:29.493 just of pharmaceuticals , but lots of 02:29.493 --> 02:31.660 things . Food supply and others . Um , 02:31.740 --> 02:33.851 but I don't I don't wanna leave out . 02:33.851 --> 02:35.962 Ah , problem solver that , you know , 02:35.962 --> 02:38.240 that could help solve the problem . No , 02:38.240 --> 02:40.462 I'm not an expert , obviously . But you 02:40.462 --> 02:42.518 are . And you have people who are al 02:42.518 --> 02:44.573 Deborah on is and they have people . 02:44.573 --> 02:46.684 Who are I Just what I guess might ask 02:46.684 --> 02:49.030 if you would be today , General . First 02:49.030 --> 02:51.197 of all , have you seen the letter that 02:51.197 --> 02:53.308 the one I reference from Aldebaran on 02:53.308 --> 02:55.474 January 19 ? I'm gonna I'm gonna leave 02:55.474 --> 02:57.586 it here . And before you leave here , 02:57.586 --> 02:59.586 I'm gonna make sure that you have a 02:59.586 --> 03:01.641 copy of it . Um , commanded to you . 03:01.641 --> 03:03.586 And I wanna know if , um if well , 03:03.586 --> 03:05.586 would you just commit to me that to 03:05.586 --> 03:07.586 personally taking a few minutes and 03:07.586 --> 03:09.752 believe me , it is not lost on me that 03:09.752 --> 03:09.610 you have other things to dio , but I 03:09.610 --> 03:11.721 just I'd love the commitment that you 03:11.721 --> 03:13.943 take some time to look at that and make 03:13.943 --> 03:15.443 a call and spend some time 03:15.443 --> 03:17.277 familiarizing yourself with this 03:17.277 --> 03:19.443 fantastic company in Fargo . Senator , 03:19.443 --> 03:21.221 you have my commitment . I will 03:21.221 --> 03:23.388 personally call and talk . I very much 03:23.388 --> 03:25.666 appreciate that . And as I said , Andi , 03:25.666 --> 03:27.832 hopefully you'll be inspired to send a 03:27.832 --> 03:29.999 team to Fargo . Um , but , uh , not in 03:29.999 --> 03:32.290 the winter . Uh , you haven't been 03:32.290 --> 03:34.457 there if you haven't been there in the 03:34.457 --> 03:36.234 winter , General , but anyway , 03:36.234 --> 03:38.123 whatever . Whatever works , we're 03:38.123 --> 03:40.179 grateful for that . And again , just 03:40.179 --> 03:42.401 let's let's build , uh , let's shore up 03:42.401 --> 03:44.623 our own supply chain . And , uh , and I 03:44.623 --> 03:46.623 wanna be part of that solution with 03:46.623 --> 03:48.679 that I yield . Thank you very much . 03:48.679 --> 03:50.901 Senator Kramer and I have been to Fargo 03:50.901 --> 03:54.830 in the winter . Uh , let me recognize 03:54.830 --> 03:58.680 saying her king via WebEx . Well , 03:58.690 --> 04:00.912 thank you very much , Mr Chairman . And 04:00.912 --> 04:02.412 first , I want to begin by 04:02.412 --> 04:04.320 acknowledging former chair Inhofe 04:04.330 --> 04:07.500 because these hearings really started 04:07.520 --> 04:09.687 last March . It was the only committee 04:09.687 --> 04:11.464 that I serve on that was really 04:11.464 --> 04:14.710 actively engaged in determining the 04:14.720 --> 04:17.580 role of what was going on . And I 04:17.580 --> 04:20.170 remember having hearings from 04:20.180 --> 04:23.000 quarantine and various places around 04:23.000 --> 04:25.167 the country when this was just getting 04:25.167 --> 04:27.000 started . So I wanna acknowledge 04:27.000 --> 04:29.120 Chairman in office leadership for for 04:29.130 --> 04:32.050 getting us engaged in this process at 04:32.050 --> 04:35.570 the very earliest stage . I also want 04:35.570 --> 04:38.320 to recognize goodness knows , I've had 04:38.320 --> 04:40.460 my major differences with the prior 04:40.460 --> 04:42.870 president , but , um , setting in 04:42.870 --> 04:46.840 motion the operation warp speed was an 04:46.840 --> 04:49.470 important initiative , and it has been 04:49.480 --> 04:52.150 amazingly successful . The standard I 04:52.150 --> 04:54.317 used with my staff . Whenever they say 04:54.640 --> 04:57.600 it'll take a year to get this done , I 04:57.600 --> 04:59.656 always say , Don't forget Eisenhower 04:59.656 --> 05:02.980 retook Europe in 11 months and general 05:02.980 --> 05:05.580 pregnant you . You beat that that 05:05.590 --> 05:08.620 extraordinary deadline under very , 05:08.620 --> 05:10.950 very difficult circumstances . So I 05:10.950 --> 05:12.506 really think that has to be 05:12.506 --> 05:14.561 acknowledged . There plenty of other 05:14.561 --> 05:16.617 failures to be discussed , a Senator 05:16.617 --> 05:18.561 Kaine mentioned , but I think it's 05:18.561 --> 05:20.672 appropriate to recognize success when 05:20.672 --> 05:22.394 we would when we see it in the 05:22.394 --> 05:24.228 development of the vaccine . The 05:24.228 --> 05:26.460 question I'm interested in is the 05:26.470 --> 05:29.060 distribution and General Purna . 05:30.340 --> 05:32.440 My principal question is , where are 05:32.440 --> 05:34.620 the current bottlenecks ? Is it 05:34.620 --> 05:37.600 manufacturing ? Is it syringes ? Is it 05:37.600 --> 05:40.460 the middle mile ? Is it healthcare 05:40.460 --> 05:42.760 professionals at the end of the line ? 05:42.770 --> 05:46.020 Where is there ? What can we do now to 05:46.020 --> 05:48.242 try to address whatever bottlenecks are 05:48.242 --> 05:50.770 remaining to get these shots into the 05:50.770 --> 05:53.150 arms of hundreds of millions of 05:53.150 --> 05:56.410 Americans ? Senator , just for 05:56.410 --> 05:58.980 reference , we purchased on being 05:58.980 --> 06:01.210 delivered every day all the syringes 06:01.210 --> 06:03.260 and needles and all accessories 06:03.640 --> 06:06.480 necessary for administration of the 06:06.480 --> 06:08.702 vaccine so that that is not a shortfall 06:08.702 --> 06:10.536 in their delivered accordingly . 06:10.540 --> 06:13.230 Currently , uh , it is the volume of 06:13.230 --> 06:16.930 supply that we have access to with . 06:16.930 --> 06:18.910 That said , I will tell you it's 06:18.920 --> 06:22.120 increasing very rapidly . When we 06:22.120 --> 06:24.450 started in December , we were shipping 06:24.450 --> 06:27.460 roughly four million doses a week . As 06:27.460 --> 06:29.570 of this week , we're averaging 15 06:29.570 --> 06:33.220 million doses a week on come mid 06:33.220 --> 06:36.290 March . Maybe about 21 March will be 06:36.290 --> 06:39.140 shipping as much as 30 million doses . 06:39.150 --> 06:41.970 Uh , we knew that the ink , the ability 06:41.970 --> 06:44.870 for the manufacturing thio meet the 06:44.870 --> 06:46.890 requirement would have to scale 06:46.900 --> 06:49.280 accordingly . Uh , and they're getting 06:49.280 --> 06:52.010 there quickly . And as hopefully we add 06:52.010 --> 06:55.030 Jansen to the portfolio , uh , this 06:55.030 --> 06:57.840 weekend and then , uh , in the future , 06:57.850 --> 07:01.490 uh , AstraZeneca and Novavax will have 07:01.500 --> 07:04.870 even mawr for distribution that that it 07:04.870 --> 07:07.880 is the supply that is the hold up over . 07:07.890 --> 07:11.140 So there's no , uh , there's no doses 07:11.140 --> 07:13.900 sitting somewhere in warehouses waiting 07:13.910 --> 07:17.040 to be distributed . Its's the supply at 07:17.040 --> 07:19.120 the very first stage , but the 07:19.130 --> 07:21.352 remainder of the distribution network , 07:21.352 --> 07:23.360 even down to the health care 07:23.360 --> 07:25.471 professionals in individual sites and 07:25.471 --> 07:28.110 individual states that is scaled up , 07:28.120 --> 07:31.090 you believe sufficiently . I am 100% 07:31.090 --> 07:33.460 confident in that the state and local 07:33.460 --> 07:35.516 governments have done an exceptional 07:35.516 --> 07:38.310 job a zai alluded to earlier . We've 07:38.310 --> 07:41.590 increased provider , uh , accessibility 07:41.590 --> 07:45.090 from roughly 7000 , uh , locations toe 07:45.090 --> 07:48.160 over 130,000 across the entire country . 07:48.440 --> 07:51.040 So our ability to deliver on then a 07:51.040 --> 07:54.120 minister is equal to the amount of 07:54.120 --> 07:57.910 supply that's available . Well , I 07:57.920 --> 08:00.450 wanna , uh , and with a question of his 08:00.450 --> 08:02.228 comings and and really , it's a 08:02.228 --> 08:04.180 reiteration of Senator Cotton's 08:04.180 --> 08:07.420 question . Andi , I think this goes for 08:07.420 --> 08:09.642 both of you . One of the most effective 08:09.642 --> 08:12.860 things about the military is the after 08:12.860 --> 08:15.120 action review on . Of course , we're in 08:15.120 --> 08:17.176 the middle of the action right now , 08:17.176 --> 08:20.680 But to the extent you can assess , uh , 08:20.690 --> 08:22.801 Miss Cummings problems in the Defense 08:22.801 --> 08:24.523 Production Act , for example , 08:24.523 --> 08:28.250 authorities timing how it actually is 08:28.250 --> 08:31.260 executed , that would be very helpful 08:31.260 --> 08:33.500 to us . And the same thing for you , 08:33.500 --> 08:35.750 General , in terms of distribution , 08:35.750 --> 08:38.240 are there authorities ? Are there 08:38.250 --> 08:41.790 elements of the of the , 08:41.800 --> 08:43.860 uh , effectuate shin of you of your 08:43.860 --> 08:47.250 work that can be approved , improved by 08:47.260 --> 08:50.390 changes in statutes and things that we 08:50.390 --> 08:52.557 can do to help . So I hope both of you 08:52.557 --> 08:54.860 will supply us is after this hearing 08:55.040 --> 08:57.950 with any written suggestions you have 08:57.950 --> 09:00.480 for authority changes or other things 09:00.480 --> 09:04.460 that we can do based on the 09:04.470 --> 09:06.400 now extensive experience you have 09:06.440 --> 09:08.240 dealing with this catastrophic 09:08.240 --> 09:10.462 situation . With that , I want to thank 09:10.462 --> 09:12.629 all of our witnesses today , as all of 09:12.629 --> 09:15.290 us have for really extraordinary work . 09:15.300 --> 09:18.300 And , uh , we wanna be sure that we 09:18.300 --> 09:20.890 support you in every way possible to 09:20.890 --> 09:23.450 complete this work and end this 09:23.460 --> 09:25.890 terrible chapter in American history . 09:25.890 --> 09:28.057 Thank you , Mr Chairman . Well , thank 09:28.057 --> 09:30.279 you , Senator King . Let me recognize . 09:30.279 --> 09:32.446 Via WebEx . Senator Blackburn Done the 09:32.446 --> 09:36.000 Blackburn . Okay , thank you so much . 09:36.010 --> 09:39.030 I appreciate that . And , General Perma , 09:39.030 --> 09:41.050 I want to thank you for your time 09:41.440 --> 09:44.650 yesterday to talk through some of these 09:44.660 --> 09:47.300 issues . Uh , there's been a lot of 09:47.300 --> 09:50.560 conversation around the issue of red 09:50.560 --> 09:53.270 tape and things that are getting in the 09:53.270 --> 09:55.750 way . So I want to go to the other side . 09:55.760 --> 09:59.310 Um , are you all really 09:59.320 --> 10:02.150 compiling best practices and beginning 10:02.150 --> 10:05.550 to say , going forward or if we have 10:05.550 --> 10:07.717 another situation , if there's another 10:07.717 --> 10:10.040 pandemic , these air going to be the 10:10.040 --> 10:13.280 methods that we will move forward with 10:13.290 --> 10:16.270 best practices ? Yeah , Senator 10:16.270 --> 10:18.370 absolutely were being agile and 10:18.370 --> 10:20.810 adaptive to what's facing us now . we 10:20.810 --> 10:23.032 We don't wanna fight the plan . We want 10:23.032 --> 10:24.699 to fight the enemy on execute 10:24.699 --> 10:26.532 accordingly . And we have a very 10:26.532 --> 10:28.820 rigorous and detailed process to 10:28.820 --> 10:31.990 capture our after action review 10:31.990 --> 10:34.550 comments and recommendations over , 10:36.240 --> 10:38.462 Well , thank you for that . And I think 10:38.462 --> 10:41.800 it is important as we look at bringing 10:41.810 --> 10:45.560 the J and J Vaccine online and picking 10:45.560 --> 10:49.540 up the pace . Aziz . We are getting 10:49.550 --> 10:53.190 vaccinations those shots into arms for 10:53.200 --> 10:55.950 our active duty for our veterans . I 10:55.950 --> 10:58.830 think it is just so important that 10:58.840 --> 11:02.550 these best practices evolved and be 11:02.550 --> 11:05.470 putting into place in yesterday . In 11:05.470 --> 11:08.480 our conversation , you mentioned FedEx 11:08.480 --> 11:12.010 and they are a Tennessee treasure and 11:12.020 --> 11:14.710 we're so pleased toe . Have them 11:14.710 --> 11:18.050 participating in such an aggressive way . 11:18.440 --> 11:21.450 And I think that the relationship 11:21.450 --> 11:23.710 between D . O D . FedEx and other 11:23.710 --> 11:26.750 government entities really 11:27.240 --> 11:30.610 shows that a public private 11:30.620 --> 11:33.980 partnership 10 and 11:33.990 --> 11:36.270 highlighting the strength of that 11:36.280 --> 11:38.140 approach of a public private 11:38.140 --> 11:41.460 partnership can go a long way in 11:41.460 --> 11:44.960 tackling some of these complex issues . 11:46.240 --> 11:48.530 And we know that you're going to 11:48.530 --> 11:51.830 continue to work in that regard . 11:51.840 --> 11:54.830 Um , we also talked a little bit about 11:54.830 --> 11:56.886 our Tennessee National Guard and the 11:56.886 --> 11:58.941 good work that they're doing there , 11:58.941 --> 12:02.070 Certainly leading the nation in 12:02.080 --> 12:05.660 supported static vaccination sites with 12:05.670 --> 12:09.080 560 personnel at 60 12:09.080 --> 12:12.920 sites . And as each state or 12:12.920 --> 12:15.870 metro area is responsible for its own 12:15.870 --> 12:19.160 internal distribution of the vaccine , 12:19.240 --> 12:21.840 there have been variations from 12:21.840 --> 12:25.540 jurisdiction to jurisdiction . So 12:25.550 --> 12:27.860 given this flexibility , in your 12:27.860 --> 12:30.190 opinion , how have the diverse 12:30.200 --> 12:33.520 approaches to distribution enabled or 12:33.520 --> 12:37.520 hampered the ability of Americans 12:37.520 --> 12:41.040 to receive the vaccine ? And then there 12:41.040 --> 12:44.250 again , what are the best practices and 12:44.250 --> 12:46.660 the lessons learned in this regard ? 12:47.840 --> 12:51.310 Senator , uh , you know that it's not 12:51.310 --> 12:53.588 lost on you as we discussed . You know , 12:53.588 --> 12:56.520 the flu vaccine is a pull , so every 12:56.520 --> 12:58.631 year we order , you know , throughout 12:58.631 --> 13:00.770 the jurisdictions on then 13:00.780 --> 13:03.360 pharmaceutical companies manufacture 13:03.360 --> 13:05.527 and distribute directly to them . What 13:05.527 --> 13:07.360 we've been doing with the covert 13:07.360 --> 13:09.630 vaccine is we produced and , as it 13:09.630 --> 13:12.290 comes available , were distributing it 13:12.440 --> 13:14.840 simultaneously throughout the country 13:14.850 --> 13:18.500 on you could see great successes in 13:18.500 --> 13:20.556 many of the jurisdictions because of 13:20.556 --> 13:22.610 their detailed planning , execution 13:22.610 --> 13:24.388 support by the National Guard . 13:24.388 --> 13:26.800 Etcetera on those lessons were 13:26.800 --> 13:29.450 capturing holistically so that we 13:29.450 --> 13:32.520 continue to not only share today in 13:32.520 --> 13:35.200 jurisdictions , but that we get it 13:35.200 --> 13:37.960 ready for the future because You know , 13:37.960 --> 13:40.390 some of what we do believe is if there 13:40.390 --> 13:42.810 is another pandemic , it'll be the same 13:42.810 --> 13:45.140 type of situation where we'll have to 13:45.140 --> 13:48.770 push the vaccine upon availability on . 13:48.770 --> 13:50.992 So we want to get into this routine and 13:50.992 --> 13:54.130 normalize it . Thank you . Thank you . 13:54.140 --> 13:57.220 Miss Cummings . I wanted to talk with 13:57.220 --> 13:59.387 you for just a couple of minutes about 13:59.387 --> 14:02.080 supply chain and the defense industrial 14:02.080 --> 14:04.191 base . There are some of us that were 14:04.191 --> 14:06.860 at the White House yesterday working on 14:06.870 --> 14:09.310 the supply chain issue writ large , 14:09.310 --> 14:12.710 whether it is pharmaceuticals or semi 14:12.710 --> 14:15.940 conductor chips . And I'd like for you 14:15.940 --> 14:19.610 to speak briefly to what you're doing 14:19.610 --> 14:22.460 to maintain the supply chain integrity . 14:22.840 --> 14:26.290 Um , with the ongoing resource strains 14:26.290 --> 14:28.401 that you have and really , what keeps 14:28.401 --> 14:31.710 you up at night in regards to that 14:31.710 --> 14:33.790 supply chain ? Thank you for that 14:33.790 --> 14:36.630 question , Senator . Um , I would call 14:36.630 --> 14:39.050 out the industrial capability report 14:39.060 --> 14:41.820 that our office released earlier this 14:41.820 --> 14:44.390 year That does look at fragility in the 14:44.390 --> 14:46.990 defense industrial base . I would agree 14:46.990 --> 14:48.879 working in the interagency on the 14:48.879 --> 14:51.360 pharmaceutical industrial base on 14:51.360 --> 14:54.960 shoring those precursors and AP ICE is 14:54.960 --> 14:57.071 critically important to both national 14:57.071 --> 14:59.470 and economic security . Um , as faras 14:59.470 --> 15:02.330 the companies that make up the defense 15:02.330 --> 15:04.740 industrial base . We took actions very 15:04.740 --> 15:07.060 early on to increase progress payments . 15:07.540 --> 15:09.800 Through that process , we were able to 15:09.800 --> 15:12.160 infuse about $4 billion into the 15:12.160 --> 15:14.460 defense industrial base off funding 15:14.460 --> 15:16.900 they would have received anyway . But 15:16.900 --> 15:18.920 we pushed that earlier so that they 15:18.920 --> 15:20.976 could push those progress . Payments 15:20.976 --> 15:24.260 are primes down to our 2nd and 3rd tier , 15:24.270 --> 15:26.860 mid level and small businesses . And so 15:26.860 --> 15:28.971 we had a lot of success in helping to 15:28.971 --> 15:31.870 sustain the defense industrial base and 15:31.870 --> 15:33.940 mitigate those impacts that co vid 15:33.940 --> 15:36.330 would have on those critical , uh , 15:36.340 --> 15:38.396 supply chains . So thank you . Thank 15:38.396 --> 15:40.870 you . You're back my time . Well , 15:40.870 --> 15:43.203 thank you very much . Senator Blackburn . 15:43.203 --> 15:45.203 Let me recognize Senator Warren via 15:45.203 --> 15:48.550 WebEx . So thank you , Mr 15:48.550 --> 15:50.828 Chairman on . Thank you for being here , 15:50.828 --> 15:53.380 General . Last October , Senator 15:53.390 --> 15:56.280 Sharona and I requested a hearing on 15:56.290 --> 15:58.730 the I . D s role in developing and 15:58.730 --> 16:00.897 distributing Covad 19 vaccines . And I 16:00.897 --> 16:03.060 am very glad that this is one of the 16:03.060 --> 16:06.010 first topics that you are addressing as 16:06.010 --> 16:08.121 chairman . So thank you very much for 16:08.121 --> 16:10.610 that Chairman Read . Um , I asked for 16:10.610 --> 16:13.340 this hearing because the federal 16:13.340 --> 16:16.560 vaccine effort called Operation Warp 16:16.560 --> 16:18.420 speed by President Trump was 16:18.430 --> 16:22.300 characterized by ethical conflicts and 16:22.300 --> 16:25.280 mismanagement . And one of my biggest 16:25.280 --> 16:28.150 concerns is the lack of transparency . 16:28.540 --> 16:31.360 O . W s issued billions of dollars 16:31.360 --> 16:34.480 worth of vaccine contracts , but with 16:34.480 --> 16:36.480 two little accountability on that . 16:36.840 --> 16:39.860 Last year , D . O . D issued $6 billion 16:39.860 --> 16:42.110 in contracts to a defense contractor , 16:42.120 --> 16:45.530 Advanced Technologies International Inc 16:45.540 --> 16:47.750 This company then issued subcontracts 16:47.750 --> 16:49.694 to various pharmaceutical firms in 16:49.694 --> 16:51.910 arrangement called and other 16:51.910 --> 16:55.150 transaction authorities that allowed 16:55.150 --> 16:57.260 Pharma to bypass regulatory 16:57.260 --> 16:59.230 requirements and that limited 16:59.230 --> 17:01.910 disclosure . So , General Purna , what 17:01.910 --> 17:03.680 is the rationale for this 17:03.680 --> 17:07.070 subcontracting process other than to 17:07.070 --> 17:09.260 reduce transparency and avoid 17:09.260 --> 17:12.550 regulatory and ethics requirements ? 17:13.340 --> 17:15.507 So , Senator , I can't speak broadly , 17:15.507 --> 17:17.673 and I'll defer to my , uh , colleagues 17:17.673 --> 17:20.380 here at the table . But for O . W s and 17:20.380 --> 17:22.720 the work that we've done , uh , we've 17:22.720 --> 17:24.331 worked really hard to remain 17:24.331 --> 17:27.100 transparent , uh , in coordination with 17:27.100 --> 17:29.120 the G a O . And make sure that 17:29.120 --> 17:31.620 everything we're doing eyes legally , 17:31.620 --> 17:34.190 ethically and morally correct on we've 17:34.190 --> 17:37.880 provided all of our contracts to them s 17:37.880 --> 17:40.560 so that they can be apart and help us 17:40.570 --> 17:42.860 see ourselves and work our way forward . 17:42.870 --> 17:46.850 Uh , I appreciate that , general and I 17:46.850 --> 17:49.230 appreciate the need to move quickly . 17:49.240 --> 17:52.000 But I think that transparency given up 17:52.000 --> 17:54.390 transparency , particularly when 17:54.390 --> 17:56.650 billions of dollars of taxpayer money 17:56.650 --> 17:59.180 involved is not the right forward self 17:59.190 --> 18:01.357 at right approach . So let me just ask 18:01.357 --> 18:04.980 you moving forward , we'll d o d commit 18:04.990 --> 18:07.980 to procurement transparency on our 18:07.980 --> 18:10.460 federal vaccine efforts . 18:11.340 --> 18:13.790 Senator , I apologize , but I can't 18:13.790 --> 18:16.550 commit for d o d . I'd have toe go to 18:16.550 --> 18:19.690 my colleagues . Senator , this is 18:19.700 --> 18:21.756 Stacey Cummings from Acquisition and 18:21.756 --> 18:24.040 Sustainment . We do send a monthly 18:24.040 --> 18:26.750 report to defense Committee staff that 18:26.750 --> 18:28.917 I will make sure that your staff has a 18:28.917 --> 18:31.870 copy of And what I can commit to is 18:31.870 --> 18:34.160 that we will continue to be transparent 18:34.160 --> 18:37.380 and how we are spending both D o d 18:37.380 --> 18:39.850 funds as well as inter agency funds . 18:40.140 --> 18:42.196 The other transaction authority is a 18:42.196 --> 18:44.450 tool that helps us move quickly . It is 18:44.450 --> 18:47.870 not meant thio in any way uh , stop us 18:47.870 --> 18:49.870 from being transparent . I would be 18:49.870 --> 18:51.870 happy to come and brief you or your 18:51.870 --> 18:54.037 staff on other transaction authorities 18:54.037 --> 18:56.590 and the benefits . Um , happy to do 18:56.590 --> 19:00.360 that at your convenience . And , uh , I 19:00.360 --> 19:02.527 appreciate you're saying that you want 19:02.527 --> 19:04.527 to be transparent , but just saying 19:04.527 --> 19:06.693 you're going to continue . The current 19:06.693 --> 19:08.749 level of transparency is just simply 19:08.749 --> 19:10.582 not good enough . You know , the 19:10.582 --> 19:12.749 structure of the contracts are part of 19:12.749 --> 19:14.582 the problem . The terms of these 19:14.582 --> 19:16.950 contracts were bad , too . Public 19:16.960 --> 19:20.130 interest groups had to fight O . W s to 19:20.130 --> 19:22.960 release its contracts . And when it did , 19:22.960 --> 19:24.682 it became clear that the Trump 19:24.682 --> 19:27.250 administration had served out the 19:27.250 --> 19:29.640 American public key contracts , 19:29.640 --> 19:32.540 including the contracts with Pfizer and 19:32.540 --> 19:36.240 Johnson and Johnson excluded critical 19:36.250 --> 19:39.370 taxpayer pricing protections . One 19:39.380 --> 19:42.210 expert described these contracts as 19:42.220 --> 19:45.870 giving away the store . So let me ask 19:45.870 --> 19:48.040 the question another way , based on 19:48.040 --> 19:50.096 what we know , I'll go back to you . 19:50.096 --> 19:53.530 General partner . Uh , it seems to me 19:53.530 --> 19:55.697 that D o . D should serve the American 19:55.697 --> 19:58.010 taxpayers , not massive pharmaceutical 19:58.010 --> 20:00.990 companies . So moving forward will you 20:00.990 --> 20:02.823 commit to writing and developing 20:02.823 --> 20:05.320 vaccine contracts that protect the 20:05.320 --> 20:07.120 American people instead of 20:07.130 --> 20:09.970 pharmaceutical executives ? You have my 20:09.970 --> 20:13.320 100% commitment to that end . Good . I 20:13.320 --> 20:15.487 am very glad to hear that , you know , 20:15.487 --> 20:17.850 give them a massive taxpayer investment 20:17.860 --> 20:20.680 and public health interest and covered 20:20.680 --> 20:24.100 19 therapeutics and vaccines and other 20:24.100 --> 20:26.267 medical products . The American people 20:26.267 --> 20:28.100 deserve to know that the federal 20:28.100 --> 20:30.211 government is using their tax dollars 20:30.211 --> 20:32.378 to develop medical products as quickly 20:32.378 --> 20:34.433 as possible , and that the very best 20:34.433 --> 20:37.600 possible price not to line the pockets 20:37.610 --> 20:40.270 of wealthy companies by cutting corners 20:40.270 --> 20:43.020 and consumer protection or pricing or 20:43.020 --> 20:46.150 qualities . So I recognized Joel 20:46.150 --> 20:48.317 Partner that you may have been limited 20:48.317 --> 20:50.483 by the previous administration in many 20:50.483 --> 20:52.372 respects , but I'm noting for the 20:52.372 --> 20:54.590 record here and now that you have 20:54.590 --> 20:57.700 committed to do a good meal war and I 20:57.710 --> 20:59.654 will hold you to that commitment . 20:59.654 --> 21:01.710 Thank you very much . Thank you , Mr 21:01.710 --> 21:03.932 Chairman . Thank you , Senator Warren . 21:03.932 --> 21:06.154 Let me recognize Senator Hawley . Thank 21:06.154 --> 21:08.266 you , Mr Chairman . Thank you all for 21:08.266 --> 21:07.900 being here for answering our questions 21:07.900 --> 21:10.067 today . Mr . Salih says , Could I just 21:10.067 --> 21:11.900 start with you ? I've heard from 21:11.900 --> 21:13.900 constituents in my state , which is 21:13.900 --> 21:13.870 Missouri , that the Department of 21:13.870 --> 21:15.926 Defense is not releasing information 21:15.926 --> 21:18.092 about the number of service members on 21:18.092 --> 21:20.037 a given installation who have been 21:20.037 --> 21:22.203 vaccinated . Is that correct ? To your 21:22.203 --> 21:24.060 knowledge , but 21:26.840 --> 21:29.450 I don't know exactly what's being 21:29.450 --> 21:31.940 released in Missouri . We do keep track 21:31.950 --> 21:34.061 of the service members that have been 21:34.061 --> 21:36.061 vaccinated . And so we do have that 21:36.061 --> 21:37.894 information . If you like that . 21:37.894 --> 21:40.061 Something what the department consider 21:40.061 --> 21:42.006 do you think the department should 21:42.006 --> 21:41.740 consider releasing this information so 21:41.740 --> 21:43.907 that states and local communities have 21:43.907 --> 21:45.790 a better sense off who has been 21:45.800 --> 21:48.540 vaccinated ? What the vaccination rates 21:48.540 --> 21:50.510 are around these installations ? I 21:50.510 --> 21:52.510 think that's reasonable . I I think 21:52.510 --> 21:54.621 what we're talking about is releasing 21:54.621 --> 21:56.732 when we vaccinate somebody . We share 21:56.732 --> 21:58.843 that information with C D . C , which 21:58.843 --> 22:00.954 can share that with the public health 22:00.954 --> 22:03.066 individuals in the state to make that 22:03.066 --> 22:02.930 available to them . So I'll look into 22:02.930 --> 22:05.041 that . Great that I appreciate that . 22:05.041 --> 22:07.097 Thank you very much . Um , General , 22:07.097 --> 22:09.263 let me ask . You and Senator tell us , 22:09.263 --> 22:11.597 I think asked somewhat similar question , 22:11.597 --> 22:11.350 But let me just I think this is 22:11.350 --> 22:13.572 important . So let me just come back to 22:13.572 --> 22:15.572 it what , in your estimation of the 22:15.572 --> 22:17.683 most important steps that we can take 22:17.683 --> 22:20.580 to ensure that civilian agencies lead 22:20.580 --> 22:23.670 responses in future public crises with 22:23.680 --> 22:26.130 the department supporting , of course . 22:26.140 --> 22:28.750 But in a way where the civilians are 22:28.760 --> 22:30.927 leading the response so the department 22:30.927 --> 22:33.260 could stay focused on its vital mission , 22:33.260 --> 22:35.350 which is defense . Senator , I think 22:35.350 --> 22:37.980 the key word I would tell you is being 22:37.980 --> 22:41.480 able to operationalize toe effects 22:41.490 --> 22:44.660 right now . Uh , my assessment right , 22:44.670 --> 22:48.310 albeit uh , very not very experienced 22:48.310 --> 22:50.770 in this world because I've been in the 22:50.770 --> 22:54.660 army for 38 plus years . Eyes that very , 22:54.660 --> 22:58.650 very , uh , good policy on 22:58.650 --> 23:01.230 defining . You know how things ought to 23:01.230 --> 23:04.440 be . But executing is a 23:04.440 --> 23:06.130 shortfall . So how do you 23:06.140 --> 23:08.307 operationalize to the effects that you 23:08.307 --> 23:10.610 want is the reform ? I think that will 23:10.610 --> 23:13.520 be necessary in your assessment when 23:13.520 --> 23:15.631 you look at these organizations to do 23:15.631 --> 23:17.631 something similar as , ah potential 23:17.631 --> 23:19.798 future pandemic . Do you have anything 23:19.798 --> 23:21.964 to add to that , Mr Selous ? Senator , 23:21.964 --> 23:24.840 I dio most of the organizations , 23:24.840 --> 23:26.896 obviously a regulatory organizations 23:26.896 --> 23:28.784 that the U . S . Military and the 23:28.784 --> 23:30.896 Department of Defense have tremendous 23:30.896 --> 23:33.062 operational capability . I think going 23:33.062 --> 23:35.229 forward that there will always be that 23:35.229 --> 23:34.930 partnership where the Defense 23:34.930 --> 23:36.763 Department will partner with our 23:36.763 --> 23:38.819 federal partners in support of state 23:38.819 --> 23:41.041 and local authorities . I do think that 23:41.041 --> 23:42.930 there are opportunities for other 23:42.930 --> 23:44.874 federal departments and agencies , 23:44.874 --> 23:47.097 particularly as you see the acquisition 23:47.097 --> 23:49.263 business that we're in now . There may 23:49.263 --> 23:51.319 be the opportunity in the future toe 23:51.319 --> 23:50.780 have that kind of contracting 23:50.780 --> 23:52.780 capability because what we're doing 23:52.780 --> 23:55.002 really is leveraging the private sector 23:55.002 --> 23:57.113 here in the nation to respond to this 23:57.113 --> 23:59.336 crisis and a lot of ways . So how we do 23:59.336 --> 24:01.113 that going forward as a federal 24:01.113 --> 24:02.780 government across the federal 24:02.780 --> 24:04.780 government will be very important . 24:04.780 --> 24:07.002 Very good . Let me ask you while I have 24:07.002 --> 24:06.930 you still , Mr Solis , is how Cove it 24:06.930 --> 24:08.597 has affected the department's 24:08.597 --> 24:10.486 operations around the world . I'm 24:10.486 --> 24:12.652 particularly interested . Have we seen 24:12.652 --> 24:14.708 any sustained impact and operational 24:14.708 --> 24:16.930 tempo , and particularly in Indo Pak , 24:16.930 --> 24:18.550 um are pacing theater , 24:20.440 --> 24:23.100 Senator Um , Aziz , you know , the 24:23.100 --> 24:24.822 department everyday tracks the 24:24.822 --> 24:26.822 readiness of the department , and I 24:26.822 --> 24:28.989 want to state unequivocally that we're 24:28.989 --> 24:31.156 prepared to meet every mission that we 24:31.156 --> 24:33.267 have in the defense . Now with that , 24:33.267 --> 24:35.433 obviously , we've learned a lot how to 24:35.433 --> 24:37.656 adapt and how to operate in the cove it 24:37.656 --> 24:39.822 environment . And we're using that Our 24:39.822 --> 24:41.933 sessions . We're meeting our sessions 24:41.933 --> 24:44.044 right now . Our follow on mos schools 24:44.044 --> 24:45.989 are service schools . All of those 24:45.989 --> 24:48.156 things , they're full up . We're using 24:48.156 --> 24:50.211 virtual type of , uh , capability to 24:50.211 --> 24:52.156 make sure that we can continue the 24:52.156 --> 24:52.130 education programs that we need to for 24:52.130 --> 24:54.460 our military members are training our 24:54.460 --> 24:56.516 exercises . Obviously , some of that 24:56.516 --> 24:58.682 has been curtailed , but we're finding 24:58.682 --> 25:00.849 ways to adapt and make sure that we're 25:00.849 --> 25:02.793 maximizing both the individual and 25:02.793 --> 25:04.904 collective training that we need to , 25:04.904 --> 25:07.127 uh , execute to ensure that we can meet 25:07.127 --> 25:09.127 our missions . And we're monitoring 25:09.127 --> 25:10.960 this very closely . Aziz , we go 25:10.960 --> 25:13.238 forward . Good , very good . Thank you . 25:13.238 --> 25:12.840 Miss Cummings , can I just ask you ? 25:12.840 --> 25:15.250 Has the department's response . How has 25:15.250 --> 25:17.306 the department's response ? I should 25:17.306 --> 25:19.510 say to Cove , it impacted the pace of 25:19.510 --> 25:21.780 modernization and then any other 25:21.780 --> 25:23.710 priorities in the acquisition and 25:23.710 --> 25:26.420 sustainment space . So thank you for 25:26.420 --> 25:30.350 that question . Some of the we have 25:30.350 --> 25:32.572 had to adapt to tell a work that is one 25:32.572 --> 25:34.683 thing program offices , air very used 25:34.683 --> 25:36.739 to being all together in one place . 25:36.739 --> 25:38.850 We've had to adapt that . And I think 25:38.850 --> 25:41.072 we've done a fantastic job doing that . 25:41.072 --> 25:43.239 When I initiated the Joint Acquisition 25:43.239 --> 25:45.350 Task Force to assist HHS and assisted 25:45.350 --> 25:47.330 acquisition , we never met our 25:47.330 --> 25:49.690 teammates . All of our work was done on 25:49.690 --> 25:52.600 the phone . We created policies so that 25:52.600 --> 25:54.767 we could do things Elektronik Lee that 25:54.767 --> 25:57.480 previously all required paper , actual 25:57.480 --> 26:00.330 pen and ink to get contracts side . So 26:00.330 --> 26:02.441 we put a lot of different policies in 26:02.441 --> 26:04.552 place for us on the government side , 26:04.552 --> 26:06.663 and we also created flexibilities for 26:06.663 --> 26:08.663 our industry partners so they could 26:08.663 --> 26:10.830 continue to meet our needs . There are 26:10.830 --> 26:13.052 some things that did have to get pushed 26:13.052 --> 26:15.330 back . The section 36 10 , for example , 26:15.330 --> 26:17.720 of the Cares Act gave the gave us the 26:17.720 --> 26:20.370 ability to reimburse contractors for 26:20.370 --> 26:23.320 paid leave due to co vid . We didn't 26:23.320 --> 26:25.542 receive an appropriation for that . And 26:25.542 --> 26:27.709 so there are some things , uh , in the 26:27.709 --> 26:30.050 future that could impact modernization . 26:30.060 --> 26:31.949 And we're working through that to 26:31.949 --> 26:33.949 better understand it and be able to 26:33.949 --> 26:36.004 share that information . Thank you . 26:36.004 --> 26:38.171 Very good . Thank you for that . Thank 26:38.171 --> 26:37.780 you all for your testimony and your 26:37.780 --> 26:39.780 tremendous service . Thank you , Mr 26:39.780 --> 26:41.613 Chairman . Thank you , Senator . 26:41.613 --> 26:43.780 Holiday . Let me now recognize Senator 26:43.780 --> 26:46.100 Peters . Ben Repeaters . Mhm . Thank 26:46.100 --> 26:48.211 you , Mr Chairman . Recognition . And 26:48.211 --> 26:50.267 to each of our witnesses , thank you 26:50.267 --> 26:52.322 for being here today . And thank you 26:52.322 --> 26:54.267 for the work that you dio each and 26:54.267 --> 26:56.489 every day . You certainly have a lot on 26:56.489 --> 26:56.320 your plate . And we appreciate your 26:56.320 --> 26:58.540 efforts . I want to start off first to 26:58.540 --> 27:00.680 just say that I concur with the 27:00.680 --> 27:02.960 comments that Senator Kaine made 27:02.970 --> 27:05.450 earlier broadly about how we , uh , 27:05.740 --> 27:08.040 have handled or not handled things 27:08.040 --> 27:10.207 pandemic up to this point . But I want 27:10.207 --> 27:12.262 to particularly concur with the fact 27:12.262 --> 27:14.429 that we're gonna need to do a complete 27:14.429 --> 27:16.540 analysis of what happened . What went 27:16.540 --> 27:18.707 well , what went bad ? An after action 27:18.707 --> 27:20.818 report , Thio . To get a sense of how 27:20.818 --> 27:22.818 we deal with a future pandemic , we 27:22.818 --> 27:24.818 know a pandemic . It's not if there 27:24.818 --> 27:26.984 will be a pandemic , it just win . And 27:26.984 --> 27:28.873 the unfortunate part about that , 27:28.873 --> 27:30.762 according toa many scientists and 27:30.762 --> 27:32.929 epidemiologists , is that we're likely 27:32.929 --> 27:34.929 to see more of these , not fewer of 27:34.929 --> 27:37.040 them . And for a variety of reasons , 27:37.040 --> 27:39.262 complexity of the world , etcetera . So 27:39.262 --> 27:41.318 we better get this right Next time , 27:41.318 --> 27:43.420 Aziz , we go forward and Onda , that 27:43.420 --> 27:45.309 will be a commitment that I'll be 27:45.309 --> 27:47.476 making , I'm sure of Homeland Security 27:47.476 --> 27:49.420 government affairs as an oversight 27:49.420 --> 27:49.210 committee , we we plan to do a pretty 27:49.210 --> 27:51.432 in depth investigation into this , Uh , 27:51.432 --> 27:53.488 as well as other committees I'm sure 27:53.488 --> 27:55.710 will be engaged in your continued input 27:55.710 --> 27:57.932 in that process will be appreciated and 27:57.932 --> 27:59.988 essential for us to get the kinds of 27:59.988 --> 28:03.890 answers that we need . General , a 28:03.900 --> 28:06.067 question for you . You've talked about 28:06.067 --> 28:08.480 the capacity that we have now to put 28:08.980 --> 28:12.180 injections and arms on supply . Talked 28:12.180 --> 28:14.236 about the increase of supply . Right 28:14.236 --> 28:16.402 now we have a situation where there is 28:16.402 --> 28:18.291 actually more capacity to deliver 28:18.291 --> 28:20.458 vaccines than there is actual vaccines 28:20.458 --> 28:22.513 coming in . We're seeing that in the 28:22.513 --> 28:22.510 state of Michigan right now . Weaken do 28:22.510 --> 28:24.890 a whole lot more . The good news is , 28:24.890 --> 28:27.040 as you mentioned is the vaccines are 28:27.050 --> 28:29.161 that production is increasing . I had 28:29.161 --> 28:31.272 the privilege of being with President 28:31.272 --> 28:33.300 Biden last week in Michigan , the 28:33.300 --> 28:35.411 Pfizer manufacturing facility outside 28:35.411 --> 28:37.990 of Kalamazoo and Portage . We take 28:37.990 --> 28:39.934 great pride in Michigan that we're 28:39.934 --> 28:42.157 making efforts in making the vaccine in 28:42.157 --> 28:44.460 our state On when I was there , they 28:44.460 --> 28:46.640 were producing five million doses a 28:46.640 --> 28:48.862 week . I understand next week they will 28:48.862 --> 28:51.580 be up to 10 million doses . Ah , week 28:51.650 --> 28:54.430 and roughly 300 million doses will be 28:54.430 --> 28:57.580 delivered . I believe by July , which 28:57.730 --> 28:59.452 that's about half the American 28:59.452 --> 29:01.674 population , we'll have doses available 29:01.674 --> 29:03.786 that just fighters we got Moderna and 29:03.786 --> 29:05.841 others that will be coming online is 29:05.841 --> 29:08.008 well , so we're gonna get to the point 29:08.008 --> 29:10.230 where there's gonna be a whole lot more 29:10.230 --> 29:12.397 vaccine than there will be capacity to 29:12.397 --> 29:12.010 actually put it in arms . So we have to 29:12.010 --> 29:15.060 align all that . What I'm finding is a 29:15.060 --> 29:17.227 problem that I'm hearing from my folks 29:17.227 --> 29:19.227 is that right now the visibility of 29:19.227 --> 29:21.338 wind vaccines they're actually coming 29:21.338 --> 29:23.338 to them is not great . It's getting 29:23.338 --> 29:25.560 better . But I'd like you to talk about 29:25.560 --> 29:27.727 how it's gonna get even better so that 29:27.727 --> 29:27.300 you know not just what you're gonna get 29:27.300 --> 29:29.356 next week , but what you're going to 29:29.356 --> 29:31.522 get three weeks from now in four weeks 29:31.522 --> 29:30.700 from now , because it takes 29:30.840 --> 29:32.784 considerable planning to have that 29:32.784 --> 29:35.470 capacity ramp up , Mac toe , match 29:35.480 --> 29:39.070 those vaccines coming in on , then 29:39.070 --> 29:41.237 we're gonna have to bring in even more 29:41.237 --> 29:43.292 capacity . FEMA , as you mentioned , 29:43.292 --> 29:45.403 will be setting up federal facilities 29:45.403 --> 29:45.000 were hoping to get one of those in 29:45.000 --> 29:47.111 Michigan soon . Walk me through . How 29:47.111 --> 29:49.167 are we gonna make thes aligned ? How 29:49.167 --> 29:51.444 are we gonna have greater transparency ? 29:51.444 --> 29:53.500 How are we gonna make sure these air 29:53.500 --> 29:55.556 mawr aligned so that we don't have a 29:55.556 --> 29:57.556 mismatch of too much capacity , not 29:57.556 --> 29:59.667 enough vaccine and then move from too 29:59.667 --> 29:59.560 much vaccine and not enough capacity ? 29:59.570 --> 30:01.860 So , Senator , I think the to start 30:01.860 --> 30:04.570 with the communication from you know , 30:04.570 --> 30:06.737 the White House to the governor's on a 30:06.737 --> 30:08.848 weekly basis has been very helpful to 30:08.848 --> 30:10.848 get the word out . And one of their 30:10.848 --> 30:14.180 commitments was to put on Tiberius 30:14.190 --> 30:17.140 three week projections so that 30:17.150 --> 30:19.372 everybody could see what's coming their 30:19.372 --> 30:21.317 way . The rule of thumb is we will 30:21.317 --> 30:23.372 never go backwards . So you'll never 30:23.372 --> 30:25.594 received less than what you've received 30:25.594 --> 30:28.690 already on a weekly , uh , push , but 30:28.700 --> 30:31.100 always try to increase , but to give 30:31.100 --> 30:33.420 that predictability we're working on . 30:33.420 --> 30:35.531 And we think we have good fidelity on 30:35.531 --> 30:37.642 what we think the numbers we're gonna 30:37.642 --> 30:39.740 look like based on you A for future 30:39.740 --> 30:42.800 companies on max capacity so that we 30:42.800 --> 30:44.967 know , for instance , and I've been to 30:44.967 --> 30:47.790 Kalamazoo many times , uh , that both 30:47.790 --> 30:50.300 Pfizer and Madonna will probably tap 30:50.310 --> 30:54.010 hit their peak capacity around 21 30:54.010 --> 30:56.170 March . And so we know that's roughly 30:56.170 --> 30:59.070 24 million doses of vaccine the two 30:59.070 --> 31:01.014 companies will produce on a weekly 31:01.014 --> 31:03.720 basis . We know that Janssen will come . 31:03.730 --> 31:06.850 We believe with you A hopefully this 31:06.850 --> 31:09.510 weekend on , they will start producing 31:09.510 --> 31:12.280 in a regular rhythm of 5 to 10 million 31:12.280 --> 31:15.060 doses a week so that we can project to 31:15.060 --> 31:17.282 everybody what we think the mass volume 31:17.282 --> 31:19.290 is gonna be pro rata , and we're 31:19.290 --> 31:21.670 working to distribute that accordingly . 31:21.680 --> 31:23.902 To all the states . 100% agreement with 31:23.902 --> 31:26.069 you . Great . Well , I appreciate that 31:26.069 --> 31:28.013 in my remaining time pick up on an 31:28.013 --> 31:29.513 issue related Thio defense 31:29.513 --> 31:31.736 establishments and the fact that recent 31:31.736 --> 31:33.660 surveys show that about 60% of 31:33.660 --> 31:35.604 Americans are willing to take this 31:35.604 --> 31:37.604 vaccine now , which will also be as 31:37.604 --> 31:39.660 these vaccines come in , we actually 31:39.660 --> 31:41.827 have to make sure we have the capacity 31:41.827 --> 31:41.820 and Americans that want it . Right now 31:41.820 --> 31:43.910 the demand exceeds supply , but that 31:43.910 --> 31:46.390 will change . But my concern is that 31:46.400 --> 31:48.344 surveys show that I think the most 31:48.344 --> 31:50.456 recent one showed that the rate among 31:50.456 --> 31:52.678 military families is about 33% . That's 31:52.678 --> 31:54.733 a real problem on I'm really worried 31:54.733 --> 31:57.050 about communities that host defense , 31:57.060 --> 31:59.440 establish our facilities , that a 31:59.440 --> 32:01.662 community could be doing a great job in 32:01.662 --> 32:04.190 getting 80% of the folks vaccinated in 32:04.190 --> 32:06.430 the community . And yet folks on the 32:06.440 --> 32:08.662 military base in their communities that 32:08.662 --> 32:12.000 33% that's simply unacceptable . How 32:12.000 --> 32:14.310 are we gonna change that ? That that 32:14.310 --> 32:16.170 risk , uh , that risk an entire 32:16.170 --> 32:18.250 community if military personnel are 32:18.250 --> 32:20.472 going into the community are simply not 32:20.472 --> 32:22.583 vaccinated . How are we gonna address 32:22.583 --> 32:24.750 that ? So , Senator , we know that the 32:24.750 --> 32:26.917 vaccine is safe . It's the right thing 32:26.917 --> 32:29.139 to do . Uh , we're meeting all the time 32:29.139 --> 32:31.083 with our leadership teams at every 32:31.083 --> 32:33.028 level in the Defense Department to 32:33.028 --> 32:35.194 educate people and make sure that they 32:35.194 --> 32:37.306 know the value of the vaccine and the 32:37.306 --> 32:39.417 importance of it . And I believe that 32:39.417 --> 32:38.960 that education again , we've been at 32:38.960 --> 32:40.849 this for about 60 days . I really 32:40.849 --> 32:42.793 believe that that will make a huge 32:42.793 --> 32:44.682 difference in . And the continued 32:44.682 --> 32:46.849 emphasis by our leaders at every level 32:46.849 --> 32:48.849 in the Defense Department will make 32:48.849 --> 32:50.960 sure that we improve upon that number 32:50.960 --> 32:53.127 and having transparency in that data . 32:53.127 --> 32:55.293 So community knows a previous question 32:55.293 --> 32:57.460 is really important . Community has to 32:57.460 --> 32:59.682 know what's happening at that base with 32:59.682 --> 32:59.010 all those people there . So I hope 32:59.010 --> 33:01.460 that's a priority for you , Senator . 33:02.740 --> 33:05.073 Great . Thank you . Thank you very much , 33:05.073 --> 33:07.073 Mr Chairman . Thank you , Senator . 33:07.073 --> 33:07.060 Senator Tub of real , please . 33:11.540 --> 33:13.980 Thank you , Mr Chairman . Save the best 33:13.980 --> 33:16.160 for last year , I guess . Uh , I know 33:16.160 --> 33:18.230 it's been a long day . Thank you for 33:18.230 --> 33:20.063 your efforts . Thank you for the 33:20.063 --> 33:22.119 miracle that you have pulled off . I 33:22.119 --> 33:24.341 know if you've heard some rhetoric here 33:24.341 --> 33:26.397 today , that's a little strong , but 33:26.397 --> 33:28.397 it's not against you . Uh , let him 33:28.397 --> 33:30.563 didn't like her president , but that's 33:30.563 --> 33:32.730 fine . He got a lot done , but you got 33:32.730 --> 33:34.730 a whole lot done . You know , I was 33:34.730 --> 33:36.786 campaigning last year over the whole 33:36.786 --> 33:38.841 state of Alabama , and I was telling 33:38.841 --> 33:41.063 people everybody's asking about Coach . 33:41.063 --> 33:40.850 What do you think about this virus ? I 33:40.850 --> 33:43.650 said , Well , I don't know , But I will 33:43.650 --> 33:46.170 tell you this China is not gonna come 33:46.170 --> 33:48.670 up with the answer . Russia , Europe , 33:49.640 --> 33:51.807 United States of America is gonna come 33:51.807 --> 33:53.862 up with the answer . And you Did you 33:53.862 --> 33:56.029 work hard at it ? Most of you probably 33:56.029 --> 33:58.196 haven't slept a lot in the last year . 33:58.196 --> 34:00.307 Thank you for what you've done . Some 34:00.307 --> 33:59.820 are saying , you know , it's been a 33:59.820 --> 34:02.130 disaster . Ah , lot of in this building 34:02.130 --> 34:03.852 20 years ago voted to send our 34:03.852 --> 34:06.019 manufacturing to China . What the heck 34:06.019 --> 34:08.930 do they expect ? We need to get our 34:08.930 --> 34:11.560 medical supplies made in this country 34:12.240 --> 34:14.462 and quit putting the blame off on other 34:14.462 --> 34:16.820 people . And I hope you would agree 34:16.820 --> 34:18.653 with that because we've all gone 34:18.653 --> 34:20.820 through that I'm proud of Alabama . We 34:20.820 --> 34:22.876 are making in Huntsville , Alabama . 34:22.876 --> 34:24.376 Ream Corporation is making 34:24.376 --> 34:27.300 refrigeration for the vaccine . In 34:27.300 --> 34:29.244 Auburn where I live , we're making 34:29.244 --> 34:31.189 million's a month of vows that air 34:31.189 --> 34:33.411 plastic that air blowing glass into the 34:33.411 --> 34:36.550 vows to Thio . Store the vaccine to be 34:36.560 --> 34:38.727 be given out and proud what Alabama is 34:38.727 --> 34:40.893 done and a lot of the private sector . 34:40.940 --> 34:43.230 I hope you have enough money . We're 34:43.230 --> 34:45.230 out there right now trying to spend 34:45.230 --> 34:47.452 money on bridges to nowhere and tunnels 34:47.452 --> 34:49.730 when you need every time you could get , 34:49.730 --> 34:51.897 because our kids are not in school and 34:51.897 --> 34:54.063 our people are not at work and they're 34:54.063 --> 34:56.520 scared to death . But it's helping eyes 34:56.520 --> 34:58.760 in Alabama last week , going to the 34:58.770 --> 35:01.270 military bases and and the commanders . 35:01.270 --> 35:03.437 They're saying we're getting vaccine , 35:03.740 --> 35:05.962 they're communicating and that's all we 35:05.962 --> 35:08.184 ask . Just communicate . Tell them what 35:08.184 --> 35:10.351 they're gonna get . Fort Rucker trains 35:10.351 --> 35:12.184 every vertical lift pilot in the 35:12.184 --> 35:14.570 country . For those of you don't know 35:14.570 --> 35:17.240 its helicopters , we need them trained 35:17.250 --> 35:19.900 there in the air almost 24 hours and 35:19.900 --> 35:21.844 forever . Pilot , there's about 10 35:21.844 --> 35:24.011 people on the ground waiting for it to 35:24.011 --> 35:26.233 land to maintain it and put the fuel in 35:26.233 --> 35:28.610 it to continue to go to train . They're 35:28.610 --> 35:30.554 getting their vaccine . So I wanna 35:30.554 --> 35:33.810 thank you for that . Uh , mhm . I just 35:33.810 --> 35:35.977 hope today you leave here knowing that 35:35.977 --> 35:37.921 things were positive , uh , in our 35:37.921 --> 35:41.610 state . It's going down waken see the , 35:41.620 --> 35:43.910 uh , light at the end of the tunnel . 35:43.920 --> 35:45.753 We're not there yet . We need to 35:45.753 --> 35:47.920 continue to social distance and do all 35:47.920 --> 35:50.150 things we need to do . But I just 35:50.150 --> 35:52.372 wanted to end on the note that we wanna 35:52.372 --> 35:54.483 thank you for what you're doing , but 35:54.483 --> 35:56.650 say one thing I've been in , I've been 35:56.650 --> 35:58.594 in recruiting all my life and then 35:58.594 --> 36:00.650 pretty much sales . Being a football 36:00.650 --> 36:02.872 coach on marketing , we're gonna get to 36:02.872 --> 36:05.690 the point where people are not gonna 36:05.690 --> 36:07.840 take this vaccine . We've got to the 36:07.840 --> 36:11.090 point some in Alabama where at 1.3 36:11.090 --> 36:13.930 weeks ago , 40% of the first responders 36:13.930 --> 36:17.000 were not taking it 40% . That can't 36:17.000 --> 36:19.620 happen . So I would just express upon 36:19.620 --> 36:21.660 you and ask you your thoughts about 36:21.660 --> 36:23.660 marketing . Sooner or later , we're 36:23.660 --> 36:25.771 going to go on television , and we're 36:25.771 --> 36:27.827 gonna have to get out there and have 36:27.827 --> 36:30.104 people get in front of the camera . Uh , 36:30.104 --> 36:32.104 well known people , people that air 36:32.330 --> 36:34.590 average day workers saying they've 36:34.590 --> 36:36.534 taken it and it worked . And we're 36:36.534 --> 36:38.646 gonna need to do that because we need 36:38.646 --> 36:40.646 this country to get back to work or 36:40.646 --> 36:42.868 we're gonna lose our country . It's not 36:42.868 --> 36:44.923 gonna be all the mess that we've got 36:44.923 --> 36:46.923 going on right now is gonna be this 36:46.923 --> 36:49.090 virus is gonna bring us to our knees . 36:49.090 --> 36:51.201 China is on the run . They're running 36:51.201 --> 36:53.201 past this as fast they can , and we 36:53.201 --> 36:53.060 need to get back to work . And we need 36:53.060 --> 36:55.320 to get our eyes on other things . So 36:55.330 --> 36:57.497 what's your what's your thoughts ? All 36:57.497 --> 36:59.663 three of you . Thoughts on marketing , 36:59.663 --> 37:01.886 Probably starting here in the very near 37:01.886 --> 37:04.880 future . Senator , I agree with you 37:04.880 --> 37:08.860 100% . Andi . I know HHS on the 37:08.860 --> 37:11.370 C . D . C or developing and working 37:11.370 --> 37:13.740 that now to start expanding that as we 37:13.740 --> 37:17.600 go forward on DSO , we believe is 37:17.600 --> 37:19.670 simply said it just needs to be a 37:19.670 --> 37:21.970 reflection of society , saying that 37:21.970 --> 37:24.380 they took the vaccine so that others 37:24.380 --> 37:26.436 can see it , and that's what they're 37:26.436 --> 37:27.436 working on . Now 37:31.730 --> 37:34.240 It's building confidence and and using 37:34.240 --> 37:36.600 the right people to reassure the public 37:36.600 --> 37:38.378 and make sure that the American 37:38.378 --> 37:40.600 citizens no how important it is to take 37:40.600 --> 37:42.322 the vaccine , not not just for 37:42.322 --> 37:44.433 themselves but the others , that they 37:44.433 --> 37:46.489 work around their families , uh , co 37:46.489 --> 37:48.600 workers and those kinds of things and 37:48.600 --> 37:50.267 building that confidence with 37:50.267 --> 37:52.433 credibility is what What will turn the 37:52.433 --> 37:54.322 table on . So I've worked for the 37:54.322 --> 37:56.544 federal government my whole career , so 37:56.544 --> 37:58.656 I am not in marketing expert . Um , I 37:58.656 --> 38:00.433 can tell you , my husband and I 38:00.433 --> 38:02.378 actually participated in a vaccine 38:02.378 --> 38:04.489 trial . And I think that the best way 38:04.489 --> 38:06.656 to give people confidence is that they 38:06.656 --> 38:09.150 understand the process , the diligence 38:09.150 --> 38:11.460 that went behind the trials and that 38:11.460 --> 38:13.293 really people , really Americans 38:13.293 --> 38:15.460 participated to ensure it was safe and 38:15.460 --> 38:18.060 effective for them . I hear 75% of 38:18.070 --> 38:20.070 people have to have the vaccination 38:20.070 --> 38:22.014 before we feel safe . That true or 38:22.014 --> 38:25.700 false ? I can't speak to that 38:25.700 --> 38:27.756 specifically , Senator . I know it's 38:27.756 --> 38:29.756 something similar to that , but the 38:29.756 --> 38:31.867 scientists would have toe give you an 38:31.867 --> 38:34.033 update on that . Thank you . Thank you 38:34.033 --> 38:36.200 very much . Yeah . Thank you , Senator 38:36.200 --> 38:38.256 Tuberville . I wanna thank the panel 38:38.256 --> 38:40.120 for very informative and thought 38:40.120 --> 38:43.520 provoking hearing . Um , I particularly 38:43.520 --> 38:45.880 want to thank you for your individual 38:45.890 --> 38:48.270 tireless efforts to deal with this 38:48.270 --> 38:50.590 crisis and to be innovative and 38:50.590 --> 38:54.580 creative , and , uh , and it has 38:54.580 --> 38:56.810 been a very significant challenge . And 38:56.810 --> 38:58.699 you've met that challenge in many 38:58.699 --> 39:00.754 respects . But I think we understand 39:00.754 --> 39:03.032 that there's more work to be done . Um , 39:03.032 --> 39:05.199 we look forward to working with you to 39:05.199 --> 39:07.421 get that work done , not only to defeat 39:07.421 --> 39:10.080 Cove it , but to prepare ourselves for 39:10.090 --> 39:13.780 other pandemics that , uh , could be 39:13.780 --> 39:16.930 coming down the road . Um , so thank 39:16.930 --> 39:18.940 you again . And with that , I will 39:18.940 --> 39:21.070 adjourn the hearing . Thank you , 39:21.070 --> 39:22.040 Chairman . Thank you .