Upton, Problem Solvers Caucus meet with Vice President Pence

Statement

U.S. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) issued the following statement after he and members of the Problem Solvers Caucus met with Vice President Mike Pence and Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Dr. Debbie Birx, to discuss solutions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus:

"Today we had a constructive discussion with the Vice President and Dr. Debbie Birx about bipartisan efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. We all agree -- the health and safety of the American people remain our top priorities. Reiterating the Problem Solvers Caucus' call from Monday, it is important for the Administration and Congressional leaders to put politics aside as we work to combat the coronavirus. It is too important to let politics get in the way of solutions.

We are all working to secure an important funding package that will provide critical resources to tackle the coronavirus and keep our communities safe. The Problem Solvers will play a key role in securing the votes needed to pass emergency aid.

In the meantime, folks should remain vigilant and work to protect their loved ones. Wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face, avoid those who are sick, and clean frequently touched objects.

I am committed to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to use every tool in the toolbox to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to keep our families and loved ones safe."

The latest updates and additional information on the coronavirus are available at www.cdc.gov. Upton continues to share updates, safety tips, and other information on his social media channels,

Upton on Monday, March 1 joined the Problem Solvers Caucus in calling for leaders in Washington to put politics aside and focus on bipartisan solutions.

On Friday, February 28, Upton and his office reached out to local health officials in Michigan's Sixth Congressional District to open up direct lines of communication with the folks on the ground.

In early February, Upton and Rep. Debbie Dingell addressed a letter to Azar, Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun asking for the U.S. government to work to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on the supply chain of American automotive firms. Hundreds of thousands of Michigan jobs depend on the auto industry and auto manufacturing and millions of more jobs rely on other Chinese exports.

As Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton helped lead the passage of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), important bipartisan legislation to help government agencies better coordinate to protect the American people from public health emergencies. President Trump last year signed into law the reauthorization of PAHPA.

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