Key congressional oversight panel to investigate COVID-19 impact on children

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations panel, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), announced today the subcommittee -- which oversees the nation's health agencies -- has begun an investigation into how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting the health and well-being of America's children.

DeGette announced that the panel will hold its first hearing on the issue on Wednesday, September 22, at 10:30 a.m. ET, where members of the panel will hear directly from some of the nation's top pediatric health and mental health experts on how disruptions caused by the pandemic have affected millions of children across the country; and what Congress can do to address their needs as public health officials search for ways to slow the spread of the virus across the U.S.

"The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on America's children -- disrupting their lives in ways many of us could never have imagined," DeGette said. "We can't allow an entire generation to be lost because of this crisis. It's absolutely vital that we do everything we can to fully understand not only the effect that this disease can have on our children's health, but also what needs to be done to ensure their overall well-being as we work to end this pandemic once and for all."

Next week's hearing will be a hybrid event with members attending both in person and via video conferencing. It will be streamed live online starting Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Additional details, including a list of witnesses and a link to view the hearing online, will be provided as soon as they are available.

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