117th CONGRESS 1st Session |
Expressing appreciation and recognition for the scientific, medical, and pharmaceutical community in the historic development of the COVID–19 vaccine in record time.
February 15, 2021
Mr. Calvert (for himself, Mrs. Steel, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Issa, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Carter of Texas, Mr. Diaz-Balart, and Mr. Cole) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
Expressing appreciation and recognition for the scientific, medical, and pharmaceutical community in the historic development of the COVID–19 vaccine in record time.
Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic originated in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019;
Whereas COVID–19 has taken the lives of over 2 million individuals worldwide and over 475,000 Americans;
Whereas, on May 15, 2020, the Trump administration initiated Operation Warp Speed, which was formed to encourage public-private partnerships to streamline the development and approval of a COVID–19 vaccine;
Whereas under the leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, Chief Advisor Dr. Moncef Slaoui, and General Gustave F. Perna, Operation Warp Speed accelerated the development of the COVID–19 vaccine while maintaining world-class standards of safety and efficacy;
Whereas thanks to the tireless work of the scientific community and tens of thousands of dedicated Americans who participated in the vaccination trials, on December 11, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued the first emergency use authorization for a vaccine for the prevention of COVID–19;
Whereas just one month after approval, pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna collectively have distributed 41,411,550 COVID–19 vaccine doses across the United States;
Whereas due to the outstanding work of these pharmaceutical companies and the safe and expedient regulatory approvals facilitated by Operation Warp Speed, as of early February 2021, 32,867,213 Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID–19 vaccine; and
Whereas the development of the COVID–19 vaccine has allowed our Nation to combat the virus, begin the healing process, and move closer to a full reopening of our Nation’s economy: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,