Congressman Kim Presses Admiral Giroir on Testing,
Federal Preparedness in Select Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) questioned Admiral Brett Giroir, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services on testing issues and federal preparedness at a hearing of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis.

Congressman Kim directly asked Admiral Giroir if the United States has ‘flatted the curve’ on cases; Admiral Giroir stated that, “we are not flattening the curve right now. The curve is still going up.” Congressman Kim followed by asking if those increases in cases are, as stated multiple times by President Trump, due to increased testing. Admiral Giroir stated clearly that, “this is real increases in cases.”

Congressman Kim then asked why New Jersey, the second hardest hit state in the nation during the early part of the Coronavirus crisis, was denied a third federally-backed test sites, Admiral Giroir could not provide an answer to why additional federal support was not provided in March and April during the height of the crisis in New Jersey.

In addition, Congressman Kim asked Admiral Giroir, who also serves as the U.S. representative on the executive board of the World Health Organization, if it was his recommendation that the United States terminate its relationship with the WHO during a pandemic; Admiral Giroir stated that, “I have not provided a recommendation to anyone”, acknowledging that the Trump Administration ended its relationship with the WHO without guidance from the U.S. representative.

The Congressman’s full remarks and questions to experts testifying before the Select Committee can be found here.

Information about Congressman Kim’s actions to contain the Coronavirus pandemic and address the ongoing economic impact can be found on his website by clicking here.

Congressman Kim is a member of the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, where he serves as one of twelve members of the House tasked with conducting oversight over programs aimed at ending the Coronavirus pandemic and helping address the economic impact it’s having on the American people. Congressman Kim is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.

###