WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today requested that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide Congress with critical information about the agency’s efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus and treat those infected. 

“This public health emergency demands a swift response to stop the spread of the virus,” Congresswoman Porter said. “During the recent district work period, I saw firsthand how the threat of coronavirus is hurting our community—for example, leading to the cancellation of the Chinese community’s Lunar New Year celebrations. Our government has a responsibility to residents of Orange County and to Americans across the country to respond to this growing threat before more people get sick.” 

Congresswoman Porter led members of the Southern California delegation in a letter asking that a briefing be conducted to address the concerns of Congressmembers and answer questions from constituents. To date, the coronavirus has spread rapidly across China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, the United States, and France.

In the letter, Porter and 14 colleagues request that the CDC “brief Members of Congress from Orange County and Los Angeles about the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), as well as efforts to stop the spread of the virus, develop a vaccine, and to treat those infected.”

Read the full text of Congresswoman Porter’s letter HERE.

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