Rep. Doggett Presses Trump Administration on Planning Failures in Evacuations to San Antonio
***Press Release***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2020 | Contact: Kate Stotesbery 202-225-4865 |
Rep. Doggett Presses Trump Administration on Planning Failures in Evacuations to San Antonio
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and member of the House Budget Committee, questioned the Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist about the Trump Administration's failures regarding the evacuation of cruise ship passengers into quarantine at Lackland Air Force Base—refusing to test the passengers before leaving California, taking all positive evacuees off base, and declining to send protective gear to our local health centers, among other points of questioning. With perhaps hundreds of evacuees arriving in San Antonio shortly, the Trump Administration cannot say how many are currently positive, where those who are positive but asymptomatic will be housed, or when San Antonio will receive additional test kits and medical gear for health professionals. Doggett's inquiry focused on ensuring both the health of our servicemembers and the public at large.
"I represent Military City USA, San Antonio, Texas, with my district adjacent to Lackland, where we have already hosted two planeloads of Americans exposed to coronavirus," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. "This afternoon or tomorrow, the Trump Administration is apparently flying additional planeloads to San Antonio of people who have never been tested…without a very clear plan for what happens for those that test positive once they get to San Antonio. While I certainly want to assist all Americans, my concern is protecting my civilian population neighbors in San Antonio and, of course, every one of our military servicemembers."
He continued: "I realize that it is not the Defense Department decision, though it is indeed an extraordinary decision, that the Trump Administration has chosen not to test any of these people before they leave California. I realize that it's not the Defense Department's decision, but the Trump Administration's failure, not to get San Antonio more than 75 lab tests as of today. I realize it's not the Department of Defense decision but a Trump Administration failure to not provide San Antonio additional medical equipment. But I understand that it is within your jurisdiction to decide whether those individuals that test positive for coronavirus must immediately leave any Defense Department property. Is that the position of the Defense Department this morning?"
Secretary Norquist replied: "I know that the Secretary is in discussion with HHS about the concern that you have raised," but did not directly answer the question on the Defense Department's current position.
"My only question," said Rep. Doggett, "Is: Is it Defense Department policy that, if anyone who I think should have been tested before they get to San Antonio, gets there, and they test positive, but are otherwise asymptomatic and don't need treatment, are they being compelled to leave Defense Department property immediately upon the positive test?" Secretary Norquist said that that was his understanding. Deputy Secretary Norquist said he was unfamiliar with any prior effort by the Trump Administration to make exception to the DOD policy—on removing those who test positive for the coronavirus—for this group of evacuees.
Rep. Doggett concluded: "They may be asymptomatic but, as was true in other flights, they could be positive and transmit this to others. I know our Mayor has raised this…to see if there isn't a way to contain these people in the same hotels." Watch the full exchange here.
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