Scalise Statement on GAO Report About FDA’s Emergency Use Authorizations During COVID-19

WASHINGTON—Republican Whip and Select Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement on the Government Accountability Office’s report on the FDA’s issuance of emergency use authorizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“President Trump’s whole-of-America response to defeat the virus is producing results in record time.  Under the President’s strong leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration have broken through bureaucratic barriers to deliver therapeutics and forthcoming vaccines to combat COVID-19. As a result of Operation Warp Speed, 20 million doses of the first vaccine will be made available to the American people in a matter of weeks. This is an historic accomplishment.

“Operation Warp Speed accelerated the development of COVID-19 vaccines while maintaining safety and effectiveness. Unfortunately, Democrats politicized the pandemic and used scare tactics to sow uncertainty in the vaccine in order to undermine President Trump. This is shameful and Democrats should cease their attacks on science-based vaccine development. Contrary to the fear-mongering from the left, Americans can have confidence that they will have access to safe and effective vaccine.”

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