Congressman Joe Morelle Hosts Rules Subcommittee Hearing on "Using Budget Principles to Prepare for Future Pandemics and Other Disasters"
(Washington, DC) — Today Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25), Chairman of the Rules Committee’s Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, hosted a subcommittee hearing on “Using Budget Principles to Prepare for Future Pandemics and Other Disasters.” The hearing, which included testimony from local non-profit Foodlink, focused on the importance of making strategic investments in advance across the federal budget to ensure an efficient federal response to future pandemics and other disasters.
“As we continue to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must use the lessons we have learned to prepare for the future,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’m proud to have hosted this hearing which fostered thoughtful discussion on the investments that must be made to bolster our economic resiliency and support families in their time of need. I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement the ideas that were raised and ensure we are equipped to manage future emergencies, protect public health, and uplift our communities.”
“This pandemic has brought home the importance of planning today for the emergencies of tomorrow. We must use every tool in the toolbox to make sure our nation is prepared for the unexpected, whether it’s a natural disaster or a future public health emergency. With the COVID pandemic expected to cost the American economy more than $15 trillion according to experts, we cannot afford not to. I thank Chairman Morelle for his leadership on this important issue,” said Rules Committee Chairman James P. McGovern.
“As a proud representative of Foodlink and our nation’s network of food banks that have played a critical role in our collective response to the pandemic, I was honored to speak today to the Rules Committee’s Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process,” said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink. “The nonprofit sector is often relied upon to carry out comprehensive and innovative solutions to national emergencies as they unfold in real time. Today, I hoped to convey why a deepening partnership and investment in this sector will help prepare us for any future emergency response.”
Witnesses in the hearing included Dr. Helene Gayle, President & CEO of The Chicago Community Trust; Julia Tedesco, President & CEO of Foodlink; Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, Director for the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia Climate School, Columbia University; and Dr. Robert Kadlec, Former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS, Trump Administration. The committee discussed lessons learned from the federal response to COVID-19, including for both public health funding and food distribution networks, and suggest potential changes for how to use the budget to improve such disaster response and coordination between government and private stakeholders.