WASHINGTON-House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Committee Republicans today renewed their call for Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) to hold hybrid or socially distanced hearings instead of remote hearings.
In their letter to Chairwoman Maloney, the Committee Republicans raise concerns about the many technological problems experienced at today’s remote hearing on Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family’s role in catalyzing and exacerbating the opioid epidemic. The Republican members correct the comments made by one Democratic committee member that it is unsafe to hold in-person hearings by emphasizing the House Attending Physician’s guidance, which says hearings are permissible so long as they are socially distanced. The members note many other committees are holding hybrid and socially distanced, in-person hearings and the Oversight Committee experienced no infections or outbreaks when it held in-person hearings earlier this year.
Below is the full text of the letter.
Dec. 17, 2020
The Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney
Chairwoman
Committee on Oversight and Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairwoman Maloney:
Today, Republicans are writing to follow up on our May 27, 2020, letter raising concerns regarding remote proceedings and particularly remote hearings. The Purdue Pharma hearing today was fraught with technological problems and ineffective witness questioning due to the platform and low bandwidth. We call on you to follow the example of your colleagues, such as Chairwoman Waters, and hold hybrid or other appropriately socially distanced hearings.
Additionally, Madame Chairwoman, during your technical difficulties today, Representative Tlaib made a statement that it was unsafe and contrary to the House Office of the Attending Physician’s (OAP) guidance to hold in-person hearings. She was mistaken. According to the OAP’s guidance, released just two weeks ago, hearings are permissible so long as they are socially distanced. And on Dec. 2, the Financial Services Committee - on which Representative Tlaib serves - did just that. We are sure the representative from Michigan is not accusing Chairwoman Waters or other Democratic Committee Chairs of intentionally risking Members’ health by holding hybrid hearings, and appearing in-person themselves, so we wanted to make that clarification.
Throughout the summer and fall, this Committee held hybrid hearings without any resulting infections, much less an outbreak. This winter, to further mitigate viral spread, the OAP instituted a rigorous testing infrastructure for all House Members and staff. Since circumstances on Capitol Hill have changed, we call on you to resume the hybrid or in-person posture immediately.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
James Comer, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Reform
Jody Hice, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Government Operations
Glenn S. Grothman, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on National Security
Michael Cloud, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy
Chip Roy, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Mark E. Green, M.D., Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Environment
Jim Jordan
Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.
Virginia A. Foxx
Thomas H. Massie
Gary Palmer
Bob Gibbs
Clay Higgins
Ralph W. Norman
Carol D. Miller
Kelly M. Armstrong
Gregory Steube
Fred B. Keller
