Press Briefing by Pence and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force; July 8, 2020

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STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Press Briefing by Vice President Pence and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force | July 8, 2020
HEALTHCARE

Issued on: July 8, 2020

Department of Education
Washington, D.C.

11:41 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, good morning all. The White House Coronavirus Task Force met today, here at the Department of Education, as part of our ongoing effort to focus on a mission to save lives, meet the needs of our states and our healthcare workers, to protect the vulnerable, and to safely reopen America and reopen America’s schools.

{snip}

ADMIRAL GIROIR: Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Next slide.

I don’t know if there’s a map to go with that, but under the leadership of Secretary Azar, we’ve really surged into FQHCs — Federally Qualified Health Centers. This is where you really want testing to happen because these are medical homes for those who are indigent and underserved. We have 28 FQHCs sites performing testing just in the Phoenix area right now.

{snip}

SECRETARY DEVOS: Thanks, Mr. Vice President. Thank you so much, Mr. Vice President. Thanks for hosting the task force here today. We are so grateful to the President and to you for your leadership on doing what’s right for students.

{snip}

The International Leadership Academy in Texas started from the mindset that not learning wasn’t an option for any student.

{snip. Wait -- how did that get in there?}

SECRETARY AZAR: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Vice President, for your leadership of the President’s all-of-America approach to combatting the virus and for the focus that you’re now putting on getting our kids safely back to school.

Q Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I have two questions: one for you and then one for Dr. Redfield. Can you explain why the President is threatening to cut funding from schools at a time when educators are saying they need more so they can safely reopen?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Kaitlan, first and foremost, it’s — what you heard from the President is just a determination to provide the kind of leadership from the federal level that says that we’re going to get our kids back school because that’s where they belong. And we know, based upon what our best health officials tell us, that we can do that in a safe and in a responsible way.

{snip}

And we’re going to provide the leadership from the federal level to do that.

{snip}

I think what you’re seeing the President provide is leadership.

{snip}

Q But do you think (inaudible)?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, what you’re — what you’re going to see, Kaitlan, is the President is going to continue to provide leadership. I expect the — as the debate in Congress goes forward about additional resources, we’re going to look to build in incentives for states to go forward.

I want to promise the American people: We’re going to stay focused at this task force on saving lives, meeting the needs of our state and our healthcare workers, on protecting the vulnerable, and reopening America’s economy, schools, work, and worship.

So thank you all very much. We’ll talk to you in a few days.

END

12:52 P.M. EDT