Dear John,

These are challenging, dark times. While in many places, including Oregon, we have been able to flatten the curve and save lives, it hasn’t been easy. From skyrocketing unemployment claims; to parents juggling childcare, schooling and work responsibilities; to businesses struggling to stay afloat, we are facing serious headwinds in communities all across the country. In other communities, this administration’s early failures on testing and taking the threat seriously have had devastating consequences, and tragically, we have now lost more than 100,000 American lives to this pandemic.

We all want to get back to our lives and work as soon as possible. But if we rush to reopen without a plan to contain this virus, it will only spark a second wave and cost thousands more American lives. The only way we’re going to get a handle on this virus in the long term is by getting testing and contact tracing right as we reopen, so we can understand the full scope of the disease, who is sick, and who has been exposed. That information is going to be critical to our efforts to keeping our communities safe while we develop a vaccine.

Click here to watch my panel discussion with NowThis Politics, local leaders, and national health experts about the importance of a comprehensive, nationwide plan to boost testing and contact tracing>>>

Through my work in the U.S. Senate, I’m doing everything I can to fight for that kind of plan -- from introducing legislation to create a federal contact tracing program and pushing for its inclusion in the next pandemic response package, to fighting to protect Americans’ data and privacy when it comes to the use of technology to assess their health. Earlier this month, I also led a group of senators in pushing the Trump administration to provide a detailed briefing to Congress and the American people about their strategy to not only produce a vaccine, but also ensure that it can be efficiently and widely distributed to all Americans for free -- without the supply chain obstacles and other management failures that have plagued the distribution of tests and protective equipment. 

When it comes to planning effective strategies to address a crisis that has already claimed more than 100,000 American lives -- a time when the stakes couldn’t be any higher -- President Trump and his administration are still failing to produce a national plan that would keep Americans safe. He’s called testing “overrated,” ignored the expertise and experience of public health and infectious disease professionals, and only recently released a testing plan after Congress required his administration to do so. And now that his plan is out? It’s completely inadequate. This “plan” passes the buck to states, denies responsibility for boosting testing capacity, and withholds important details about how these testing targets were set and how we’re going to meet them. The American people need and deserve much better.

As Congress continues to consider new coronavirus relief legislation, I’m going to keep advocating for the resources, funding, and strategies that our health experts are calling for -- and keep the pressure on the Trump administration to commit to the transparent, detailed plans Americans deserve. In the meantime, I hope you will join me in doing all that we can in our daily lives to stop the spread of the virus, like washing our hands frequently, wearing a mask or face covering, staying home when we are sick, and limiting our exposure to others. Together, we can conquer this pandemic and protect the most vulnerable among us.

All my best,
Jeff