Congressman Robert Garcia Hosts Panel Discussion on the Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Long Beach, CA – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) hosted a panel of experts in public health and pandemic response to discuss the lessons learned from COVID-19 and what needs to be done to prepare for future pandemics.
“My mom was a healthcare worker, and I know firsthand how vital our healthcare workers and systems are to the safety of our nation. I am committed to implementing real pandemic prevention work at the local, state, and federal levels,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “We must be prepared for the next pandemic. It’s not a matter of if, it’s when will the next health crisis hit.”
Congressman Garcia is committed to increasing the nation’s pandemic preparedness while fighting against the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the White House regarded then Mayor Garcia’s pandemic response as the best in the nation. In July, he introduced the SEWER Act to fund the Center for Disease Control’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), which tests and detects pathogens in sewage to track disease transmission in communities. Congressman Garcia also introduced the FLASH Act to cut through red tape to quickly buy critical medical materials during emergencies in future public health crises. As Mayor of Long Beach, Congressman Garcia was on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working with the city’s independent health department to protect lives. Currently, he sits on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, where he has defended public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci and worked to find sustainable solutions to protect our communities from future pandemics.
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