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“Fauci on Fire: House GOP to Grill the Leading Doc on COVID Origins and Future Pandemics

In a major move, the House GOP is set to grill the nation’s top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci on the origins of the COVID-19 virus and future pandemics. This Wednesday, Fauci is scheduled to appear before the House Select Subcomittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, chaired by Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC). This look into the virus’s origins and prevention of future pandemics comes as the U.S. is still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite efforts to contain the virus, the effects of the virus can still be seen across the country with varying levels of severity. In response, Democrats have urged lawmakers to focus more on the immediate crisis and relief efforts, while Republicans have advocated for a deeper exploration into the virus’s origins and future prevention. Fauci, who has been a key member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, has been at the forefront of the pandemic from the beginning and is expected to provide the panel with key information on the virus, potential treatments, and the current state of its spread. Democrats on the panel have voiced concern that the hearing could divert attention away from more pressing COVID-19 relief efforts, while Republicans have argued that the need for such an investigation has become clear, a sentiment echoed by President Donald Trump and other GOP lawmakers. In a statement, Rep. Clyburn noted, “If we want to fully understand this virus—so we can prevent future pandemics and save lives—we must have a full understanding of its origins.” Fauci’s testimony to the panel should provide much needed clarity on the virus and its origins, and the potential for implementing measures to better prepare for and mitigate the spread of potential future pandemics.