By Brian Babin As medical professionals and members of Congress, we have serious concern over the global spread of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19. Since the disease emerged in Wuhan, China, widespread outbreaks have occurred in South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan. The number of cases in the United States continues to increase and will likely increase substantially as widespread testing begins. This isn't our first experience dealing with an epidemic, and as medical professionals, we believe the U.S. is prepared to effectively combat the virus. As is being widely reported, good hygiene will help combat the community spread of this virus. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth if you haven't washed your hands. Avoid handshakes and, instead, try to bump elbows. Sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Stay home if you're ill. Disinfect commonly touched surfaces. Postpone travel. Stay home as much as possible and avoid publicly congregating in order to flatten the curve and protect everyone, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. These are all commonsense measures to help prevent more widespread transmission. However, good hygiene isn't enough. This pandemic has been compared to influenza, both in terms of the virus' spread and symptoms. But there are key differences. Most significantly, we haven't yet developed medications or vaccines to fight this disease. Most Americans today consider the spread of the flu as potentially dangerous, yet manageable. The flu impacted 35 million Americans last year, causing over 490,000 hospitalizations and over 34,000 deaths. Without medicine or a vaccine, coronavirus has the potential to be more widespread and deadly than the flu. That's why we must take this threat seriously. Most individuals who contract COVID-19 will have mild to severe symptoms that resemble a cold or flu and will recover. However, a significant number will also require hospitalization. If these hospitalizations occur rapidly, it has the potential to overwhelm our hospitals. For instance, emergency room visits or necessary cancer care may be disrupted if our system is overcapacity. Therefore, we must limit the spread. Congress provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding to prepare for this epidemic. This funding will greatly expand the availability of test kits that are vital in our efforts to stop this illness. We can't fight the disease if we don't know where it is and who has it. Testing availability is expanding rapidly. Funding will also ensure our public health departments have resources to set priorities locally and will help develop vaccines and treatments to combat this disease. It is amazing that, in under two months, private companies already are developing vaccines -- a process that typically takes years -- with one already in the beginning trials of human testing. Yet, it may still take a year to bring a safe and effective vaccine to the public. Businesses and community institutions can also help reduce the rapid spread of the virus. For those staying open, easy steps include encouraging people to wash their hands; ensuring access to hand sanitizer; and sanitizing work areas and tools frequently. Businesses and organizers of sporting events and concerts should think about postponing or canceling large events -- if they have not already. Churches and civic clubs should discourage close-quarter contact or consider broadcasting services online. Businesses that allow telework should proactively encourage it and any schools that are still open should plan for closures. We are better prepared today for the COVID-19 outbreak because of the lessons we learned and incorporated from previous pandemics. In June 2019, President Trump signed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act, which reauthorized public health and preparedness and response programs to give our health officials tools they need to quickly and effectively respond to an emergency. In addition, Congress substantially increased funding for key public health government agencies over the last five years. But more will still need to be done. This is a rapidly changing situation, so check in with health officials frequently for situational updates. With all the challenges associated with a pandemic, there is no country more capable to manage a health crisis than the United States of America. The authors are members of the GOP Doctors Caucus, which is composed of medical providers in Congress who utilize their medical expertise to develop patient-centered health care policy: Phil Roe, who represents Tennessee's First District; Andy Harris, who represents Maryland's First District; Buddy Carter, who represents Georgia's First District; Roger Marshall, who represents Kansas' First District; Scott DeJarlais, who represents Tennessee's Fourth District; Greg Murphy, who represents North Carolina's Third District; Brad Wenstrup, who represents Ohio's Second District; Brian Babin, who represents Texas' 36th District; Drew Ferguson, who represents Georgia's Third District; and John Joyce, who represents Pennsylvania's 13th District.

By: Reps. Phil Roe, Michael Burgess, Roger Marshal, Neal Dunn, Earl Carter, and Brad Wenstrup The humanitarian crisis at our southern border has reached a critical point. However, it can be difficult to discern what's really happening with so many conflicting accounts of how migrants are treated when they cross our border. As medical providers, we're particularly concerned about migrants' health and any communicable diseases spreading in detention facilities. In late June, we traveled to the Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGVS) to personally observe the situation, accompanied by senior Department of Homeland Security medical personnel who stressed the significant challenges of incorporating a fully functioning medical system into a law enforcement agency. Our Border Patrol personnel are working hard to process and properly care for a significant influx of migrants. Detained migrants nearly tripled in one year in RGVS, from 17,491 apprehensions in May 2018 to nearly 50,000 in May 2019. At one nearby checkpoint, we witnessed two groups of migrants turn themselves in after crossing into America. The migrants approached Border Patrol agents willingly, not fearful but relieved. This crisis is unrelenting and it's happening even in broad daylight. Between those who ultimately are granted asylum and those who skip their court dates, more than half of migrants who arrive ultimately stay, which incentivizes other migrants to try for themselves. When migrants turn themselves into U.S. custody, they're transferred to Border Patrol processing centers where they're given initial medical screenings to check for communicable diseases such as flu, scabies, lice or more severe diseases. After witnessing the enormity of what DHS is dealing with, you can't help but be proud of the work being done to treat people who have put themselves through dangerous circumstances. The medical care is a significant improvement from the start of this crisis and improves every day. The recent surge of illegal immigration is overwhelming our resources, overcrowding facilities designed for short-term processing. With limited space available in ICE and HHS facilities operating near or over capacity, migrants are waiting longer in CBP processing centers before moving to facilities designed for longer-term stays while waiting for their cases to be adjudicated. Most migrants are able to leave processing facilities within 72 hours, but processing is being delayed for many single adults arriving at the border alone. There's an easy solution. We could pass legislation tomorrow to expand the number of ICE and HHS beds available, immediately reducing the number of migrants waiting in processing facilities and ending catch and release; however, Democrats still refuse to take this action. Border Patrol personnel repeatedly urged us to address two of the root causes of this humanitarian crisis: the Flores Settlement and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA). The Flores Settlement prevents children from being held in custody for more than 20 days and the TVPRA requires that migrants coming from Northern Triangle countries -- the origin of most migrants who cross our border -- cannot immediately be returned to their countries. Worse, cartels exploit TVPRA to enable human trafficking and hold migrants unable to pay for their trip in stash houses to perform forced labor or prostitution as restitution. Other members of Congress have recently made disparaging comments after visiting these facilities. How could we come away with starkly different views about the adequacy of migrant care? The answer is simple. Many of those who criticize our detention facilities aren't seeking to improve treatment conditions -- they're seeking to end detentions and promote a policy of open borders. On our visit, we saw Border Patrol agents providing quality care to migrants in their custody, including unaccompanied children who survived the dangerous journey from Central America to our border. These law enforcement officers are good people doing a hard job. The recent supplemental funding bill provides critical resources for the humanitarian effort on the southern border, but none of these resources will matter if we do not enforce our immigration laws and keep our country secure. This visit was extremely beneficial to all of us and reaffirmed our support of President Trump's mission to secure our border and change our immigration laws in order to end this humanitarian crisis.

Congress convened a joint session on January 6-7, 2021, to count electoral votes by state and confirm the results of the 2020 presidential election. Carter voted against certifying the electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. The House rejected both objections by a vote of 121-303 for Arizona and 138-282 for Pennsylvania.