Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) challenged CDC Director Robert Redfield. While evasive in the beginning her relentlessness forced him to promise free COVID-19 tests.
Katie Porter strikes again
The Hill reported the encounter as follows.
A confrontation between Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert R. Redfield went viral this week, as the California Democrat pressed him to guarantee free coronavirus tests for all Americans.
At Thursday’s House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, Porter said a coronavirus test for an uninsured patient would cost $1,331.
“Dr. Redfield, do you want to know who has the coronavirus and who doesn’t? Not just rich people, but everybody who might have the virus?” she asked him.
Porter then hit Redfield with a series of questions about how the general public would be able to afford the tests and if the administration would move to allow free testing, to which Redfield replied, “I think you’re an excellent questioner, so my answer is yes.”
“Excellent, everyone in America, hear that you are eligible to go get tested and have that covered regardless of insurance,” she said after Redfield’s confirmation. “Please, if you believe you have the illness, call first … do not let a lack of insurance worsen this crisis.”
Katie Porter is what a politician who is a real advocate looks like. We could only wish most politicians instead of being beholden to corporate interests looked out for most of us.