A few of many things in the past 2 weeks that Rep. Chu had done about COVID-19:

1. She did an OpEd on Newsweek last Friday 3/13/20.  https://www.newsweek.com/parroting-chinese-coronavirus-republicans-are-promoting-racism-putting-lives-danger-1492033
2. Joint press release from Democratic Leaders of Color: Trump’s Use of “Chinese Virus” Endangers Lives.
3. Press release from yesterday Wed 3/18/20, denouncing Republican Bigotry on “Chinese Virus”
4. A Tri Caucus letter sent to CDC requesting them to translate COVID-19 materials into additional languages beyond the limited Chinese and Spanish in-language resources currently available on their website.   Link to Letter.
5. We did 2 Facebook Live events providing updates of COVID-19.  One was today Thurs 3/19/20, with directors of LA County Public Health and Pasadena Public Health.  https://www.facebook.com/RepJudyChu/
6. The House passed the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” on 3/17/20.  (See Attached 1)
7. Congress passed the “SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans COVID-19”.  (See Attached 2)

Rep. Chu Condemns Republican Bigotry on “Chinese Virus”

On March 18 asked by reporters why he prefers the term “Chinese Virus” to describe the 2019 novel coronavirus, in violation of guidance from health experts and the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and the department of Health and Human Services, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said, “China is to blame because the culture where people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that, these viruses are transmitted from the animal to the people and that’s why China has been the source of a lot of these viruses like SARS, like MERS, the Swine Flu.” Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued the following statement:

“Senator Cornyn’s comments are disgusting. Disparaging an entire ethnic group and culture like this is bigotry, plain and simple. Blaming Chinese people en masse for the spread of this disease is the exact same bigoted line that was used to justify the Chinese Exclusion Act over a century ago.

“We are now watching in real time as the Republicans change the way they talk about coronavirus, intentionally stoking xenophobia in order to shift attention away from President Trump’s truncated response. Just a few weeks ago, while they were still denying the coming pandemic, most Republicans, including the President, called it the coronavirus. But in recent days, as the economy has started to suffer more and the virus continues to spread, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have changed how they refer to the coronavirus. Over the past few days, Trump has repeatedly labeled this pandemic as the ‘Chinese virus,’ and his loyal Republican followers have come to his defense in increasingly hateful terms. Their words are inciting racism and violence against Asian Americans in the United States.

“Republicans have been warned by health experts, by Trump administration officials, by Asian American organizations and constituents, and by Members of Congress and other elected officials. At this point, Republicans have made a calculation that it is in their interest to create fear of Asian Americans, and people’s lives will be in danger until they stop.”

Democratic Leaders of Color: Trump’s Use of “Chinese Virus” Endangers Lives

On March 17, President Donald Trump in two tweets referred to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as the “Chinese Virus.” He later doubled down on the use of this term during a press conference earlier today. This violates guidance issued by the World Health Organization and the promises by members of Trump’s own administration, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Robert Redfield, to refrain from using that term precisely to describe COVID-19 because it incites blame, racism, and hatred towards Asian Americans, putting them at risk for prejudice and violence. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chairwoman Judy Chu, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Joaquin Castro, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairwoman Karen Bass, and Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Deb Haaland issued the following joint statement:

“The name of the virus causing the crisis in America and around the world is the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 for short. It has a name. But Republicans, from President Trump on down, have insisted on creating and using alternatives such as the ‘Chinese’ or ‘Wuhan’ virus. This is dangerous and they know it. The World Health Organization has said labeling a disease by region or ethnicity makes it harder to contain the disease and promotes stigma that can negatively impact ethnic groups. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said creating stigma endangers public health. Yet still, Republicans are rejecting that expert guidance in order to stoke xenophobia and blame all people of Chinese ethnicity for a public health crisis that knows no boundaries. But by telling people who to blame, they are telling people who to fear and who to hate. Unfortunately, we have already seen how this bigotry has impacted Asian Americans across the country who are facing increased prejudice and violence. Many have even been assaulted to the point of needing to seek medical care in hospitals due to the injuries sustained from physical attacks. This is the consequence of spreading xenophobia, something that cannot continue to be amplified by the Trump Administration and Republican Members. Not now, not ever.

“Republicans have a choice: they can either help contain this global pandemic, or they can exploit it and exacerbate it to serve the President’s narrow political and xenophobic interests. But by doing the latter, they are putting American lives at risk. Conversely, it’s heartening to see the four national caucuses of state legislators of color join our efforts by issuing a statement denouncing the Administration’s efforts to spread xenophobia. We are also grateful to all the local elected officials, governors, and community leaders adhering to clear, consistent messaging that rightfully places no blame on Asian-Americans or any other ethnic group. Once again, we implore all leaders to stick to expert guidance and not spread xenophobia. Lives depend on it.”