Foster Statement on COVID-19 Death Toll Passing 200,000

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on the U.S. COVID-19 death toll passing 200,000 people:

"We mourn 200,000 Americans who have been killed by COVID-19 in just six months' time. That's approaching four times the deaths our country suffered during the Vietnam War, and the death toll continues to rise every day. While the United States has about four percent of the world's population, we've accounted for over 20 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 - a striking indictment of the Trump administration's failure to effectively manage this public health crisis.

"We now know that President Trump was told of and understood the danger of this deadly virus early on, but instead of being honest with the American people about the challenges we face, he decided to "play it down," undercut his own scientists and health experts, and deliberately mislead the public. Our country is paying a terrible price for that selfish decision which will forever define his Presidency."