Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: CRS Experts

January 31, 2020 – May 19, 2020 R46209

On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. Illnesses have since been linked to a new strain of coronavirus, designated Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. The disease has spread to many other countries, including the United States. The situation is rapidly changing, and both WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) post frequent updates. CRS products on the outbreak are available under the “Coronavirus Resources” banner at https://www.crs.gov/.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: CRS Experts

Updated May 19, 2020 (R46209)

On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. Illnesses have since been linked to a new strain of coronavirus, designated Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. The disease has spread to many other countries, including the United States. The situation is rapidly changing, and both WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) post frequent updates.¹ CRS products on the outbreak are available under the "Coronavirus Resources" banner at https://www.crs.gov/.

The following table lists names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns involving the COVID-19 outbreak. Policy areas identified include

public health, virology, and epidemiology;
international response activities;
domestic response activities; and
legal issues.

Legislative Issue	Name/Title	Phone	Email
Public Health—General
	Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Kavya Sekar Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Public Health—Disease and Epidemiology
	Laurie A. Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
International Response Activities
General, outbreak response, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, vaccines and therapeutics	Sara M. Tharakan Analyst in Global Health and International Development	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
General, World Health Organization (WHO), international authorities	Tiaji Salaam-Blyther Specialist in Global Health	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
State Department	Cory R. Gill Analyst in Foreign Affairs	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
General foreign assistance response	Emily M. Morgenstern Analyst in Foreign Assistance and Foreign Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Peace Corps response	Nick M. Brown Analyst in Foreign Assistance and Foreign Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Humanitarian issues and displaced populations	Rhoda Margesson Specialist in International Humanitarian Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Sanctions Policy	Dianne E. Rennack Specialist in Foreign Policy Legislation	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
National security	Kathleen J. McInnis Specialist in International Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	John W. Rollins Specialist in Terrorism and National Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Biological Weapons Convention	Paul K. Kerr Specialist in Nonproliferation	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Mary Beth D. Nikitin Specialist in Nonproliferation	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
China: Political issues and foreign affairs	Susan V. Lawrence Specialist in Asian Affairs	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
China: Supply chains, economics and trade	Karen M. Sutter Specialist in Asian Trade and Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Michael D. Sutherland Analyst in International Trade and Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
International economic effects	Andres B. Schwarzenberg Analyst in International Trade and Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Multilateral Economic Institutions: World Bank, International Monetary Fund	Martin A. Weiss Specialist in International Trade and Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Rebecca M. Nelson Specialist in International Trade and Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal and illegal wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases	Pervaze A. Sheikh Specialist in Natural Resources Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Katarina C. O'Regan Analyst in Foreign Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Domestic Response Activities
Economics and Employment
Economics: Consumer Finance and Credit Reporting	Cheryl R. Cooper Analyst in Financial Economics	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Andrew P. Scott Analyst in Financial Economics	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Economics: Economic effects	Marc Labonte Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Economics: Tax and spending options	Mark P. Keightley Specialist in Economics	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Don Marples Specialist in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Molly F. Sherlock Specialist in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Economics: Small Business Administration (SBA)	Bruce R. Lindsay Analyst in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Robert Jay Dilger Senior Specialist in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Employment, Labor: Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)	Katelin P. Isaacs Specialist in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Julie M. Whittaker Specialist in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Employment, Labor: Occupational safety and health, workers' compensation	Scott D. Szymendera Analyst in Disability Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Employment, Labor: State Temporary Disability Insurance	Will Morton Analyst in Disability Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration and Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice: Health Care in Jails and Prisons	Nathan James Analyst in Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Criminal Justice: COVID-19 Related Cybercrime and Fraud	Kristin Finklea Specialist in Domestic Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Eligibility for Public Benefits and Public Charge	Abigail F. Kolker Analyst in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Health Care Immigration Detention	Audrey Singer Specialist in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Border screening, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Detention and Removal, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)	Audrey Singer Specialist in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Foreign Health Care Workers	Jill H. Wilson Analyst in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Non-Immigrant Visas	Jill H. Wilson Analyst in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Temporary Worker Programs (H2A and H2B)	Andorra Bruno Specialist in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Immigrant Visas	William A. Kandel Analyst in Immigration Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Industry
Agriculture: Markets and USDA Income Support Programs	Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Agriculture: Livestock, Meat, and Dairy	Joel Greene Analyst in Agricultural Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Agriculture: USDA, Farm Credits and Loans, Section 32 Commodity Purchases	James Monke Specialist in Agricultural Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Agriculture: Produce and Specialty Crops	Renee Johnson Specialist in Agricultural Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Transportation: Aviation	Rachel Y. Tang Analyst in Transportation and Industry	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Bart Elias Specialist in Aviation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Broadband and Digital Divide	Colby Leigh Rachfal Analyst in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Federal Communications Commission	Angele A. Gilroy Specialist in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Colby Leigh Rachfal Analyst in Telecommunications Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Critical Infrastructure	Brian E. Humphreys Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal
Isolation and Quarantine	Edward C. Liu Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Emergency Authorities	Jennifer K. Elsea Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Vaccines, Treatments, Patent Issues	Kevin J. Hickey Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration: Border Screening, Customs and Border Protection (CBP)	Ben Harrington Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Procurement, Defense Production Act	David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Medicare and Medicaid
Health: Medicare and Medicaid Oversight	Cliff Binder Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicare and Medicaid Part B Prescription Drugs	Cliff Binder Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility and Benefits	Evelyne P. Baumrucker Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicaid and CHIP Financing	Alison Mitchell Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Telehealth Medicare	Jim Hahn Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Telehealth Medicaid	Evelyne P. Baumrucker Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicare Physician Issues	Jim Hahn Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicare Hospital Payments	Marco A. Villagrana Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicare Ambulance Payments	Marco A. Villagrana Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medicare Advantage	Paulette C. Morgan Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Nursing home and home health agency oversight	Phoenix Voorhies Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Nutrition Programs and Income Security
Food: Child nutrition programs during school closures, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)	Kara Clifford Billings Analyst in Social Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Food: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)	Randy Alison Aussenberg Specialist in Nutrition Assistance Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Paid and Unpaid Leave	Sarah A. Donovan Specialist in Labor Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Payments to Social Security and Certain Other Federal Beneficiaries	William R. Morton Analyst in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Paul S. Davies Specialist in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Payments to Veterans	Heather M. Salazar Analyst in Veterans Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Retirement: Withdrawals, required distributions, and pension funding relief	John J. Topoleski Specialist in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Elizabeth A. Myers Analyst in Income Security	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Temporary Assistance: Short-term loans for repatriated U.S. citizens	Karen E. Lynch Specialist in Social Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Other
Federal Manufacturing Research and Development	John F. Sargent, Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Child care	Karen E. Lynch Specialist in Social Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
2020 Census	Jennifer D. Williams Specialist in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Effects on Federally Funded Intramural and Extramural R&D	John F. Sargent, Jr. Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Daniel Morgan Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Defense Production Act	Michael H. Cecire Analyst in Intergovernmental Relations and Economic Development Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Heidi M. Peters Analyst in U.S. Defense Acquisition Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
School and University Closures and Online Operations	Rebecca R. Skinner Specialist in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Alexandra Hegji Analyst in Social Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Cassandria Dortch Specialist in Education Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Congressional Operations	Ida A. Brudnick Specialist on the Congress	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	R. Eric Petersen Specialist in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Congressional Procedure	Chris Davis Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Elizabeth Rybicki Specialist on Congress and the Legislative Process	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Judicial Operations	Barry J. McMillion Analyst in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Tax Credits, Paid Sick Leave, and Paid Family and Medical Leave	Molly F. Sherlock Specialist in Public Finance	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Election Administration and Voting	R. Sam Garrett Specialist in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Emergency Management: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Bruce R. Lindsay Analyst in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Erica A. Lee Analyst in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Elizabeth M. Webster Analyst in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Diane P. Horn Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Emergency Management: Business interruption insurance, pandemic insurance	Diane P. Horn Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Baird Webel Acting Section Research Manager	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Private Health Insurance
Health: Private health insurance, health tax credits	Bernadette Fernandez Specialist in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Private health insurance, covered benefits, exchanges	Vanessa C. Forsberg Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Private health insurance, surprise medical billing, employer sponsored coverage, including COBRA coverage, health related tax-advantaged accounts (e.g., HSAs, FSAs)	Ryan J. Rosso Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Private health insurance, surprise medical billing, telehealth	Noah D. Isserman Analyst in Health Care Financing	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Public Health
Health: Public health, Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), funding	Sarah A. Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Kavya Sekar Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Laurie A. Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Behavioral health	Johnathan H. Duff Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Medical countermeasures (tests, vaccines, treatments, patent issues)	Agata Dabrowska Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Amanda K. Sarata Specialist in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Frank Gottron Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Kavya Sekar Analyst in Health Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Laurie A. Harris Analyst in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Biodefense	Frank Gottron Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Health: Drug Enforcement Administration's Regulatory Role	Lisa N. Sacco Analyst in Illicit Drugs and Crime Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Drinking Water Quality and Supply	Elena H. Humphreys Analyst in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Mary Tiemann Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]

Author Contact Information

Matthew B. Barry, Section Research Manager ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Footnotes

1.	WHO, "Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports," https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports; and CDC, "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary," https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html.