Illinois Department of Public Health director Ngozi Ezike on Tuesday encouraged members of Congress to widen the federal supply chain of COVID-19 vaccines to states and said the federal response to the pandemic under former President Donald Trump “hampered” states’ efforts to fight the virus.

Ezike was one of five public health experts to testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in a virtual hearing, with members of the panel peppering the witnesses on a variety of topics with the aim of finding solutions to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations.