Political Quotes

“I thank Representative Carter for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Republican motion to recommit H.R. 3771. We can all agree that preventing myocardial events in Asian Americans and all populations is important, but the health of our children coming through the pandemic is critical. The Republican motion to recommit would require the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on the education crisis in K-12 public schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This report would include the total number of days schools were closed, the impact that school closures had on our most vulnerable population--which includes both academic achievement and mental health--and the amount of classroom instruction time that was lost. As a mother of two children, I understand how important it is for all kids to be in school and learning among their peers. Unfortunately, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools had vaccine mandates, masking requirements, and virtual-only learning which has resulted in students paying the price through learning loss. The report to Congress this motion to recommit authorizes will provide us with the data that will help us move forward from this pandemic. Early in the pandemic there was a lot of focus on limiting people's interactions with others. However, by summer of 2020, I would argue that the risk of keeping schools closed and how to reopen them as safely as possible was known.…”