Thomas Massie: “I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. The U.S. should be leading the free world right now but, instead, we…”

“I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. The U.S. should be leading the free world right now but, instead, we are falling behind. Hundreds of countries have a vaccine policy that is more liberal than the United States at the moment. If you live in Japan, Italy, Spain, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Israel, Germany, France, Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Taiwan, Mexico, all of our neighbors to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west have gotten rid of their COVID vaccine mandates to enter their countries, but we have not. Why is that? What is our policy right now? To enter into the United States, if you are a foreigner, you have to have a COVID vaccine. Who can enter right now without a vaccine? Well, if you are an illegal alien apprehended at the border and awaiting a trial or a hearing, you don't need a vaccine; just come on into the country, we will check it out later. What if you are somebody who comes in and you have been vaccinated, but you have got a full-blown case of symptomatic COVID? Oh, you are vaccinated? No problem. Come on in. Bring your new variant, whatever it is. We will welcome you. If you are a healthy tennis player who has not been vaccinated, then stay out of our country. That is the message that we have been sending. Our policy is at least 2 years out of date. The U.S. Travel Association recognizes this.…”