On the recordNovember 2, 2023
This amendment would prohibit any funds to enforce any COVID-19 mask mandates. This amendment is one of the more controversial poison pill policy riders that sadly shows extremist Republicans are not interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law. Preventing disease reduces healthcare costs, such as hospitalization and pharmaceuticals, and benefits employers by resulting in less employee absenteeism. Facial masks are an essential personal protective measure to fight the COVID-19 virus. We also know that some people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can suffer from the long-term effects from their infection, meaning they can experience health problems that can last for years. Why would we politicize something that would help our fellow Americans stay healthy? From January 3, 2020, to September 27, 2023, there were 1,127,152 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States reported to the World Health Organization, some of whom the people in this room knew and loved. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this harmful amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
