Frank Pallone: “The reason I am opposed to the amendment is because I don't think it is necessary or is even helpful to the issue at…”

“The reason I am opposed to the amendment is because I don't think it is necessary or is even helpful to the issue at hand. It talks about a report on the number of visitors denied entry under this policy. The fact of the matter is that, on the Democratic side, what we are concerned about is the public health. If the gentlewoman wanted to have an amendment that said there would be a report that provides us with public health data to justify lifting the mandate, I could see something like that because the bottom line here is we are concerned about the science. The CDC says that this mandate is necessary to protect Americans, to reduce the COVID cases, to make sure that people don't get sick and that more people are hospitalized and be taxing on our public health system. So I don't see how this amendment that talks about the number of visitors gets to any of that. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert). The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.”