Rep. Obernolte, 32 members of Congress ask CDC to show the science on masking in schools
U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-08) and 32 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky to publicly lay out the science behind their decision to recommend children wear masks in school.
“We have been repeatedly told to trust the science regarding how the CDC creates its policies, yet the lack of transparency in how this recommendation was made and the absence of studies to support it is both concerning and extremely frustrating to parents of school-aged children. Therefore, as schools are set to reopen under strict and tenuously justified mask mandates based on CDC recommendations, we respectfully request answers to these questions,” stated the lawmakers in a letter to Director Walensky.
While most credible research has concluded that children, and young children in particular, have a very low risk of facing serious complications from COVID-19 and its variants, there has been a troubling lack of data on the potential impacts of mask wearing on social development for children, especially in the case of elementary school students. At the same time, vaccinations are now regularly available for all adults and children aged 12 and up, providing significant protection for teachers and school staff.
Children have been dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and they have missed out on key social developmental interactions over the past year. In-person education is essential to supporting children and families by not only providing education but also opportunities to engage in activities to support healthy development and access to social, mental, and physical health services, which can reduce stress and mitigate negative developmental outcomes.
The letter, led by Rep. Obernolte and signed by 33 members of Congress including Reps. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Blake Moore (UT-01), Greg Steube (FL-17), Barry Moore (AL-02), Burgess Owens (UT-04), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Devin Nunes (CA-22), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Mike Garcia (CA-25), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Yvette Herrell (NM-02), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Bob Gibbs (OH-07), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), David Valadao (CA-21), Ben Cline (VA-06), Chris Stewart (UT-02), Roger Williams (TX-25), Darrell Issa (CA-50) and Jack Bergman (MI-01), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), David Rouzer (NC-07), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Ashley Hinson (IA-07) and Lisa McClain (MI-10) specifically asks the CDC to answer the following questions:
- What scientific evidence is the CDC relying on in recommending students to wear masks?
- Has the CDC identified conclusive data indicating school-aged children’s potential for transmitting the COVID-19 virus and its variants?
- What is the risk that vaccinated school staff contract a life-threatening case of COVID-19 when performing their duties absent restrictions?
- What are the developmental and educational impacts of requiring masks during in-person education for K-12 students? What conclusive studies analyzing these impacts have been conducted or are underway?
- What metrics will be considered in the future for modifying the current guidance regarding mask wearing by school children?
Read the full letter here.