What’s Important
CDC Finds Virtual School Places Hardships on Parents and Students & Eases Social Distancing Requirements: Last week, the CDC released a survey showing virtual school places stress on both parents and children and poses risks to their mental health and well-being. It also announced new guidance easing social distancing requirements at schools. Both add to the mounting evidence that schools must reopen to in-person instruction.
Opening the Economy Key to Economic Recovery: Economic expert Larry Kudlow last week testified about the importance of reopening the economy and getting shots in Americans’ arms to ensure economic recovery and prosperity. He warned against continuing lockdowns, cancelling energy projects, and increasing regulations, underscoring these actions kill American jobs and hurt the most vulnerable American workers.
Relief Radar
Democrats Block Republican Motion Requiring Negative COVID Tests for Illegal Immigrants: This past week, Democrats blocked a Republican motion requiring illegal immigrants released into the interior United States to have a negative COVID test. At the same time, Democrats passed amnesty legislation that will only encourage more illegal immigrants to come to the United States and worsen the impending health crisis at the border. Democrats continue to push to open the borders for illegal immigrants but are not taking the actions needed to reopen America’s public schools.
Crisis Corner
Virtual Learning Harming Both Parents and Children: Last week, the CDC released a survey showing virtual school places stress on both parents and children and poses risks to their mental health and well-being. Parents reported “they were emotionally distressed, concerned about job stability and struggling to balance work and child care” if their children were not in school. Parents also reported the emotional health of their children worsened and their physical activity decreased. Study after study shows children can return safely to the classroom, and last week the CDC eased its social distancing requirements for schools. Despite the clear science, President Biden continues to follow the unions instead of science.
Newsom Says He’s a Zoom School Parent but His Kids Have Been In School Since November: California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has issued some of the most extreme lockdown measures in the country, last week said he too was “living through Zoom school.” However, he failed to mention that his children returned to private school for in-person learning five months ago.
Kerry Flies Sans Mask: We’ve seen this before. First, Speaker Pelosi was caught without a mask at a hair salon that was under a lockdown order from Governor Newsom. Next, hours after President Biden signed an executive order mandating masks on federal property, he was spotted without a mask on federal property. Now, John Kerry, the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, was spotted without a mask on a flight from Boston to Washington.
Biden Flip Flops
Biden Proposed Tax Hike Could Hit Americans Making $200,000, Breaking Key Promise: President Biden repeatedly pledged to not raise taxes on Americans making more than $400,000, but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki clarified the tax hike could hit individuals making $200,000 a year if they are married to someone who makes the same amount. Raising taxes on those struggling under oppressive Democrat economic lockdowns will hurt recovery.
Biden Blunders
Biden’s HHS Nominee Who Sent COVID-Positive Patients to Nursing Homes Slated for Senate Confirmation: President Biden has nominated Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, for a top post at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is slated for Senate confirmation. Like New York Governor Cuomo, Levine issued a deadly order mandating nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients. She also moved her mother out of a personal care facility before doing so.
This Week in SSOCC
Select Subcommittee Welcomes Two New Republican Members: Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) have joined the Select Subcommittee. Both bring a wealth of experience to the Select Subcommittee and will aid in the oversight of the federal government’s pandemic response. They join Republican Whip and Ranking Member Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Representatives Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Mark Green (R-Tenn.).
Opening the Economy Key to Economic Recovery: Last week, the Select Subcommittee held a hearing on the post-pandemic economy. At the hearing, Republicans and minority witness Larry Kudlow emphasized the importance of reopening the economy and getting shots in Americans’ arms to ensure economic recovery and prosperity. Republicans and Kudlow also warned against continuing lockdowns, cancelling energy projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, and increasing regulations, underscoring these actions kill American jobs and hurt the most vulnerable American workers.
Pandemic Response Report is a weekly newsletter about America’s response to the coronavirus pandemic from Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (SSOCC) Republicans.
