What’s Important
CDC’s School Reopening Guidance Misinterprets Science: Four doctors wrote a scathing opinion piece in USA Today blasting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) school reopening guidance for misinterpreting science and not taking into account data showing little disease transmission in schools. The authors argue school closures are harming children.
Cuomo Must Deliver Facts Now: Governor Cuomo called on New Yorkers and the American people to wait for the facts about his sexual harassment scandal, but Governor Cuomo needs to give us the facts that he is covering up regarding his deadly nursing home order which forced thousands of COVID-positive patients into nursing homes, potentially leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths.
Operation Warp Speed a Resounding Success: President Biden refuses to give credit to President Trump and Operation Warp Speed (OWS), but the facts clearly show OWS has been a resounding success in delivering multiple safe and effective vaccines to the American people. Even a senior adviser to the White House’s COVID team is now crediting OWS for spurring the development of a vaccine at an unprecedented pace.
Relief Radar
Last week, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law Speaker Pelosi’s $1.9 trillion partisan so-called COVID relief package. More than 90 percent of the law isn’t even related to public health spending. Some of the most egregious provisions of the bill:
- $350 billion to bail out locked-down blue states
- $570 million to provide additional paid leave for federal workers to watch their children who are at home as a result of school closures
- $50 million in environmental justice grants
- $50 million for Planned Parenthood
- Taxpayer-funded healthcare subsidies for illegal immigrants
- Ban on states from lowering their taxes
This law isn’t relief Americans need. It’s a payoff to progressives.
Crisis Corner
CDC’s School Reopening Guidance Misinterprets Science: Last week, four doctors wrote a scathing opinion piece in USA Today blasting the CDC’s school reopening guidance for misinterpreting science and not taking into account data showing little disease transmission in schools. The authors wrote, “The recent school reopening guidance released by the CDC is an example of fears influencing and resulting in misinterpretation of science and harmful policy.” The authors went onto say, “Keeping schools closed or even partially closed, based on what we know now is unwarranted, is harming children, and has become a human rights issue.”
Additionally, another report released last week found attending school does not increase risk to children and schools do not appear to drive community transmission. The report also concluded research shows children face greater health risks due to missed health screenings, food insecurity, and mental health challenges.
Study after study shows children and teachers can return safely to the classroom. When will President Biden follow the science instead of the unions?
Democrat Hypocrisy Alert
Congressional Democrats Continue Refusing to Hold Cuomo Accountable: There is a growing chorus of Democrats joining Republicans in calling for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to be held accountable, but Congressional Democrats continue to refuse to subpoena Governor Cuomo and make him testify under oath. Republican Leaders recently renewed their request for a joint hearing, but Chairs Richard Neal, Carolyn Maloney, Frank Pallone, and James Clyburn have ignored the request.
Biden Flip Flops
Negative COVID Test Required for Foreign Tourists but Not Illegal Immigrants: In January, President Biden issued an executive order requiring a negative COVID test for foreign tourists before they enter the United States and the CDC has also reaffirmed this requirement. However, it’s a different story at the border, according to Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar. He recently stated Customs and Border Protection, under the Biden Administration’s leadership, is releasing untested illegal immigrants into border communities.
Biden Blunders
Biden Takes Credit for Operation Warp Speed Successes: Last week, President Biden delivered a speech marking the one-year anniversary of the COVID lockdowns. During the speech, he refused to give credit to President Trump and Operation Warp Speed for delivering safe and effective vaccines. But President Trump laid the ground work for delivering safe and effective vaccines to the American people—a fact even the Washington Post acknowledges. Previously, President Biden and administration officials went as far to say “they inherited no plan,” even though President Biden’s initial plan to deliver 100 million vaccine doses in 100 days was President Trump’s plan.
This Week in SSOCC
Hearing on Post-Pandemic Economy: On Wednesday, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis will hold a hearing on the post-pandemic economy. Congressional Democrats and President Biden recently rushed a $2 trillion spending bill through Congress even though economists– including prominent former Clinton and Obama appointee, Larry Summers – are saying it is not needed to sustain the current trajectory of economic growth and could actually harm the U.S. economy. The Congressional Budget Office is projecting a stronger economy and 3.7 real GDP growth for 2021 without additional stimulus. It’s clear we don’t need more stimulus—we need to reopen our economy and put Americans back to work.
Cuomo Must Deliver Facts About Nursing Home Deaths Now: As Governor Cuomo calls on New Yorkers and the American people to wait for the facts about his sexual harassment scandal, Republican Whip and Select Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Scalise (R-La.) calls on Governor Cuomo to give us the facts that he has been covering up regarding his deadly nursing home order which forced thousands of COVID-positive patients into nursing homes, leading to their unnecessary deaths. Families who lost loved ones are tired of waiting for the facts and are disgusted by Governor Cuomo obstructing justice and hiding the truth. Governor Cuomo’s words are cheap if he doesn’t follow it up with action.
Pandemic Response Report is a weekly newsletter about America’s response to the coronavirus pandemic from Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (SSOCC) Republicans.