'Glorified Muzzles': Keith Self Pushes Bill To Prohibit Federal Funding Of Mask Mandates In Congress

4 months ago

During remarks on the House floor prior to the Congressional recess, Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) spoke about a bill that would prohibit federal funding from being used to create mask mandates in Congress.

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Transcript

00:00Mr. Chairman, this amendment offered by Representative Ogles prohibits federal funds from being used

00:06to make a mask mandate in Congress.

00:10Policies involving mandatory mask implementation are not about science or safety, but they're

00:16about control.

00:17Mr. Ogles and many other Americans recognized this years ago, and our views have been justified

00:23by Dr. Fauci's admission that these policies were not based on science.

00:28In the 117th Congress, then-Speaker Pelosi compelled everyday Americans who visited the

00:34House of Representatives to walk around wearing glorified muzzles.

00:39The House is supposed to be the most democratic body within our federal government.

00:44As Representatives, we are supposed to have the most direct connection with the people

00:49of any federal official.

00:51From the beginning of the nation, we have been elected by a majority vote of our constituents.

00:57Yet Democrats chose to make it more difficult for constituents to visit their representatives

01:02by forcing them to wear masks and follow COVID-19 protocols that didn't protect anybody.

01:09We have a responsibility to ensure any future Congress does not adopt these same policies

01:15again.

01:16My colleagues here have a choice between following the science that we now know, or clinging

01:23to superstitions based on fear and ignorance.

01:27During the height of COVID frenzy, policymakers relied on studies far removed from anything

01:33resembling the scientific method.

01:36What we have before us is the most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of scientific studies

01:40conducted on the efficiency of masks.

01:44And frankly, I'm going with the science on this one.

01:48And I am happy that many of my colleagues who argued in favor of these mandates realized

01:52their mistakes and supported banning them last fall.

01:57Mask mandates destroyed our economy and damaged families with little discernible gain.

02:04Mr. Chair, we've tried mask mandates in this country.

02:08They failed to control the spread of respiratory viruses and set our fellow citizens against

02:13each other.

02:14They, along with other policies based on the same bad science, were used to restrict the

02:20access people had to their elected representatives.

02:23Mask mandates are ineffective in preventing the spread of disease, but they certainly

02:28infringed on our rights.

02:30They were part of the grotesque lockdown policy that severely damaged our economy and instilled

02:36an unwarranted level of fear in the minds of Americans.

02:40I urge the adoption of Mr. Ogle's amendment, and I yield back.

02:46Gentleman yields back.

02:48For what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition?

02:50Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

02:54Gentleman is recognized for five minutes.

02:57Thank you, Mr. Chair.

02:58I rise in opposition to this amendment.

03:01These policies should not be debated.

03:03It should now be debated in a different context on a different bill.

03:09However, I will debate since the congressman is addressing the issues.

03:14Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of virus transmission and can save lives.

03:19Here we go again.

03:21Since 2021, according to the CDC, we have lost over 1.2 million lives in these United

03:29States due to COVID-19.

03:32And according to the World Health Organization, we lost over 7 million people across the globe.

03:40People are still contracting the disease.

03:43As of this past April, there were 22 million cases, active cases.

03:49Vaccines and masks are the safety for ourselves and others.

03:55COVID-19 and other viral illnesses significantly impact and strain our hospital and health

04:01care workers.

04:03We have come a long way in protecting ourselves against COVID.

04:08We have more tools now to combat the deadly disease.

04:13However, creating a law that will limit our use of health mandates is short-sighted.

04:19Congress health mandates are guided by recommendations from our very own attending physician who

04:25coordinates with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

04:30Under this amendment, agencies will be limited in which tools they can use to ensure the

04:36health of members, staff, and visitors.

04:40Our own constituents have come to the campus in the face of a pandemic.

04:45This amendment undermines public health and our ability to ensure the safety of our capital

04:51complex for all of us.

04:53I oppose this amendment and yield back.

'Glorified Muzzles': Keith Self Pushes Bill To Prohibit Federal Funding Of Mask Mandates In Congress

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