Washington, D.C. - House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) sent a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle P. Walensky on Friday requesting that her agency update its guidance related to children and travel. Leader Rodgers asked Director Walensky to follow science and update her agency’s summer camp guidance, school guidance, and travel guidance for vaccinated people. The letter comes shortly after the CDC announced it would be relaxing its guidance for those who are vaccinated from having to wear face masks.
In the letter, Leader Rodgers first highlights the guidance the CDC had issued recommending that children wear masks outdoors at summer camps and asks if children should still be wearing them while playing. Leader Rodgers also points to the guidance the CDC issued regarding schools before it was reported that teachers’ unions successfully lobbied the CDC to change their guidance on school reopenings. The letter finally points out that for vaccinated Americans, masks are still mandatory despite a prior comment from the CDC that Americans will “resume activities that [they] did prior to the pandemic."
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finally updated its guidance on mask-wearing for vaccinated people. In catching up with scientific reality, the CDC now recommends that ‘[f]ully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing,’" the letter says. “While this CDC action is long overdue, more must be done, particularly as it relates to children and travel. I ask that you fully commit to following science and make appropriate updates to the following (guidance) as soon as possible."
Leader Rodgers requests that Director Walensky make arrangements to brief Committee staff on the matter by May 28, 2021.
