It's time to end mandates and censorship
Friends,
We stood up to mask mandates for our kids – and won.
For a while now, we have known the science behind COVID-19 and masking. Data has shown that COVID poses a low risk to children, masks do little to stop the spread in classrooms, and wearing masks harms a child’s development.
Even so, mask mandates in our schools have gone on too long. That’s why earlier this month, I cosponsored the Unmask Our Kids Act to direct education funding only to school districts that provide in-person learning and optional masks. I spoke on the House floor about a 12-year-old in our community who refused to wear a mask with support from his dad because it made it hard to breathe in gym class. I highlighted how he was written up and thrown out, yet Stacey Abrams one day later smiled unmasked in a school surrounded by masked children.
This hypocrisy has frustrated so many parents, including me. However, Cumberland County remained one of the last in our region to continue imposing a school mask mandate. There, a local health department order was blocking a vote by the school board to drop the mandate.
Last week, on behalf of concerned parents, I urged the county to follow the science and allow optional masking in our classrooms. After I contacted the health director, the county revised its order. As a result, beginning last Wednesday masks were allowed to be optional in schools – marking a victory for parents’ rights and freedom.
Parents should be able to decide what’s best for their child. Sadly, our kids have had to endure mandates for too long, even while liberal mandate-pushing politicians like Stacey Abrams ignored them. At last week’s Super Bowl, the hypocrisy continued as Hollywood celebrities and politicians were seen ignoring California’s strict indoor mask policy. Children performing during the Super Bowl, however, were masked.
As I have said before, the hypocrisy of rules for thee but not for me when it comes to mandates must end. I am working to make sure that happens.
Yet as many were ignoring their own mask mandates at last week’s Super Bowl, the mainstream media was ignoring something else – an explosive report from Special Counsel John Durham.
This past weekend, Durham, who was appointed to investigate the origins of the FBI’s original Russia probe into President Trump, filed a report alleging criminal activity by individuals affiliated with the Hillary Clinton campaign.
The filing stated individuals associated with the Clinton campaign tasked a technology company with spying on the Trump campaign, and later the White House, in order to find evidence of unlawful association between the former President and Russia. Such actions are highly illegal and, if true, would constitute a scandal the likes of which have not been seen since Watergate. However, the mainstream media has remained silent.
What’s worse – big tech is helping to cover up this story. Last week, I shared an article from Fox News detailing the latest Durham filing. Shortly after, my post was censored by Facebook’s fact checkers. They are trying to silence my voice and the truth – but we can’t let that happen.
The Russia hoax was used to divide our nation, waste millions of tax dollars, and attack the sitting President of the United States. The American people deserve answers and accountability, not big tech censorship.
Just as I am fighting against mandates, I am working to put an end to this censorship as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. From mandates, to inflation, to Russia, and so many other challenges facing our nation right now, you deserve to know the truth. Rest assured I will never stop fighting for that and for you.
Until Next Week,
Richard Hudson
Member of Congress