Unmask Our Kids
Rules for thee but not for me.
This has become a common theme for too many politicians who want to control your life. From mayors to governors to the president, these hypocrites who want to force mandates on you are being caught violating those very policies.
The latest example came last week from activist and perennial candidate for Governor of Georgia, Stacey Abrams. During an elementary school visit, Abrams was photographed maskless while surrounded by children forced to keep their masks on. Abrams initially claimed she only removed her mask for a photo, until other pictures showed her maskless throughout the school. She since called the episode a “mistake.”
To be clear, making a mistake is understandable. We are all human. What is wrong, however, is the double standard applied to mandate-pushing politicians like Stacey Abrams.
On Thursday, for example, just one day before Abrams’ classroom photo shoot, a 12-year-old student in our community decided not to wear his mask to school, with support from his dad. The student explained his difficulty breathing in a mask, especially when forced to wear it even while running during gym class. Guess what – the student was written up and kicked out for insubordination.
After the student’s father appealed the decision, the school lowered its infraction. I am glad that since this news broke, the Cabarrus County School Board voted to make masks optional. However, too many students continue to face severe consequence in the face of mask mandates.
In Cumberland County, the school board also voted last week to make masks optional. However, the decision was blocked by a Cumberland County Health Department’s order which requires masks indoors. On Friday, I requested the health director immediately revise the order so the school board’s decision for optional masks can proceed.
As a Member of Congress and most importantly as a dad of a kindergartner, I am as frustrated by these mandates as many of you.
I’m frustrated because throughout the pandemic, bureaucrats lectured us to just “follow the science.” Well thankfully, two years into this pandemic, we now have science behind masking and the impacts of COVID-19 on children.
First, we have learned that COVID, and especially the Omicron variant, do not pose an extreme threat to children. Second, we have learned from the CDC that cloth masks are not effective, and instead proper ventilation is critical to limit spread in a classroom. Third, mask mandates are impacting our student’s development and contributing to a skyrocketing mental health crisis among children and teens.
What we have also known all along is how important it is for children to see faces and lips to develop. Even the World Health Organization acknowledges this. Yet even with this data, many school mask mandates remain in place.
One thing is certain – keeping our kids safe should be everyone’s top priority. This is why Congress has approved nearly $200 billion for schools to respond to the pandemic. Every school should now have the resources it needs to keep kids safe and in school – without mask mandates.
As many school districts and leaders continue to ignore the actual science and consequences of long-term masking, I cosponsored the Unmask Our Kids Act. This commonsense bill directs federal education funding only to school districts that provide in-person education and allow parents to opt their children out of mask mandates. If parents want their child to wear a mask at school, that should also be their option. Unfortunately, last week House Democrats blocked consideration of my bill, even as governors from both parties begin to drop mandates across the country.
I will continue fighting for the Unmask Our Kids Act and other commonsense solutions that respect science and protect children. Too many politicians like Stacey Abrams who have violated their own mandates have forgotten that parents also have rights. It’s time to scrap these mandates and give parents the freedom to choose what’s best for their children. If it’s good enough for the politicians, it’s good enough for our kids.
Until Next Week,
Richard Hudson
Member of Congress