The leader of the House Freedom Caucus is asking the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., consulted with the scientists before continuing the coronavirus mask mandate in the House chamber.
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., penned a letter to Dr. Rochelle Walensky Thursday asking just one question: Did Pelosi or the Capitol physician consult with her or anyone at the CDC prior to extending the House mask mandate and social distancing protocols on May 14?
“It is imperative that the American people know that their elected leaders, particularly the Speaker of the House, are making public policy decisions based on the evidence, not conjecture or what is in their political interests,” Biggs wrote.
The CDC issued new guidance on May 13 saying that masks are not necessary for fully vaccinated people in most circumstances. The CDC made exceptions for requirements by federal and state laws and guidelines set out by employers and businesses. While the White House followed by lifting its mask requirement, the House did not.
