Congresswoman Tenney Calls on President Biden to End the COVID Public Health Emergency

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to end the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) that has been declared and extended since January 31, 2020.

In an interview with 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, September 18, 2022, President Biden said that “the pandemic is over.” Most Americans have already recognized this fact, returning to school, work, church, and other normal daily activities. Despite this, the Federal government has continued to extend the PHE, most recently on July 15, 2022.

The PHE declaration has been in effect since former Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar first issued such a determination on January 31, 2019, pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act. Doing so permitted the administration to ensure the widespread availability to free COVID tests and vaccines and to take other actions necessary to combat the novel virus.

In part, Congresswoman Tenney wrote, “Even the White House’s top medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has said that the virus likely will never be eradicated. Of course, the appropriate response, then, is to learn to live with and manage the virus, not to perpetuate a constant state of emergency and government control that allows our rights to be infringed upon. Instead of renewing the PHE, you should terminate it consistent with your assessment that the pandemic is over. The American people are returning to normal life. The Federal government must as well.”

The full text of the letter is available here.

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