Congresswoman Tenney’s Statement on Governor Hochul’s Decision to Change New York’s Mask Mandate

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today released the following statement on Governor Hochul’s decision to roll back New York’s mask-or-vaccine mandate in indoor locations, with the exception of schools.

“Since first taking the reins from disgraced former Governor Cuomo last summer, Governor Hochul has continued his unscientific and tyrannical approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. After firing numerous healthcare heroes and state employees for choosing not to comply with her draconian vaccine mandate, Governor Hochul has continued to overstep the bounds of her office by implementing a mask mandate in indoor places, including schools, where our children are suffering and missing valuable educational and developmental milestones. While the Governor will finally allow her mask-or-vaccine mandate in venues such as bars and gyms to lapse tomorrow, she continues to fight tooth and nail to force children to mask in schools. I call upon the Governor to end the state-wide mask mandate in our schools and prohibit New York State school districts from implementing these harmful edicts on their own. Anything else is unacceptable.

"In light of the Governor’s decision, I find it ironic that just a few short days ago, Governor Youngkin of Virginia and Governor DeSantis of Florida were considered “anti-science” and widely bashed by Democrats and their allies in the media for their stances against mask mandates, and yet today, Governor Hochul is the science hero. The only change we have seen is the politics. New Yorkers will not forget the needless pain Governor Hochul put them through.”

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