Tenney calls on the CDC to Release Data Behind Mask Mandate for K-12 Students

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today called for CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to release the data and reasoning behind the CDC’s recent recommendation to require all K-12 students to wear a mask. In a letter to CDC Director Walensky, Tenney and several of her House colleagues expressed concern over the CDC’s lack of transparency when putting these new mask mandates for students into place.  

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, children across the country have missed out on the key social interactions required to support their healthy development and mental well-being,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Study after study is now showing that children suffered significantly from being out of the classroom and isolated from their peers. It is imperative the CDC immediately release their data on the risk of coronavirus in a school setting and provide greater clarity on the educational impacts of masks and other restrictions for K-12 students. 

“The lack of publicly available evidence supporting this universal K-12 mask mandate demonstrates a clear need for greater transparency,” Tenney also said. “It is important we know the reasoning and metrics that drove this change. 

“The American people deserve to see that these important decisions are motivated by science and not political pressure from radical activists,” Tenney concluded. “The future of our children cannot fall victim to the knee-jerk reactions of an institution that appears to be driven by politics just as much as science and fact.”

The evidence has been widely reported that children, and especially young children, are at very low risk of serious complications from COVID-19. In addition, with vaccines widely available for adults, all concerned school staff have access to the protection they need to teach during the upcoming 2021-2022 school year without excessive new restrictions on students. 

A copy of the final letter Tenney sent, which was led by Congressman Jay Obernolte and joined by 32 other members, can be found here.

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