Chip Roy questions Jerry Nadler on mandatory toddler masking during pandemic.

Rep. Chip Roy Calls Out Rep. Jerry Nadler for Defending Forced Masking of 2-Year-Olds

During a passionate speech on the House floor, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) confronted Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) for his support of mandatory masking for 2-year-olds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roy criticized the idea, stating that not enforcing such measures would be considered “child abuse.”

Speaking in favor of his amendment to the REINS Act, which aimed to prevent the executive branch from implementing rules that would lead to mandatory vaccinations, Roy questioned why the Supreme Court should be relied upon to address the unconstitutional actions of the executive branch. He highlighted the detrimental impact of the pandemic on the economy, individuals’ livelihoods, education, and healthcare workers.

“Why should we wait on the Supreme Court to check the unconstitutional, unlawful, and tyrannical actions by an executive branch that shut down the greatest economy in the history of the world, forcing people to choose between their livelihoods, their ability to make money, their families, their ability to go to school, the ability of a nurse to be able to go in and perform her job in a hospital?”

Roy then turned his attention to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who defended the policy of requiring 2-year-old children to wear masks during the pandemic. Becerra’s defense came during a hearing held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) asked Becerra if forcing 2-year-olds to wear masks had saved lives, to which Becerra responded that ensuring appropriate mask usage was crucial in combating the pandemic.

Following Roy’s remarks, Nadler spoke against the amendment and defended the policy of masking toddlers. He argued that during a pandemic like COVID-19, it was necessary for 2-year-olds to wear masks to protect their health and safety since a vaccine was not available for them at the time.

“When we have a pandemic like the COVID-19 pandemic that we had, 2-year-olds should have been required to wear masks. It would be child abuse for parents not to do that because there was no vaccination available for 2-year-olds,” Nadler stated. “And the only way to protect them against COVID was to have them wear masks, and these mandates are meant to protect the public’s health and safety.”

Roy then suggested that he should yield his remaining time to Nadler, as he believed Nadler’s statements were making his point for him. He emphasized the significance of Nadler’s position as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee and expressed concern over the government’s power to enforce masking on young children.

“I want everybody in America to understand what they just heard from the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee in the United States House of Representatives: ‘Your 2-year-old should be forced to be masked.’ That is what the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee just said here on the floor of the House of Representatives,” Roy exclaimed. “That the power of the government — the full power of the federal government should be a part of ensuring and forcing your children — your 2-year-old child to be masked.”

Nadler continued to express his opposition to the amendment, arguing that the COVID-19 vaccine was just another vaccine and that the REINS Act would hinder public health efforts. Despite his objections, the amendment passed with 219 votes in favor, excluding five Republicans.

The House ultimately voted 221-210 to pass the REINS Act.

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