South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Carter for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Republican motion to recommit H.R. 3771.

We can all agree that preventing myocardial events in Asian Americans and all populations is important, but the health of our children coming through the pandemic is critical.

The Republican motion to recommit would require the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on the education crisis in K-12 public schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This report would include the total number of days schools were closed, the impact that school closures had on our most vulnerable population--which includes both academic achievement and mental health--and the amount of classroom instruction time that was lost.

As a mother of two children, I understand how important it is for all kids to be in school and learning among their peers. Unfortunately, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools had vaccine mandates, masking requirements, and virtual-only learning which has resulted in students paying the price through learning loss. The report to Congress this motion to recommit authorizes will provide us with the data that will help us move forward from this pandemic.

Early in the pandemic there was a lot of focus on limiting people's interactions with others. However, by summer of 2020, I would argue that the risk of keeping schools closed and how to reopen them as safely as possible was known. In fact, this was widely the practice in Europe.

As a physician and former Iowa director of public health, I recognize that children are at infinitesimally low risk of severe illness with COVID. In fact, in February of 2021, The New York Times reported that 86 percent of pediatric disease experts recommended in-person schooling regardless of vaccination status. In addition, a recent study found that grade-schoolers are at a lower risk than vaccinated adults.

By using transparent data from the CDC, we can make the best decisions for students when it comes to in-person instruction, vaccine and masking mandates, and their mental health, given the startling rise in youth suicide.

I believe that it is imperative for students to go to school and have in-person instruction. Our future leaders depend on the best education possible, which starts in the classroom. Let me repeat that: in the classroom.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the Republican motion to recommit. As we are entering a new school year after 2 years of a pandemic, our students deserve to be back in the classroom among their peers.

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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