During a speech on the House floor, Representative Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) expressed his backing for mask mandates for children under the age of two. Nadler argued that parents should have made it mandatory for their young children to wear masks.
Nadler’s comments followed criticism from Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas), who called out Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra for his response regarding mask requirements for two-year-olds. Roy used this instance to advocate for a change that would necessitate congressional approval before the federal government could enforce mask mandates.
Secretary Becerra was questioned about the benefits of mandating masks for two-year-olds, to which he stumbled and did not provide a satisfactory response. Republican Kevin Kiley (Calif.) also pressed Becerra on whether forcing young children to wear masks saves lives, but the secretary evaded a direct answer.
A comprehensive study released earlier this year, which analyzed 78 randomized control trials, found that masks have minimal impact on preventing the spread of respiratory viruses. The study concluded that regardless of the type of mask worn, it likely makes little or no difference for the general public in terms of protection against COVID-19, the flu, or other similar illnesses.
According to a 2022 survey, nearly half of parents believe that mandating masks for school-aged children has had negative effects on their social, mental, and academic development.
