[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E103-E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 H.R. 185--TO TERMINATE THE REQUIREMENT IMPOSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
   CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR PROOF OF COVID-19 
                   VACCINATION FOR FOREIGN TRAVELERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2023

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 185, to 
terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for 
foreign travelers.
  H.R. 185 is hasty attempt to reverse the order issued by the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention without any proper planning or 
preparation.
  The Amended Order Implementinq Presidential Proclamation on Advancing 
the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic was 
first published on April 7, 2022, and was implemented to save lives.
  The CDS order imposes necessary restrictions on the entry of 
noncitizens into the United States by air travel unless they are fully 
vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise attest that they will take 
public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
  Similar restrictions have been implemented and enforced worldwide, 
and countries like Thailand have had to reimplement such restrictions 
after lifting them.
  Now is not the time to roll back protections, only to be in a place 
where we will need to reimpose more onerous and unwanted lockdowns and 
shutdowns across the country.
  Yet, H.R. 185 would nullify any successor or subsequent orders that 
require foreign persons traveling by air to show proof of a COVID-19 
vaccination as a condition of entry, as well as prohibit the use of 
federal funds to administer or enforce such a requirement.
  Mr. Speaker, the wellbeing of the American People should hold the 
utmost importance and any act against their health and wellbeing should 
be strongly condemned.
  Since March 2020, life in Houston--like most of the world--has been 
upended.
  Houston, Texas is the 4th largest city in the country and is one of 
the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the United States.
  In addition to Houston being a culturally diverse city and home to 
international students, residents, and families from all over the 
world, Houston also serves as an international hub for millions of 
people all over the world who travel to my city every year for both 
leisure and business.
  According to the Houston First Corporation, a record 22.3 million 
people from around the world visited Houston in 2018.
  Notably, the 2023 Houston Rodeo season, scheduled for Feb. 28-March 
19, is the largest rodeo in the world and contributes significantly to 
our city's economy. In 2022, this event attracted over 2.4 million 
international travelers from around the world.
  Despite the senseless and disingenuous politicization of the COVID-19 
vaccine, it has and continues to save countless lives--particularly in 
my home state and internationally rich travel hub of Houston, Texas.
  In Houston, specifically Harris County, there have been 1,058,476 
confirmed COVID-19 cases, 7,839 active cases, 1,041,939 recovered, and 
8,589 deaths. Furthermore, Texas as a state has recorded 8.24 million 
cases and 93,366 deaths.
  In the United States, there have been 102 million confirmed cases and 
1.11 million deaths.
  And across the globe, there have been 671 million confirmed cases and 
6.83 million deaths.
  These statistics serve as a harrowing reminder of the gravity of this 
epidemic and the caution we should be taking in ensuring preventative 
responses and remaining vigilant against the spread of COVID-19.
  Rolling back critical vaccination policies put in place to protect 
Americans through hasty measures such as H.R. 185, undermines the 
national mission and unified efforts nationwide to prevent future cases 
infiltrating our communities.
  While progress has certainly been made in protecting Americans from 
this deadly virus, we cannot stand for the erosion of such progress 
through ill-conceived and politicized measures.
  As we continue to make strides to prevent and eradicate current and 
future variants plaguing our cities, states, nation, and world, let it 
be known that H.R. 185 would only serve to disregard the health and 
well-being of all Americans, foolishly jeopardizing our lives and the 
ongoing fight to keep everyone healthy and safe.
  Instead of halting vital funding and vaccine policies for 
international travelers, without a plan or forethought of the 
disastrous impact that will inevitably result, it is imperative that we 
stand together in planning and preparing for smart policy shifts that 
will allow our country to effectively and safely ease back into some 
sense of normalcy.
  Anything less is an abdication of our governmental duties and an 
insult and danger to the welfare of all those we are sworn to serve.

[[Page E104]]

  With strong opposition to this bill, I urge my Republican colleagues 
to step back and actually work with us to lay forward common sense 
implementations of care and safety for our fellow Americans.

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