Washington, D.C – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) introduced an Amendment to H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act. Within this bill, additional authorities under the Defense Production Act related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration can be prolonged to December 31, 2025. The Amendment offered by Rep. Schweikert would strike this section from becoming law.

“The restrictions and lockdowns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have crippled our country. Rather than working to end the Public Health Emergency, H.R. 4521 actually works to give the federal government even greater authority to impose COVID measures until a potential date of December 31, 2025. We cannot continue the pandemic restrictions for another three years, the damage that would be caused is unthinkable. It’s time to end the pandemic, not prolong it,” said Rep. Schweikert.

Background
The America COMPETES Act states in Sec. 61008 that, “This section defines the end of the COVID-19 emergency period as either the end of the President’s emergency declaration or December 31, 2025, whichever is earlier.” Rep. Schweikert’s Amendment is listed as Amendment Number 1 for H.R. 4521.

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