Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the American people have lost trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) guidance due to the institution’s inconsistent messaging. These missteps have impacted the public’s willingness to follow public health guidance, including attitudes towards receiving vaccines like polio or whooping cough.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Restore Public Health Institution Trust Act, which would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the CDC’s decision-making and messaging process in light of past failures and provide recommendations to improve their approach.
- “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC’s messaging was inconsistent and the data was constantly changing. The mixed messaging undermines the American people’s trust and will have long-term consequences. We need to bring more transparency to the CDC if we are to restore trust in the agency.” – Senator Rubio
U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Mike Braun (R-IN) are original cosponsors.
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) reintroduced companion legislation in the House.
- “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sown distrust in the American people with its reactionary recommendations that spurred vaccine and mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans deserve answers. I’m proud to lead this bicameral legislation with Sen. Rubio, which will force a full accounting of the messaging the CDC engaged in during COVID-19.” – Rep. Crenshaw
Flashback… Senator Rubio originally introduced this bill in July 2021, following the CDC’s unjustified guidance to require indoor masking for all vaccinated individuals in areas reporting 50 new cases per 100k individuals over the previous seven day period.
