Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) issued the following statement after the Biden administration further extended the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration: 

“The American people have accepted that the COVID-19 pandemic has come to an end—President Biden himself has stated as much—and Congress recently voted to wind down a number of COVID-specific requirements. Yet, this administration continues to use COVID-19 as an excuse for their out of touch guidance that is then used as requirements. Some recent reporting has suggested that the administration will move to end the PHE in the coming months, however, HHS has just notified Congress that the PHE will be extended until April. This is unacceptable. There is no excuse for further delay and there should be no further extension of the PHE. The Energy and Commerce Committee looks forward to hearing more about the administration’s plan to end the PHE and other plans for COVID-19 related policies as we work to begin restoring the public’s trust in government.”