LaLota Rejects White House Invitation over Arbitrary Pandemic Protocols

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, January 24th, 2023, Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01) released the following statement announcing that he rejected President Biden’s invitation to the White House which required being subject to excessive and unnecessary COVID-19 protocols. 

“Out of protest, I will not be attending President Biden’s gathering of Freshman House Members at the White House this week. Even though four months ago the President told 60 Minutes that the pandemic is over, the White House is today enforcing arbitrary, outdated, and unscientific pandemic protocols upon Members of Congress who accepted the President’s invitation to meet him at the White House. The President’s requirements include Members being tested for COVID 24 hours prior to visiting the White House coupled with each Member either attesting to being vaccinated or being subject to mandatory masking and social distancing. The time for arbitrary and unscientific pandemic protocols should be far behind us and I am forgoing a historic trip to the White House to raise awareness of this punitive policy in hopes that President Biden will reverse it and other arbitrary, outdated, and unscientific restrictions across the federal system.”

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