Smucker Advocates on Behalf of Local Family

Washington, D.C. —Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) is advocating on behalf of a Lancaster County family impacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) regulation requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for certain individuals prior to entering the United States.

The CDC requires individuals traveling on non-immigrant visas to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to traveling to the United States. The CDC's "exceptions" to an individual being vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight require an individual to guarantee that they will become vaccinated within a short period following their entry into the United States.

The McBryde family, including Hunter, Bethany and their three children, currently reside in Australia and wish to return to the Susquehanna Valley to be closer to family. Unfortunately, regulations from the CDC would not allow the family to travel together to the United States. Bethany is seeking to enter the country with her United States citizen children on a non-immigrant visa while her immigrant visa is processing.

Smucker spoke with CDC staff and has sent a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to revisit travel restrictions impacting families. The letter reads in part: "The United States should never force the loved ones of American citizens to violate their personal health decisions, and we urge you to take swift action to repeal these travel restrictions."

"Bethany and I have made the choice to remain unvaccinated from the current COVID-19 vaccines. It is not because we are "anti-vaxxers" nor are we caught up in a whirlwind of conspiracy theories. We are healthy adults who chose to take charge of our health. For doing so we have been excluded from society. It is ludicrous that my wife would be disallowed to enter the United States because of the personal health decisions we have made. I thank Rep. Smucker and his staff for advocating on our behalf and hope the federal government will soon allow my family to return home," said Hunter McBryde.

"It is absurd that while illegal immigrants can enter the country without being required to be vaccinated, those who wish to lawfully immigrate to the United States are held to a different standard and are prevented from joining their families. It is unconscionable that the CDC's regulation is preventing this family from returning home to be with their extended family. I thank the McBryde family for contacting my office and making me aware of the challenges that the federal government has presented them. It is an honor to advocate on behalf of the constituents of Pennsylvania's 11^th Congressional District. I thank my colleagues for joining me in advocating for the McBryde family and many families like them who wish to return home," said Smucker.

Smucker was joined on the letter by Representatives Greg Steube, Thomas Massie, Bill Posey, Ralph Norman, Brian Mast, Maria Elvira Salazar, Adrian Smith, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Bob Good.

Click here to read the letter.

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