Congress Distributes ‘Made in China’ Masks to House Members, Drawing Criticism From GOP Lawmakers

People receive boxes of KN95 face mask during a back to school event offering school supplies, Covid-19 vaccinations, face masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles, California on Aug. 7, 2021. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Congress distributed KN95 masks with a stamp that reads “Made in China” to members of the House of Representatives. The masks’ origin renewed concerns among lawmakers about America’s dependence on Chinese personal protective equipment (PPE).

The House physician had required legislators to upgrade their masks to N95 or KN95, instead of using cloth ones, due to increasing cases of COVID-19 omicron variant in the country, according to a Jan. 14 Fox News report.