Holmes Norton: Cruz effort to block DC student vaccine mandate ‘crosses the line’

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) on Wednesday said Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) effort to block Washington, D.C.’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students “crosses the line.”

Norton told The Dallas Morning News in an interview that the idea of Cruz involving himself in an issue pertaining to student COVID-19 vaccine mandates is “particularly serious” when looking at what may follow.

“He crosses the line, and I must tell you does so often, when he meddles in the business of another member of Congress,” Norton told the newspaper.

“The notion of inserting himself into an issue involving the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students is particularly serious when you consider the repercussions, particularly for young children,” she added.

Cruz last week said he intended to introduce a bill that seeks to overturn Washington, D.C.’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for school children, roughly two weeks after the D.C. Council voted to require that all eligible students in the District be vaccinated against COVID-19 by March 1. The rule, however, will not be enforced until the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

During an appearance on the Ben Shapiro Show last week, Cruz said the D.C. school board has “no right to force you to get your 5-year old vaccinated,” while arguing that D.C. is “under the authority of Congress.” He said “petty authoritarians” should not be making decisions regarding student vaccinations if parents do not want their children to get the jab.

Cruz released a statement on Monday reiterating his plans to introduce a bill aimed at the vaccine mandate, pointing to his previous comments on the Ben Shapiro show. He did not, however, lay out a timeline for the effort.

Norton on Wednesday said she did not expect Cruz would get involved with such a matter in the District, noting his support for local control of local businesses.

“It is a congressional matter on which you would not expect a member like Ted Cruz to be involved in, as he is among the members who insist upon support of local control for local businesses and doesn’t want the Congress, House or Senate involved in his own business,” Norton said.

She said it is “a very bad time” for Cruz to be getting involved with businesses in another jurisdiction ”which is trying to save the lives of students by requiring the COVID-19 vaccine.”

“I’m sure the District of Columbia is not the only jurisdiction, but it’s the only one until we get statehood that he can try to intervene,” she added.

The Hill reached out to Cruz for comment.