Swing Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) supported Braun’s amendment, but it ultimately failed. Romney was the only HELP committee Republican to vote against lifting the mask mandates for young children.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R) said the federal government mandates are “punishing children.”

“The rest of America is insulted by you telling them that their kids who are not at risk from dying from this disease, are not spreading it, that somehow we’re going to force these kids to keep wearing masks. It’s unscientific, it’s inhumane, and it stunting their learning,” Paul said.