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U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, a Texas Republican running for re-election, was quick with an attack on President Joe Biden with a claim that linked illegal drug use with COVID-19 face coverings. In Joe Biden’s America, your children are more likely to have access to a crack pipe than a mask free education, the former Houston-area sheriff declared in a Facebook ad posted Feb. 9. The same day, news reports across the country had already begun dousing the idea that a Biden administration initiative would result in the distribution of free crack pipes to illegal drug users — much less targeting children. Meanwhile, there is no federal mandate for mask wearing in schools, and a growing number of states that have such mandates are ending them. No distribution of crack pipes Nehls’ claim followed a notice by the Health and Human Services Department that it was accepting applications through Feb. 7 for Harm Reduction Program Grants. The purpose of the program is to support community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs and other harm reduction services, including providing safe smoking kits, the notice said. The Washington Free Beacon reported that a Health and Human Services Department spokesman, whom it did not identify, said the kits will provide pipes for users to smoke crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and ‘any illicit substance.’ That contention was quickly shot down. On Feb. 9, the same day Nehls’ ad was posted, the department issued a statement saying no federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters the same day that crack pipes were never a part of the kit; it was inaccurate reporting. She said a safe smoking kit may contain alcohol swabs, lip balm, other materials to promote hygiene and reduce the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis. We found no suggestion that safe smoking kits were aimed at children, as Nehls suggested. States dropping school mask mandates The day Nehls posted his ad, there was also news about school mask mandates being lifted across the country. As of Feb. 5, 14 states required masks to be worn in schools, down from 19 earlier in the school year, Education Week reported . But by Feb. 9, news reports said six of those states — Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Oregon — planned to end school mask mandates in the coming weeks. There is no federal mandate for masks in schools. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends universal indoor masking by students age 2 years and older, as well as by staff, teachers, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. March 1 primary likely to decide winner Nehls is running in Texas’ March 1 primary to win a second term representing District 22 , which includes suburbs south and west of Houston. The seat is rated as solid or safe Republican. Nehls had more than $367,000 in campaign funds on hand as of Dec. 31, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports. The only other Republican on the ballot , certified public accountant Gregory Thorne, reported raising no funds. Nehls’ campaign did not reply to our requests for information to back up his claim. Our ruling Nehls claimed: In Joe Biden’s America, your children are more likely to have access to a crack pipe than a mask-free education. The claim alludes to a Biden administration program that provides grants for efforts to curb injuries and deaths from drug abuse, including providing safe-smoking kits that are aimed at preventing the sharing of smoking materials. Federal officials said the grants cannot be used to provide pipes. The program is not aimed at children. There is no federal mandate requiring children to wear masks in schools, and in the coming weeks, fewer than a dozen states will have such mandates. Nehls’ claim is false and ridiculous — Pants on Fire! RELATED: No, The White House isn’t spending $30 million on crack pipes. Here’s what’s really going on
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