House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wants those who chair House committees to mandate that all their panel members wear masks during proceedings.
"This requirement will be enforced by the sergeant at arms and non-compliant members will be denied entry," a senior congressional aide told The Hill.
Updated guidance issued Tuesday by Brian Monahan, attending physician of Congress, states that face coverings are required for House meetings "in a limited enclosed space, such as a committee hearing room, for greater than 15 minutes." The guidance was requested by Pelosi, according to The Hill.
The aide pointed out that "members always have the option to participate in committee proceedings virtually, including from their Washington, D.C., offices or their districts."
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has stressed the importance of wearing masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic.
“There should be no stigma attached to wearing a mask," McConnell said. “And even among age groups that are least likely to either contract this disease or die from it, you could be a carrier. So I think what we all need to do is say, ‘OK, I’m going to take responsibility not only for myself but for others.’”
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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