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Members of Congress on Thursday found another matter to disagree on, as House lawmakers weren’t seeing eye-to-eye on exactly when to wear face masks to reduce the spread of the coronavirus causing the disease COVID-19.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat, used a white scarf to cover her face, but the California Democrat then pulled it down so that her face and mouth weren’t covered as she spoke from a lectern on the House floor. She put the covering back on when she was done speaking.
“I’m going to follow her example,” Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a Republican, then said as he took a turn at the microphone. “I think we should keep our masks on when we’re doing our normal business, but take them off when we are speaking, and thank you for setting that example, Madam Speaker.”
But Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts didn’t support that approach.
“People can do whatever they want to do, but I would say while we’re all trying to show how fearless we are, we should be mindful of the people that are surrounding us. And so, until I’m advised otherwise, I’m going to keep my mask on,” said McGovern, who wore a mask as he spoke at a lectern.
GOP Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas spoke in favor of taking off face coverings during floor speeches.
“I appreciate the Democratic speaker’s acknowledgment that it is perhaps better to address the American people without a mask,” said Burgess, who also said that lawmakers “are all observing the attending physician’s request that we stay safely 6 feet apart.”
House members and staff wear masks during Thursday’s session.
C-SPAN
There has been confusion in the U.S. about wearing face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
“You should absolutely not be pulling up and putting down your mask while you’re out,” said Shan Soe-Lin, a Yale University lecturer and consultant on health issues, recently told the New York Times. “If you’re going to go to the trouble of using a mask, leave it on.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early April changed its stance on masks and began recommending that Americans wear them in public.
Beyond the widespread use of masks at the Capitol building, there were other efforts on Thursday tied to convening during a pandemic.
Within arm’s reach of each of the four lecterns that House lawmakers use, there was a cylinder of disinfecting wipes with the brand label either removed or obscured. Several areas outside of the chamber where reporters typically interview House lawmakers were made off-limits, including the Speaker’s Lobby and areas near elevators.
The Democratic-led House was expected to vote on Thursday afternoon in favor of a $484 billion plan that provides more money for a coronavirus aid program for small businesses, with the move following the Republican-run Senate’s approval of the legislation on Tuesday.
Jonathan Nicholson contributed to this report.
