U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday that members and staff would be required to wear masks in the House of Representatives during the coronavirus pandemic.
Members will be allowed to remove their masks when addressing the chamber, Pelosi said on the House floor.
“The chair expects all members and staff to adhere to this requirement as a sign of respect for the health, safety and well-being of others present in the chamber and surrounding areas,” Pelosi said on the House floor. The House sergeant at arms said in a statement later on Wednesday that “all persons entering the House Office Buildings” should be wearing a face cover, with some exceptions including when a person is “eating, drinking or legally smoking.”
The move came after Republican Representative Louie Gohmert, who steadfastly refused to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic, said on Wednesday he had tested positive for COVID-19, leading at least three of his colleagues to say they would self-quarantine. Pelosi warned that she had the authority to ask the House sergeant at arms to remove a member from the floor for violating decorum, and “the chair views the failure to wear a mask as a serious breach of decorum.”Pelosi had said earlier on Wednesday that leaders had been discussing a mask mandate with the Capitol physician.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Speaker Pelosi mandates wearing masks on House floor after Rep. Gohmert tests positive for COVID-19The announcement came just hours after it was revealed Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, tested positive for COVID-19, becoming one of about a dozen lawmakers who have the illness, recovered from it or who have antibodies to it.
Read more »
Speaker Pelosi mandates wearing masks on House floor after Rep. Gohmert tests positive for COVID-19Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that all members of the House would be required to wear masks after Rep. Louie Gohmert tested positive for COVID-19.
Read more »
All lawmakers and staff will be required to wear masks in the House, Pelosi saysThe coronavirus pandemic has brought countries to a standstill. In many places, as countries reopen, Covid-19 cases are on the rise. Follow here for the latest.
Read more »
Pelosi mandates wearing masks on the House floor after Gohmert caseNancy Pelosi said today that she would now require all members to wear masks on the floor. Lawmakers are currently encouraged to wear masks in the chamber and required to wear them in committee rooms — although some Republicans openly defy that rule
Read more »
Nancy Pelosi imposes mandatory mask policy for House floor after GOP Rep. Gohmert tests positive for coronavirusThe new policy comes just hours after Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Read more »