House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and members of the Republican Doctors Caucus are introducing a resolution to reflect the latest CDC policy on mask wearing, as three House GOP lawmakers face $500 fines for not wearing the coverings, according to a report.
The resolution would direct the House attending physician to update the “mask wearing guidance” now in effect for “Members and staff who are vaccinated against Covid-19” to align with the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which say vaccinated people can stop wearing masks indoors in most settings, Fox News reported.
The lawmakers pointed to the “three widely-available vaccines against Covid-19” and Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments that vaccinated people are at low risk for transmitting the virus as the reason for updating the rules.
McCarthy (R-Calif.) and the GOP doctors contend that the House mask mandate sends an “erroneous message” to Americans that the vaccines don’t work, adding that it “is not based on the best available science.”
Rep. Brian Mast took part in a staged protest against the House mask mandate. Getty ImagesThe resolution comes as three GOP reps face $500 fines for defying the rules.
Reps. Brian Mast of Florida, Beth Van Duyne of Texas and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa will be fined for ignoring previous warnings, after staging a protest against mask wearing on Tuesday, The Hill reported.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has ignored warnings about face coverings and faces a $500 fine. Getty ImagesSeven other GOP House members — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Chip Roy of Texas, Bob Good of Virginia, Mary Miller of Illinois and Louie Gohmert of Texas — will be issued warnings if they refuse to wear masks on the House floor again.
Rep. Lauren Boebert has refused to wear a mask on the House floor and risks a hefty fine if she refuses again. AFP via Getty ImagesA second offense carries a $2,500 fine.
They were protesting the mask mandate on the House floor that remains in place, despite the CDC’s new guidance.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne protested the House mask mandate that deviates from current CDC guidelines. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the guidance will remain in effect until all “Members and Floor staff are fully vaccinated.”
“Returning the Capitol to the welcoming and safe venue that it has been requires us to not only secure it physically but to make it safe from the virus,” she wrote in a memo to House Democrats.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene could be fined $2,500 for refusing to wear a mask. Getty ImagesAbout a quarter of House lawmakers are not fully vaccinated, according to estimates.
With Post wires
