- Several Republican House members are openly defying mask-wearing rules on the House floor.
- Most of these members won't say whether they've received a
COVID-19 vaccine. - The Capitol physician said House members must continue wearing
masks until all members and floor staffers are fully vaccinated.
Republican Rep.
Greene isn't alone. Several other Republican lawmakers also openly defied House rules on Tuesday evening, appearing maskless while casting votes on the floor, according to C-SPAN footage. The Capitol physician, Brian Monahan, decided last week that House members must continue wearing masks on the House floor until all members and floor staffers are fully vaccinated.
Because at least 100 GOP House members haven't said whether they've been vaccinated against COVID-19, it's unclear whether they are violating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new guidance that fully vaccinated people don't need to wear masks indoors. Nine of the 10 GOP lawmakers cited for violating the rules haven't said whether they've been vaccinated, according to a recent CNN survey. Greene refuses to reveal whether she's gotten the shot.
In accordance with House rules, Greene will receive a warning for her first violation, along with
-Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) May 19, 2021
GOP Reps.
Under current rules, all House lawmakers must wear a face-covering on the floor except for when speaking, debating, or presiding over House proceedings. Fines for refusing to wear a mask were established by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the wake of the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, when several members sheltered-in-place together and many were maskless. At least a handful of lawmakers later tested positive for COVID-19.
Although the fine will be deducted from the member's congressional salary, some lawmakers are calling on their supporters to make donations. Mast asked voters in an email to contribute to his "fight against Pelosi and the Washington Lockdown Cheerleading Squad" which is "going to get expensive FAST," Punchbowl News reported on Wednesday. The Iowa Republican Party, on behalf of Miller-Meeks, also tweeted a donation link "to help us fight back and retire Pelosi in 2022."
-Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) May 19, 2021
The GOP mask protest comes after the
Pelosi said last Thursday the House rule would stay in place despite the CDC's guidance, noting not all lawmakers had been fully vaccinated yet.
-The Hill (@thehill) May 19, 2021
But House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to force a vote on a resolution to revise the mask guidelines on Wednesday night. But the resolution is expected to be tabled by Democrats.
"The continued House mask mandate sends the erroneous message that the efficacy of the vaccines cannot be trusted," the GOP resolution says. "Members of the House of Representatives have a responsibility to send a message to the American people that we can trust the safety and efficacy of the available COVID-19 vaccines."