III
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 49
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 5, 2020
Mr. Kaine (for Mr. Schumer (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar)) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Mandating procedures to ensure adequate precautions against COVID–19 in Senate buildings.
Whereas, on March 13, 2020, the COVID–19 outbreak in the United States was declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
Whereas, as of August 7, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has—
recommended that people wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in [their] household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
; and
stated that masks may help prevent people who have COVID–19 from spreading the virus to others
and masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID–19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.
;
Whereas, as of October 5, 2020, nearly 7,500,000 people in the United States had contracted COVID–19, and nearly 210,000 people in the United States have died as a result of COVID–19;
Whereas the United States accounts for approximately 4.25 percent of the world’s population but, as of October 5, 2020, people in the United States account for over 20 percent of those killed by COVID–19 globally; and
Whereas the Senate has seen an increase in the number of Senators diagnosed with COVID–19: Now, therefore, be it
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
it is essential to the continuity of government that the United States Government and officials adhere to public health guidance in order to combat the spread of COVID–19; and
the absence of a coordinated and comprehensive COVID–19 strategy in the Senate is a threat to the legislative branch.
Procedures for COVID–19 protection
Definitions
In this section—
the term Senate building means any Senate Office Building or the Senate Wing of the Capitol; and
the term Senate worker means—
an employee whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate; or
an employee of a contractor of an office or agency in the legislative branch whose regular duty station is in a Senate building.
Mask use
All individuals shall wear a mask while in any public area of a Senate building. The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate shall issue guidance or regulations to carry out this subsection.
Adherence to social distancing guidelines
All individuals shall adhere to guidance and recommendations of the Office of the Attending Physician with respect to social distancing while in a Senate building.
Testing and contact tracing program
The Office of the Attending Physician, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretary of the Senate, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health of the District of Columbia, shall develop and implement a program to conduct—
COVID–19 testing of—
Senators; and
Senate workers who will be physically present in a Senate building in connection with the duties of the Senate worker; and
contact tracing with respect to any Senator or Senate worker who tests positive for COVID–19.
