COVID-19 in Congress
We’re tracking Congress’s response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Below you’ll find information on legislative actions and Members of Congress who are or have been quarantined, tested positive for COVID-19, or came in contact with someone with COVID-19.
Legislative Actions
H.R. 6074: Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 — Enacted March 4, 2020. Provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus outbreak related to developing a vaccine, medical supplies, grants for public health agencies, small business loans, and assistance for health systems in other countries. Allowed for temporarily waiving Medicare restrictions and requirements regarding telehealth services.
H.R. 6201: Families First Coronavirus Response Act — Enacted March 18, 2020. Guaranteed free coronavirus testing, established paid leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, expanded food security initiatives, and increased federal Medicaid funding.
H.R. 748: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — Enacted March 27, 2020. A $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which will send $1,200 to each American making $75,000 a year or less, add $600/week to unemployment benefits for four months, give $100 billion to hospitals and health providers, make $500 billion of loans or investments to businesses, states and municipalities, and $32 billion in grants to the airline industry, and more.
coronavirus.skoposlabs.com — Other legislative activities and federal regulations tracked by Skopos Labs
Policy analysis: CRS reports related to COVID-19 (everycrsreport.com), Oversight & Policy Resources (POGO)
Affected Legislators
In all, representatives and senators are or have self-quarantined or took other action, or no action, after coming in contact with someone with COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19 themselves.
In the Senate, .... In the House, ....
In the charts below, the duration of each self-quarantine is indicated.
| Date | Legislator | Event | Action | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/09/20 | Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-1) | contact with CPAC attendee who tested positive | self-quarantined until 3/12/2020, tested negative | tweet tweet |
| 3/09/20 | Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantined until 3/18/2020, DC office to telework | tweet tweet |
| 3/09/20 | Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) | contact with two people who tested positive at different times | self-quarantined, extended quarantine after found out about contact with second person who tested positive, tested negative, exited quarantine 3/17/2020 | tweet tweet |
| 3/09/20 | Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-1) | contact | took no action | tweet |
| 3/09/20 | Rep. Doug Collins (GA-9) | contact | self-quarantined until 3/12/2020 | tweet |
| 3/09/20 | Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-4) | contact | self-quarantined until 3/13/2020 | tweet tweet |
| 3/09/20 | Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11) | contact with CPAC attendee who tested positive | self-quarantined until 3/12/2020 | tweet news story |
| 3/10/20 | Rep. Donald Beyer (VA-8) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantined until 3/16/2020 | tweet tweet |
| 3/11/20 | Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA) | DC staffer tested positive | DC office to telework | tweet |
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) | staffer in another senator’s office tested positive | DC office to telework | press release |
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) | energy staff? | DC office to telework | tweet |
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantined until 3/16/2020; tested negative | tweet tweet |
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) | contact | took no action yet | tweet |
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Rick Scott (FL) | contact with someone who tested positive | exited self-quarantine 3/23/2020 | tweet interview tweet |
| 3/15/20 | Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-6) | DC staffer tested positive | DC office to telework | tweet |
| 3/15/20 | Sen. Ron Johnson (WI) | contact with someone who tested positive | took no action | tweet |
| 3/15/20 | Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/23/2020; tested negative | tweet tweet |
| 3/15/20 | Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-28) | contact with someone who tested positive | said he self-quarantined until "a few days ago" on 3/27/2020 | tweet |
| 3/16/20 | Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-4) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/23/2020 | tweet |
| 3/16/20 | Rep. Ben Luján (NM-3) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/30/2020 | tweet |
| 3/16/20 | Sen. Tom Carper (DE) | district staffer tested positive | DC and district staff self-isolating | tweet |
| 3/17/20 | Sen. Cory Gardner (CO) | contact with someone who tested positive | exited self-quarantine 3/25/2020 | tweet tweet |
| 3/17/20 | Rep. Jason Crow (CO-6) | contact with a constituent who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/25/2020 | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-8) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/29/2020 | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) | tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/28/2020 | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-4) | tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/29/2020 | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Drew Ferguson (GA-3) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/27/2020 | tweet tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-1) | contact with Diaz-Balart | self-quarantine until possibly 4/1/2020, two weeks after the announcement | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2) | contact with (presumably) Diaz-Balart | self-quarantine until possibly 4/1/2020, two weeks after the announcement | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-7) | contact with Diaz-Balart | self-quarantine until 3/27/2020 | tweet |
| 3/18/20 | Rep. Kathleen Rice (NY-4) | contact with someone who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/27/2020 | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-5) | contact with McAdams | self-quarantine until possibly 4/2/2020, two weeks after the announcement | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24) | contact with Diaz-Balart | self-quarantine until possibly 4/2/2020, two weeks after the announcement | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-1) | contact with another legislator who tested positive, then tested positive himself | self-quarantine extended past 3/27/2020 | tweet tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Tom Cole (OK-4) | contact with Diaz-Balart | self-quarantine until 3/27/2020 | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) | contact with McAdams | self-quarantine until 3/27/2020 | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. David Price (NC-4) | contact with another legislator who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/25/2020 | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-3) | contact with another legislator who tested positive | self-quarantine until 3/26/2020 | tweet |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) | contact with another legislator who tested positive | exited self-quarantine 3/25/2020; tested negative; maintaining social distancing | tweet press release |
| 3/19/20 | Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-3) | contact with another legislator who tested positive | self-quarantine until 4/2/2020 | tweet |
| 3/22/20 | Sen. Rand Paul (KY) | tested positive | self-quarantine until 4/5/2020 | tweet |
| 3/22/20 | Sen. Mike Lee (UT) | contact with Rand Paul | self-quarantine until 4/5/2020 | tweet |
| 3/22/20 | Sen. Mitt Romney (UT) | contact with Rand Paul | self-quarantine until 4/5/2020, tested negative | tweet news |
| 3/24/20 | Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) | contact with a doctor who tested positive | self-quarantine until 4/7/2020 | tweet |
| 3/25/20 | Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45) | unknown | self-quarantine; end date uncertain; test results negative | tweet tweet |
| 3/25/20 | Rep. Seth Moulton (MA-6) | unknown | self-quarantine; end date uncertain | tweet |
| 3/25/20 | Sen. John Thune (SD) | unknown | self-quarantine; end date uncertain | news article |
| 3/25/20 | Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-7) | unknown | self-quarantine; end date uncertain | tweet |
| 3/26/20 | Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7) | unknown | self-quarantine; end date uncertain; awaiting test results | news article |
| 3/27/20 | Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-16) | tested positive | self-quarantine until 4/10/2020 | press release |
Closed Offices
In addition, we’re tracking a partial list of other actions taken by legislators to protect themselves or their staff:
| Date | Legislator | Event | Action | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Mitt Romney (UT) | unknown | DC office to telework | tweet |
| 3/12/20 | Sen. Tom Cotton (AR) | unknown | DC office to telework | press release |
