A Group of House Democrats Urge the Government to Establish a Vaccine Mandate for Capitol Workers
A group of 19 House Democrats is calling on the Capitol physician to start mandating that lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be subject to testing at least twice per week.
In a letter to the Capitol physician released on Wednesday, the Democratic lawmakers argued that “unique factors,” such as the frequent travel among members of Congress who hail from all corners of the country, make people who work in the Capitol complex more at risk of exposure to COVID-19.
“In addition to being Members of Congress who walk these halls and rely on your guidance to keep our workplace safe, we are also the managers of teams of dedicated staff members, some of whom are immunocompromised or have other health issues that leave them extraordinarily vulnerable to COVID-19. We feel the utmost responsibility to prioritize the safety of our staff, just as any employer should feel towards those who report to them,” the Democrats, led by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Mo.), wrote in the letter to Brian Monahan, the attending physician.
