III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 49 

Mandating procedures to ensure adequate precautions against COVID–19 

in Senate buildings. 

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— 

(1) 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 

(2) 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– 


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•SCON 49 IS 

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 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), 

3 SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

4 It is the sense of Congress that— 

5 (1) it is essential to the continuity of govern6 ment that the United States Government and offi7 cials adhere to public health guidance in order to 

8 combat the spread of COVID–19; and 

9 (2) the absence of a coordinated and com10 prehensive COVID–19 strategy in the Senate is a 

11 threat to the legislative branch. 

12 SEC. 2. PROCEDURES FOR COVID–19 PROTECTION. 

13 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 


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•SCON 49 IS 

1 (1) the term ‘‘Senate building’’ means any Sen2 ate Office Building or the Senate Wing of the Cap3 itol; and 

4 (2) the term ‘‘Senate worker’’ means— 

5 (A) an employee whose pay is disbursed by 

6 the Secretary of the Senate; or 

7 (B) an employee of a contractor of an of8 fice or agency in the legislative branch whose 

9 regular duty station is in a Senate building. 

10 (b) MASK USE.—All individuals shall wear a mask 

11 while in any public area of a Senate building. The Com12 mittee on Rules and Administration of the Senate shall 

13 issue guidance or regulations to carry out this subsection. 

14 (c) ADHERENCE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDE15 LINES.—All individuals shall adhere to guidance and rec16 ommendations of the Office of the Attending Physician 

17 with respect to social distancing while in a Senate build18 ing. 

19 (d) TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM.— 

20 The Office of the Attending Physician, Sergeant at Arms 

21 and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretary of the Sen22 ate, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control 

23 and Prevention and the Department of Health of the Dis24 trict of Columbia, shall develop and implement a program 

25 to conduct— 


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•SCON 49 IS 

1 (1) COVID–19 testing of— 

2 (A) Senators; and 

3 (B) Senate workers who will be physically 

4 present in a Senate building in connection with 

5 the duties of the Senate worker; and 

6 (2) contact tracing with respect to any Senator 

7 or Senate worker who tests positive for COVID–19. 

Æ 


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