Title: A concurrent resolution mandating procedures to ensure adequate precautions against COVID-19 in Senate buildings.
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
This resolution requires all individuals in a Senate building to (1) adhere to social distancing guidelines, and (2) wear a mask while in any public area. It also requires the Senate to develop and implement a COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) testing and contact tracing program for Senators and Senate workers.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 49 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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-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
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) 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
            (2) the absence of a coordinated and comprehensive COVID-19 
        strategy in the Senate is a threat to the legislative branch.

SEC. 2. PROCEDURES FOR COVID-19 PROTECTION.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``Senate building'' means any Senate Office 
        Building or the Senate Wing of the Capitol; and
            (2) the term ``Senate worker'' means--
                    (A) an employee whose pay is disbursed by the 
                Secretary of the Senate; or
                    (B) an employee of a contractor of an office or 
                agency in the legislative branch whose regular duty 
                station is in a Senate building.
    (b) 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.
    (c) 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.
    (d) 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--
            (1) COVID-19 testing of--
                    (A) Senators; and
                    (B) Senate workers who will be physically present 
                in a Senate building in connection with the duties of 
                the Senate worker; and
            (2) contact tracing with respect to any Senator or Senate 
        worker who tests positive for COVID-19.
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