Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all Americans, including public officials and candidates for public office, have a responsibility to abstain from participating in "superspreader" events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that all Americans, including public officials and candidates for public office, should not host or attend gatherings at which public health recommendations for reducing the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) are not followed.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1208 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1208

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all 
Americans, including public officials and candidates for public office, 
        have a responsibility to abstain from participating in 
         ``superspreader'' events during the COVID-19 pandemic.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 30, 2020

   Mr. Krishnamoorthi submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all 
Americans, including public officials and candidates for public office, 
        have a responsibility to abstain from participating in 
         ``superspreader'' events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (``CDC'') recommends that 
        all people wear masks, frequently wash their hands, practice social 
        distancing, and prioritize outdoor activities in order to reduce the 
        spread of COVID-19;
Whereas gatherings at which attendees do not follow CDC recommendations for 
        reducing the spread of COVID-19 have the potential to become COVID-19 
        ``superspreader'' events;
Whereas, on June 20, 2020, the Donald J. Trump for President campaign held an 
        indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at which attendees were not required to 
        wear masks or practice social distancing;
Whereas, after the June 20, 2020, rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tulsa County health 
        officials reported 261 COVID-19 cases on Monday, July 6, 2020, an 
        increase from 76 cases reported on the Monday preceding the rally;
Whereas Herman Cain, who attended the June 20, 2020, rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 
        died from COVID-19 on July 30, 2020;
Whereas, on September 18, 2020, the Donald J. Trump for President campaign held 
        a rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, at which attendees were not required to 
        wear masks or practice social distancing;
Whereas, following the September 18, 2020, rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, Beltrami 
        County experienced a 35 percent increase in COVID-19 cases, compared to 
        a 14 percent increase in the State overall;
Whereas, on September 26, 2020, President Donald J. Trump hosted an event at the 
        White House to celebrate the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to 
        the Supreme Court, at which attendees were not required to wear masks, 
        practice social distancing, or remain outdoors;
Whereas, following the September 26, 2020, event at the White House, at least 11 
        individuals tested positive for COVID-19, including members of the 
        United States Senate who returned to the Capitol complex in the days 
        following the event;
Whereas, to date, at least five Members of the United States Senate and at least 
        18 members of the United States House of Representatives have tested 
        positive for COVID-19, including 16 Republicans and seven Democrats;
Whereas, to date, at least 9 individuals in the Executive Office of the 
        President have tested positive for COVID-19; and
Whereas, at least 31 individuals tied to the White House tested positive for 
        COVID-19 around the same time that President Donald J. Trump announced 
        on October 2, 2020, that he had contracted COVID-19: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) gatherings at which public health recommendations for 
        reducing the spread of COVID-19 are not followed have the 
        potential to become COVID-19 ``superspreader'' events;
            (2) the President of the United States, as both an elected 
        official and a candidate for elected office, has hosted 
        multiple ``superspreader'' gatherings, most notably a ceremony 
        to celebrate the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the 
        Supreme Court; and
            (3) all Americans, including public officials and 
        candidates for public office, have a responsibility to abstain 
        from hosting and attending such gatherings to protect American 
        public health and safety.
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