House Republicans are balking at the new mask mandate recently announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
On Thursday, freshman Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) posted a video of herself walking through the Capitol complex without a mask. She said, āIn the tunnels this morning, socially distant from anybody else. Iāve had Covid. Iāve had two vaccinations. Iām washing my hands. Iām even wearing my mask in the chamber. But Iām not going to wear it anywhere else.ā
āSo, Madam Speaker, come and get me,ā she added.
In a separate tweet, she wrote, āAbsolutely no American should be arrested over a mask. Iāve had COVID. Iām also vaccinated. I wash my hands. I keep my distance. Iām not even shaking hands bc of the spike.ā
āThis is totally out of control. Do your part and follow the science. Vaccinations work,ā she added.
As coronavirus cases surge around the country, Pelosi announced on Wednesday that the House would implement a mask-wearing mandate again, leading Republicans to denounce the move.
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) tweeted a picture on Thursday morning of what she said was a bulletin from the U.S. Capitol Police about the new mask mandate.
The document reads that āmasks are required for all individuals on site, and social distancing guidelines are to be followed.ā
It continued, āUSCP officers who work in the House Division or the House-side of the Capitol Division shall enforce this mask policy on all staff and visitors within the above noted locations. This includes all House Office Buildings, the Hall of the House, and House Committee meetings. (NOTE: Although this applies to Members of Congress, officers should not arrest any Member for failure to wear a mask or to comply with the mask mandate. Any member who fails to comply with a request to wear a mask should be reported to the House Sergeant at Armsā office.ā
It added:
āIf a visitor or staff member fails to wear a mask after a request is made to do so, the visitor or staff shall be denied entry to the House Office Buildings or House-side of the U.S. Capitol. Any person who fails to either comply or leave the premises after being asked to do so would be subject to an arrest for Unlawful Entry.ā
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) blasted the mask mandate during a speech on the House floor on Wednesday, as he said, āWe canāt come to the floor, I canāt execute my Constitutional duty, unless I wear a mask.ā
āWhich is it? Vaccines or masks? Do the vaccines work, or they donāt work? Do the masks work, or they donāt work? Iād like to know which it is. Iād like Dr. Fauci to come down and answer a single question about natural immunity. If youāve been infected with the virus, do you have immunity? Or are they just gonna go around poking people, saying you must take a vaccine. āOh, but sorry, the vaccine doesnāt work, you must wear a mask,ā he added.
