[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 173 (Monday, October 5, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 49--MANDATING PROCEDURES TO ENSURE 
       ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST COVID-19 IN SENATE BUILDINGS

  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:

                            S. Con. Res. 49

       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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