Capitol Press Chairs Send Letters to Speaker Pelosi and Leader McConnell Regarding COVID-19 Safety Precautions on Capitol Hill

Capitol Press Chairs Send Letters to Speaker Pelosi and Leader McConnell Regarding COVID-19 Safety Precautions on Capitol Hill

Dear Radio-TV Gallery Members,

The Chairs of all four Congressional press galleries sent letters today to Leader McConnell and Speaker Pelosi regarding COVID-19 safety precautions on Capitol Hill. 

We also CC’d Leader Schumer, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt, Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

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October 6, 2020

The Honorable Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

United States Senate

U.S. Capitol, S-230

Leader McConnell,

In light of the recent positive COVID-19 diagnoses of three United States Senators, the

committees representing journalists at the Capitol request additional precautions be taken to

better protect Members, staff, and the press.

We respectfully request:

– Greater access to testing on Capitol Hill for essential workers, support and Congressional

staff, and press;

– Contact tracing of any positive diagnosis to prevent mass outbreaks;

– Moving press conferences on the Senate side to larger locations such as the Hart

Atrium, Kennedy Caucus Room, or larger hearing rooms, in order to safely

accommodate social distancing;

– That Members of Congress keep their masks on during news conferences and when

conducting interviews with the press.

These are unprecedented times and with fall upon us and winter approaching, we want to do

everything we can to make sure Capitol Hill is as safe as it can be for everyone.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Jason Donner

Chair, Executive Committee of Correspondents

Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association

Sarah D. Wire

Chair, Standing Committee of Correspondents

Daily Press Gallery

J. Scott Applewhite

Chair, Standing Committee of Press Photographers

Press Photographers’ Gallery

Leo Shane III

Chair, Executive Committee of Correspondents

Periodical Press Gallery

Cc:

The Honorable Minority Leader Charles Schumer

The Honorable Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt

The Honorable Rules Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar

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October 6, 2020

The Honorable Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

United States House of Representatives

U.S. Capitol

Speaker Pelosi,

In light of the recent positive COVID-19 diagnoses of three United States Senators, the

committees representing journalists at the Capitol request additional precautions be taken to

better protect Members, staff, and the press.

We respectfully request:

– Greater access to testing on Capitol Hill for essential workers, support and Congressional

staff, and press;

– Contact tracing of any positive diagnosis to prevent mass outbreaks;

– That Members of Congress keep their masks on during news conferences and when

conducting interviews with the press.

These are unprecedented times and with fall upon us and winter approaching, we want to do

everything we can to make sure Capitol Hill is as safe as it can be for everyone.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Jason Donner

Chair, Executive Committee of Correspondents

Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association

Sarah D. Wire

Chair, Standing Committee of Correspondents

Daily Press Gallery

J. Scott Applewhite

Chair, Standing Committee of Press Photographers

Press Photographers’ Gallery

Leo Shane III

Chair, Executive Committee of Correspondents

Periodical Press Gallery

Cc:

The Honorable Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy

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