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