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.

IV 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 responsi- bility 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, fre- quently 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1208.IH HR1208 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1208 IH Whereas, on June 20, 2020, the Donald J. Trump for Presi- dent 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 in- crease in COVID–19 cases, compared to a 14 percent in- crease 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 Su- preme Court, at which attendees were not required to wear masks, practice social distancing, or remain out- doors; 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 Sen- ate who returned to the Capitol complex in the days fol- lowing the event; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1208.IH HR1208 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1208 IH 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 Demo- crats; Whereas, to date, at least 9 individuals in the Executive Of- fice of the President have tested positive for COVID–19; and Whereas, at least 31 individuals tied to the White House test- ed 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, there- fore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) gatherings at which public health rec- 3 ommendations for reducing the spread of COVID– 4 19 are not followed have the potential to become 5 COVID–19 ‘‘superspreader’’ events; 6 (2) the President of the United States, as both 7 an elected official and a candidate for elected office, 8 has hosted multiple ‘‘superspreader’’ gatherings, 9 most notably a ceremony to celebrate the nomination 10 of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court; 11 and 12 (3) all Americans, including public officials and 13 candidates for public office, have a responsibility to 14 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1208.IH HR1208 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 1208 IH abstain from hosting and attending such gatherings 1 to protect American public health and safety. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:08 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1208.IH HR1208 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS