It’s Time to Get Back to Work

For months we waited with bated breath as Operation Warp Speed spurred vaccine development and began distribution at a record pace. Now, with the vast majority of Congress members and staff fully vaccinated, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi still refuses to end the harmful practices of proxy voting and remote committee hearings and remains defiant on masks on the House floor.

Congress should be leading by example. That is why I led a letter with every member of the House Republican leadership and every House committee ranking member asking Speaker Pelosi and Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer to end proxy voting and remote committee hearings. Over the last year, we were consistently given the directive to "follow the science." Now, when the science doesn't match her talking points, Speaker Pelosi decides to ignore it. Speaker Pelosi has admitted that at least 75% of Congress has been fully vaccinated, and the vaccines are available for free for any adult in America. How can Congress credibly encourage Americans to get back to work when members of Congress are unwilling to do their jobs?

Remote committee hearings have significant downsides. When members of Congress are unable to look each other in the eyes and speak to each other in-person, debate is not as effective, policies become more one-sided, and the country suffers. If millions of fully vaccinated Americans can get back to work while following the CDC's guidance, there's no reason Congress can't as well. Speaker Pelosi's House of Representatives should be no different than every other state, city, and business.

It is time to get back to work, and I hope to see every member of Congress on the first flight back to Washington, D.C., as soon as possible.