WASHINGTON – The Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) continues to push Speaker Nancy Pelosi to explore widespread testing options to protect essential House workers.

Earlier this month, Davis, along with Republican members of the committee, wrote Speaker Pelosi requesting a plan to begin a phased reopening of the House, which includes increased testing options. Davis reiterated his call for a plan in a recent interview with NPR.


Both Chambers Of Congress Back For 1st Time During Pandemic Amid Questions On Tests
June 25, 2020 | 5:01 AM ET | By Claudia Grisales

On Thursday, the House and Senate will be in session at the same time, for the first time, since the pandemic began more than three months ago.
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And like many other workplaces around the country, Congress has had to ration tests for the coronavirus. Much of the work by employees, aides and lawmakers is being done remotely. Last month, the House approved new rules allowing proxy voting and hearings by video conference.

"Rationing tests for members of Congress ... to me, it's maddening," said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. "Like, this is no way to run a country."
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But Capitol workers — which include staff members, Capitol Police officers and those who maintain operations — have seen a larger influx of cases, with more than 60 by mid-June, according to a congressional aide.

"Those are the ones that we should be concerned about developing some long-term testing protocols for, because it's not just about the members," Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., ranking member on the House Administration Committee, told NPR recently.

Davis has been on the hunt for a new testing program for Congress. This month, he wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asking for the attending physician to partner with the military or a private vendor to test 2,000 people or more a week.
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