Alexander, a close ally of McConnell, said the U.S. will soon have the capacity to test 2 million Americans for the virus per week, adding: “This is enough to test 535 members of Congress each week before they go home to make sure they don’t spread the disease from a virus hot spot into every section of the country.”
Though some lawmakers are expected to remain in Washington each weekend while Congress is in session to minimize travel, several have already said they plan to return to their home states between congressional workweeks. Alexander said providing testing kits for members of Congress would also help ensure the safety of the individuals with whom lawmakers interact, including their families.
“From a public health point of view, this is not mostly about protecting members of Congress,” Alexander said. “It is about protecting the people members might infect.”
Speaking with reporters after a Senate GOP lunch on Tuesday, Alexander said he has conveyed his thoughts to McConnell, who co-authored a rare joint statement with Pelosi over the weekend to decline the White House’s offer for 1,000 rapid Covid-19 testing kits, citing the need to direct those resources to front-line workers and industries. Their initial decision — panned as politically savvy so as to not seem like Congress is getting special treatment — faces a significant headwind with Alexander now opposed.
“Those attitudes are going to change very quickly,” Alexander said.
Source: politico.com
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