Rep. Matt Gaetz showed up on the House floor in a gas mask to vote on more funding to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.
“Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote,” the Florida Republican said in a tweet Wednesday, which was accompanied by a picture of him in the gas mask.
Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote. pic.twitter.com/wjJ4YY4VZz
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 4, 2020
Gaetz told reporters he wore the mask because he wanted to be conscious about spreading germs. “Members of Congress are human petri dishes,” he said. “We fly through the dirtiest airports. We touch everyone we meet.”
.@mattgaetz told reporters that he was wearing a gas mask on the floor because “Members of Congress are human petri dishes. We fly through the dirtiest airports. We touch everyone we meet.”
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) March 4, 2020
Wide shot: @RepMattGaetz wearing gas mask on House floor.
(Look just below and to the left of the word ‘RULES’) pic.twitter.com/5AoaL3i3db
— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) March 4, 2020
The House passed the $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to fight the coronavirus. The Senate could act on the legislation as soon as Thursday. President Trump is expected to sign it.
There have been 100 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not confirmed any cases in Washington, D.C.
The coronavirus death toll in the country rose to 11 on Wednesday after a patient died in California. Ten others died in Washington state.
Trump, who has placed Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the administration’s response to the outbreak, has urged the public not to panic.
