Republicans say they will not comply with a new request from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff that members of the committee show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before joining a regular meeting to conduct business.
“Chairman Schiff believes the members of Congress should be tested just to show up for work, and we will not comply,” Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican ranking member on the intelligence committee, said in a press conference Wednesday.
Turner was named the ranking member of the committee a few weeks ago after former Rep. Devin Nunes resigned to become the CEO of former President Donald Trump’s media venture.
An email from Democratic staff sent to intelligence committee members Tuesday evening said that Schiff, following consultations with the Office of the Attending Physician for Congress, requested that members who have not recently recovered from a positive test result should obtain a PCR test Wednesday before attending a 10 a.m. in-person Thursday briefing on Iran.
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“HSPCI staff and IC briefers in attendance will be similarly requested to obtain a test prior to the event,” the email read. “The Chairman appreciates the cooperation of all attendees in order to reduce the risks as Members are briefed on this critical topic.”
Members who refuse to obtain a negative test may not be blocked from the hearing. An intelligence committee official told the Washington Examiner that Schiff does not intend to confirm compliance with the request, but “given the current high rate of infections and the necessity of conducting classified hearings in a confined space, the Chairman believes everyone should choose to prioritize the health and safety of all attendees.”
“The Biden administration failed to plan for needed testing for the American people. Schiff believes that he should have a privilege that the average American worker does not,” Turner said.
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Turner criticized Schiff for requesting the negative tests “while Americans struggle to just get basic access to testing; while American workers every-day risk exposure to the COVID virus; while American families or caregivers for the elderly worry about exposing their family members to COVID; while this administration has failed to provide sufficient tests in preparation for the Omicron surge; where American workers and families are facing vaccine mandates and vaccine ID mandates to go to restaurants and parents are dealing with closed schools.”
