Kamala Harris is demanding a negative COVID test if newly-elected senators want a photo taken with her during swearing-in ceremony on January 3
- Harris is set to hold swear-in new senators Tuesday in the Old Senate Chamber
- The Senate Sergeant at Arms informed senators of the protocol
- VP’s office cited protocol for people over Age 2 during ‘reenactment’ ceremony
- People who interact with the president also routinely must take a rapid test
- Senators will be sworn in on the first day of the new Congress Tuesday
Senators and family members who will attend swearing-in photo-op ceremonies with Vice President Kamala Harris are being told they must test negative for COVID-19 to attend the event.
Harris, who represented California in the Senate before being sworn in as VP in 2021, will carry on the tradition of re-enacting the events inside the Old Senate Chamber.
But to get up close with Harris, who presides over the Senate as vice president, new senators and family members will have to score a negative on a ‘medically-administered antigen test.’
That policy is similar to the one the White House imposes on guests who meet with President Biden at the White House. The ceremony, which will air on C-SPAN, is set to be one of the celebratory events that will punctuate Tuesday – alongside the political drama in the House, where Rep. Kevin McCarthy is struggling to cobble together the votes to become speaker.
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to stage ceremonial swearing-in ceremonies for new senators and their families – provided they can pass a rapid coronavirus test. She swore in a trio of senators, including her own replacement, two years ago
‘The Vice President’s office has requested that we send their standard COVID-19 protocol information to offices participating in the reenactment opportunity in the Old Senate Chamber. Please see their suggested process below,’ according to an email from the Senate Sergeant at Arms Protocol Office that was obtained by Breitbart News.
‘We look forward to welcoming all Senators and their families for the reenactment opportunity on January 3rd.’
Sources told the publication some senators are ‘so upset’ that they might not participate, although none have been quoted by name saying they’ll skip.
Earlier Tuesday, Harris will swear in the new senators en masse inside the Senate Chamber. The Senate is a continuing body, so senators who are part-way through their terms don’t need to be sworn in again.
An email from Grisella Martinez of the VP’s Legislative Affairs office also cites the policy.
The ‘ceremonial’ swearing-in events are reenactments traditionally held in the Old Senate Chamber
‘We look forward to welcoming your Senator on January 3, 2023, to the ceremonial reenactment for incoming and newly re-elected Senators in the Old Senate Chamber,’ she wrote. ‘As you are aware, White House COVID-19 protocols require that anyone over two-years of age who will interact with the Vice President take a medically-administered antigen test within 24 hours prior to interaction, and receive a negative result. This policy applies regardless of vaccination status.’
The protocol comes months after Biden declared the pandemic is ‘over’ in a remark the White House tried to clean up. There is currently a spike in cases and the administration has repeatedly urged people to get their bivalent vaccine booster shot.
Former Vice President Mike Pence kept his distance during swearing in ceremonies January 3, 2021
New senators including senator elect J.D. Vance of Ohio are set to be in the Capitol
Senator elect John Fetterman and new Senate colleagues, along with family members, will get close to Harris. The events usually have a festive atmosphere
The official swearing-in takes place on the Senate floor
The White House takes steps to require people who will interact with Harris to test negative for the coronavirus. Here Vice President Kamala Harris talks with Brianna Taylor, 16, as they volunteer together at Martha’s Table in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022
Two years ago, Vice President Mike Pence carried out swearing in duties days before the January 6 Capitol riot. He had new senators stand several feet away from him, with the spot marked by a white ‘X’ on the floor.
With the pandemic raging, Pence took a laissez faire attitude on masks.
‘People have been doing it – completely your call – masks or or masks off,’ a masked Pence said after giving an elbow bump to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
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