(Headline USA) Congress is lifting its mask requirement for staffers and lawmakers just in time for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., encouraged Congress’ Office of the Attending Physician to pass a rule last year requiring face coverings in the House chamber. Pelosi even threatened to remove from the building anyone who did not follow the masking requirement.
But starting Tuesday, that requirement will no longer apply and masks will be optional for everyone.
“The Washington DC region is now in the ‘green level’ or low level in this new CDC schema allowing for reduction in coronavirus prevention measures such as coronavirus testing frequency and indoor mask wear,” Capitol physician Brian Monahan said in a statement.
This is just the latest example of Democrats scrambling to roll back COVID-19 restrictions as the polls turn against them. Almost every single Democrat state lifted their indoor masking rules last month, and even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidance to encourage the public to find a way to live with the virus.
The White House also plans to lift its own mask mandate for employees:
NEW: WH is updating its own COVID protocols, ending mask requirement for fully-vaccinated employees starting Tuesday, per internal email obtained by @nbcnews
— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) February 28, 2022
Several Republicans have pointed out that Democrats are changing the rules to try and spin the narrative:
Biden’s poll numbers plummeted to historic lows, so the Democrats are once again changing “THE SCIENCE” on masks to try and use the State of the Union as a reset. The only science the Left cares about is political science!
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) February 27, 2022
This is aging well. https://t.co/7BCrX1Ruv8
— Tim Carney (@TPCarney) February 28, 2022