Lori Trahan: “This public health crisis has been devastating. Nearly 1.5 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and, tragically…”

“This public health crisis has been devastating. Nearly 1.5 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and, tragically, more than 85,000 people have died. We have asked small business owners and workers in our districts to close up shop and stay home for months to do their part to slow the spread of this virus. Across the country, workplaces are innovating and figuring out how to operate while keeping pace with commonsense public health guidelines. Like them, Congress has an obligation to do the same. This moment requires us to lead by example, to show that in the face of a highly infectious disease we can change how we do business and still get our constituents the much-needed relief they desperately need, while also conducting proper oversight. I support this rule change to temporarily allow committees to conduct meetings remotely and to provide my colleagues with the opportunity to make their constituents' voices heard. This is the 21st century. We have an opportunity to show that we can use the tools at our disposal to continue congressional operations at full capacity while also practicing what we preach. This is common sense, and I would urge my colleagues to support this change as well.”