Rep. Kevin Brady announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus, tweeting that the Office of House Physician informed him of the news and that he is quarantined.
The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee wrote that he “received a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine December 18 & also recently tested negative for Covid on New Years Day.”
More than 50 members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 or coronavirus antibodies, or were presumed positive, according to CNN.
Brady was the second member of the Texas Republican delegation to test positive in the past few days, following Monday's annuoncement that Rep. Kay Graner also has coronavirus.
It also comes on the eve of a joint session of Congress coming together to certify the 2020 Electoral College vote, which means as many as 535 members will be in the House chamber at the same time.
Neither Brady nor Graner were among the Republicans who signed a letter of intent to object to the election results, NPR reported.
The Sergeant At Arms and House Physician issued official guidance on Tuesday to members that they should only go to the Joint Session on Wednesday if they are going to speak, stating that "Unless participating in the joint session, Members are encouraged to remain in their offices unless called to vote," according to a memo obtained by CNN.
However, a senior Democrat aide said that a nearly full chamber is anticipated, as few members are expected to want to miss the debate of the certification process.
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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