Senator Swearing in Photos: VP Harris Requires COVID Testing for Two-Year Olds

Vice President Kamala Harris is requiring any senator or family member or guest of a senator wishing to take a photo with her at Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony for the new Congress to have a negative coronavirus test taken within 24 hours of the picture, Breitbart News has learned.

The U.S. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Protocol Office blasted out a message on Thursday to all Senate offices noting that Harris’s office is requiring the coronavirus tests before taking photos with the vice president.

“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,” Breitbart News obtained the email from the Senate Sergeant at Arms Protocol Office. “We look forward to welcoming all Senators and their families for the reenactment opportunity on January 3rd.”

The email relayed a message that was sent by Grisella Martinez (Director of Legislative Relations in the Office for the Vice President), in which a senior Harris staffer explained the requirements for coronavirus testing.

“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,” Martinez 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.”

Martinez continued her message, noting that both returning and incoming Senators, along with their spouses, were and “and other guests who will participate in the ceremonial swearing-in reenactment in the Old Senate Chamber” A coronavirus test may be taken in a U.S. Senate Office Building on January 3, 2023. “submit the negative results of a medically administered test emailed to” a White House specified email address before 9 a.m. on Jan. 3—and that the test must be taken “within 24 hours before 1pm on January 3, 2023.”

At the beginning of a new Congress, senators are sworn in officially—and then there is a separate ceremonial reenactment of the swearing-in where senators take photographs with the Vice President of the United States whose Constitutional duties include presiding over the upper chamber of Congress. Often, senators’ families and close friends also attend the ceremonies—including their spouses, children, and grandchildren. Many senators have grandchildren and young children. Several U.S. Senate sources stated to Breitbart News that they are uncomfortable with the coronavirus testing requirements placed on their family members.

“This many years into the pandemic, especially as the Biden administration is in court currently trying to argue the pandemic is over and it should be allowed to lift Title 42 authority at the border, this is beyond ridiculous,” Breitbart News received information from a close source about a senator. “Senators’ children and grandchildren should not be subjected to this insanity so Kamala can pretend to care about fighting coronavirus. At what point does the madness end?”

According to sources familiar with this matter, some senators may be so upset they won’t participate in Harris’s photo ceremony. They might instead choose not to take part and ignore the vice-president on the first day.