More than a dozen Democratic members of Congress, together with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, made a present of carrying masks whereas attending the continuing United Nations Climate Change summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday — till the cameras got here out.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the opposite members of the delegation gathered for photos whereas carrying their face coverings, then eliminated them as a way to take not less than one smiling picture.
According to the gathering’s official web site, attendees are required to put on face coverings “at all times except when eating, drinking, sitting in office/meeting spaces or conducting negotiations; or if medically exempt.”
“Event speakers can also remove face coverings when delivering a speech/lecture,” the rules helpfully add. “Face coverings should be worn when sitting in theatre-style seating.”
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi poses for a gaggle {photograph} with Congress members on the COP26 local weather summit in Glasgow, Scotland. PAUL ELLIS/AFP by way of Getty Images
In addition to the obvious rules violation, critics have charged that carrying masks after being vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 quantities to virtue-signaling quite than being an acceptable well being precaution.
The 22-member, all-Democrat delegation will “participate in bilateral meetings, panel discussions and other engagements with global leaders on top climate priorities,” in response to a readout from Pelosi’s workplace.
“The climate crisis is the existential threat of our time, and America must continue to bring our boldest ambitions to the table to meet and beat our climate action goals,” Pelosi stated in an announcement. “Together with this outstanding, experienced and diverse delegation including Committee Chairs, Members of the House Select Committee on Climate Crisis and respected Members of Congress, I am honored to once again return to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to convey the strong commitment of the U.S. Congress in addressing this crisis and doing so in a way that puts justice and equity — particularly for indigenous communities — first.”
According to the summit’s COVID-19 tips, the all-Democrat group was in violation of the rule that requires masks when not talking at an occasion. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The lawmakers arrived in Scotland this week after scrambling to approve a Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure invoice and ship it to President Biden’s desk. The $1.2 trillion laws handed the House simply earlier than midnight Friday by a vote of 228-206, with 13 GOP members becoming a member of 215 Democrats to vote “yes.”
Six Democrats, together with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — who joined the delegation in Glasgow — voted in opposition to the bipartisan package deal in an effort to realize leverage so {that a} sweeping $1.75 trillion social spending invoice could possibly be handed first.
On Monday, the White House revealed Biden is ready to signal the infrastructure invoice till members of Congress reconvene subsequent week — apparently for a photograph op.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (middle) arrives on the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 9, 2021.AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
“He talked about this on Saturday,” deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre instructed reporters when requested concerning the delay. “He basically said he wants to make sure that the congressional members who worked very, very hard on this, when they come back, then we’ll — we’ll figure out a time to sign it. But you’re right, it’s — it’s urgent, but we also want to make sure that the people who spent the last couple of weeks, last couple of months just all in delivering on this — on this promise, are here for the signing as well,” she added.
In addition to the House Democratic delegation, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to the summit final week. That delegation included Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah).
“The United States is back to leading the fight against climate change. I’m pleased to join @ClimateEnvoy as I lead a bipartisan delegation at #COP26 where the U.S. is articulating a more robust climate policy while securing strengthened commitments from partners across the globe,” Coons stated in a tweet that included a photograph of him with White House local weather envoy John Kerry.
According to an announcement from Nancy Pelosi’s workplace, the Democrats are there to “participate in bilateral meetings, panel discussions and other engagements with global leaders on top climate priorities.” PAUL ELLIS/AFP by way of Getty Images
Several different Republican lawmakers, together with Reps. Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Garret Graves of Louisiana, are additionally in attendance on the summit, which ends this week.
