In sprawling Capitol, leaders struggle to keep virus at bay
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press
Published: July 30, 2020, 5:00pm
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WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are under increasing pressure from lawmakers to boost testing for the coronavirus in the Capitol, an idea they have so far rejected because of concerns about the availability of tests across the country.
Despite the unusual nature of work in the Capitol — lawmakers fly in and out weekly, from 50 states, and attend votes and hearings together — the two leaders have maintained that they will not institute a testing program for members, staff or the hundreds of other people who work in the complex.
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