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Gallagher: It's Time for Congress to End Proxy Voting, Get Back to Normal

March 1, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today called on Speaker Pelosi to re-open the U.S. Capitol and end proxy voting after she formally lifted the mask mandate in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a statement, Rep. Gallagher said:

"By ending the mask mandate, Speaker Pelosi has all but admitted it's time for Congress to get back to normal. But Congress cannot complete this return to normalcy if proxy voting persists and the House remains closed to the American people. Ending the mask mandate should bring with it the end of other pandemic-era restrictions that keep visitors out of the Capitol and allow members to forgo their duty to the American people. If members can attend the SOTU, they can vote in person. It's time for Speaker Pelosi to stop the inconsistency, open the Capitol, and end proxy voting."

Gallagher has long called for Congress to end proxy voting. He's argued proxy voting makes Congress non-essential and allows members to skip out on the legislating process, and introducedlegislation that would stop this practice.

He's also urged Speaker Pelosi to re-open the House to public tours and published a virtual tour of the Capitol for constituents unable to visit during their trips to D.C.