In the News

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton shuts D.C. office to prevent spread of virus

Arkansas Democrat Gazette
03/12/2020

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton has closed his Capitol Hill office "to protect the health of his staff and to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus," his office announced Thursday morning.

The Republican from Dardanelle said his Arkansas offices will remain open. Washington-based staffers will work from home temporarily, he added.

The announcement comes amid news that the coronavirus is increasingly present in the Washington, D.C. area.

“An aide in another Senate office has tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus; other congressional employees are likely to test positive in the days ahead,” Cotton said in a written statement released by his office.

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The lawmaker portrayed the closure as “an ounce of prevention” and urged others to also take precautions.

“Together, through prudent and responsible actions, we can arrest the spread of this virus and protect the health of our nation,” he stated.

Capitol Hill tours have also been suspended, effective at the end of the day today.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, said employees in the Jonesboro Republican’s office were contacting Washington-bound constituents to let them know of the development.

As of 9 a.m. CT, the office is in the process of ordering supplies to enable Crawford’s staffers to work remotely, but “as of right now, we’re not telecommuting,” spokeswoman Sara Robertson said.

The same was true, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. French Hill.

“We are, as of right now, open for business,” said Jeff Naft, a spokesman for the Republican from Little Rock.

Final tours were still ongoing; the mayor of Fairfield Bay was due to see the highlights with Hill, Naft said.

“Because Congress is going into recess starting today, we’re going to be weighing telecommunicating and things like that after we do an assessment,” he said.

In the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, “We are now a handshake free office,” his spokeswoman, Rebekah Hoshiko, said on Thursday morning.

Thus far, the Hot Springs Republican’s staff remained on hand.

“We’re still open for business as of right now. Obviously that is subject to change, but, yes, we are still operating,” Hoshiko said at 9:45 a.m.

Unnecessary physical contact is being avoided and keyboards, door knobs, tables and other areas are being frequently sanitized, she added.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack has kept his office open as of 9:45 a.m. but the Rogers Republican’s staff is “taking all precautions that the CDC is advising,” his spokeswoman, Alexia Sikora, said.

Things are in flux, she noted.

“As you’re aware, it’s a dynamic situation and things are constantly changing,” she said. “For now we are open and operating as normally as possible.”

The Capitol Hill office of U.S. Sen. John Boozman also remained open, a staffer for the Rogers Republican confirmed.