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As some states have begun to open their doors again following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some United States lawmakers have also wanted to go back to work, while others haven’t, USA TODAY reported.

The Senate resumes work this week. It follows Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stating that it is vital for the legislative body to continue working on addressing the pandemic.

"If it is essential for doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, truck drivers, grocery store workers and other brave Americans to keep carefully manning their duty stations, then it is essential for senators to carefully man ours and support them," McConnell said.

The House was going to be working this week, too, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) chose to not bring lawmakers back to the U.S. Capitol after talking with the House sergeant at arms and House attending physician’s office about being exposed not just to members of Congress, but their aides, law enforcement and additional employees who would need to be attending to congressional work.

“We’re 430 members. The decision was made on the strength of our numbers and people coming together,” Pelosi stated. "Everybody wants to open up the Congress. Republicans want to open up the Congress. We do, too. But we want to do it in a way" that cuts back on exposure.

Pelosi and McConnell had the same view on not taking up the Trump administration’s offer of 1,000 COVID-19 assessments.

The legislative heads stated that they were grateful for “the generous offer,” but "Congress wants to keep directing resources to the front-line facilities where they can do the most good the most quickly."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said to Politico that he did not like that McConnell and Pelosi didn’t accept the assessments. Portions of the country will probably see trouble and the assessments could stop the pandemic from going further throughout Capitol Hill.

"Remember how many people from other parts of the country come to this location," he said.

Washington, D.C., where Capitol Hill is, is seeing an increase in COVID-19 situations.

In total, there’s been 5,170 cases and 258 deaths, as reported by the District of Columbia Health Department. Since April 20, an average of 160 new cases were cited each day.

The House is looking into methods of voting through stand-ins or remotely to try to cut back on hazards lawmakers and their aides.

Six members of Congress said they tested positive for COVID-19, with each going back to their labors.

Source: USA TODAY