Trump ally Matt Gaetz wears a gas mask on the House floor

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, has raised eyebrows by appearing on the floor of the House wearing a full gas mask, in a stunt apparently intended to highlight the urgency of the coronavirus crisis.

Gaetz, a strong ally of President Donald Trump, was spotted on Wednesday wearing the gas mask as he discussed an emergency spending bill with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat.

‘Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote,’ Gaetz tweeted ahead of the vote. 

The bill for $8.3 billion bill to combat the spread of the new coronavirus overwhelmingly passed the House and is scheduled for a Senate vote on Thursday.

Gaetz, explaining his bizarre accessory, compared the House chamber to a ‘petri dish’ for incubating germs.

‘We all fly in these dirty airports, we touch and selfie everyone we meet and then we congregate together,’ the Florida congressman said.

The House sergeant-at-arms asked Gaetz to remove his gas mask in the chamber, citing rules against headgear.

Gaetz initially protested as he walked off the House floor. ‘There are provisions in the House rules that permit medically necessary headgear,’ Gaetz said.

Gaetz later acknowledged in a statement to The Hill that ‘House rules do not explicitly allow medical headgear even at this time of heightened concern,’ adding, ‘This is a rule that should be revisited.’ 

Reflecting the urgency among lawmakers to address the growing coronavirus crisis, the House voted 415-2 to approve the bill devoting $8.3 billion to fight coronavirus, just hours after negotiators unveiled its contents. 

Gaetz is a key Trump ally in the House, and apparently intended to highlight the urgency of the coronavirus crisis with his gas mask stunt

Under the bill, over $3 billion would be devoted to research and development of coronavirus vaccines, test kits and therapeutics. No vaccines or treatments for the virus are currently in place, but patients can receive supportive care.

Gaetz said that while the United States was gearing up in the production of virus test kits, ‘we’re not where we want to be. The vice president made that very clear that we’ve got to get more test assets in place.’

In a bid to also help control the spread of the virus outside the United States, $1.25 billion would be available for international efforts.

The fast-spreading virus that emerged late last year in central China is now in some 80 countries. It has killed more than 3,000 worldwide and rattled financial markets.

State and local governments would receive $950 million to support their work in combating the respiratory disease.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, a Republican, called the bill ‘an aggressive and comprehensive response’ to the crisis.

Included is more than $300 million to help cover costs of any vaccine for those who cannot afford it. The Department of Health and Human Services would be authorized to ensure vaccines’ affordability in the commercial market.

Republicans cited a $7.8 billion cost for the bill, instead of $8.3 billion. That does not include $500 million authorized for a ‘telehealth’ program for senior citizens.

Other provisions in the bill:

• $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness and response, including the $950 million to bolster state and local government efforts.
• Nearly $1 billion to help procure drugs and medical supplies
• Small businesses affected by an outbreak could qualify for low-interest federal loans.