Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), the No. 3 Republican in the House, on Friday urged people to wear a mask by tweeting a picture of her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney (R), wearing one.
“Dick Cheney says WEAR A MASK. #realmenwearmasks,” she wrote.
Many House Republicans have failed to wear a mask in public amid the coronavirus pandemic, despite health guidance that both masks and social distancing are necessary to prevent spreading the virus.
House Democratic leadership issued a mandatory mask requirement last week for any House meetings “in a limited enclosed space, such as a committee hearing room, for greater than 15 minutes.” Despite those rules, conservative Republicans have been spotted maskless in hearings on Capitol Hill.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Friday threatened to stop holding meetings in person if GOP lawmakers won’t comply with House rules to wear a mask.
Wearing a mask has become a political issue in recent months, as multiple Democratic governors issue mandates at the state level while President Trump refuses to wear one.
Wyoming does not have any mandatory mask requirements and never issued a stay-at-home order. The former vice president, who is wearing a cowboy hat in the picture his daughter tweeted, represents the state spirit to many.
Cheney was vice president under former President George W. Bush.