They’re not regular members of Congress. They’re cool, mask-wearing members of Congress.
Democratic lawmakers launched an initiative Wednesday to promote the use of face masks amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic inspired by the movie “Mean Girls.”
“Excited to launch the #OnWednesdaysWeWearPink masks campaign today. I encourage all my colleagues to participate and support wearing masks to help prevent the spread of #COVID19. It’s going to be so fetch!” Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), who is leading the initiative, tweeted Wednesday.
Dozens of Democratic lawmakers shared their own photos donning a pink mask or supporting the initiative on Wednesday, with some making their own jokes about the hit 2004 film.
“We all need to take responsibility for protecting our communities from COVID-19. The best action you can take yourself? #WearAMask. #OnWednesdaysWeWearPink,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tweeted Wednesday.
“On Wednesdays, we wear pink… Don’t be mean. #WearAMask,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) tweeted.
“I’m not a regular mom. I’m a cool mom because I #WearAMask,” Rep. Lucy McBath shared (D-Ga.)
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) also supported the initiative Wednesday.
DelBene told ABC News that she and her staff wanted “to make it fun to wear one,”
“It’s about helping your community, helping your neighbor,” the Washington lawmaker told the outlet.
She noted that she has passed out masks to several of her colleagues in the House. The Democratic Women’s Caucus, which includes all 90 Democratic women lawmakers in the House, is also helping to share the campaign.
DelBene said she hopes the campaign will “encourage younger folks to wear masks” amid recent findings from health departments across the country that younger people are making up larger shares of those infected with COVID-19.
“We know that more of the recent cases have disproportionally been younger people, so it’s more important than ever to wear a mask,” DelBene told ABC News.
President Trump on Monday for the first time tweeted a photograph of himself wearing a mask, describing the practice a patriotic act as the pandemic continues.
Trump for months resisted wearing a mask or face covering in public. He publicly wore one during a trip to Walter Reed earlier this month.
In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that Americans wear face coverings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.