Starting the new Congress is inherently messy in a pandemic. The House of Representatives implemented "remote voting" in the spring. That’s where the House permitted members who were at high risk, quarantining, tested positive or caring for someone who is ill to "phone in" their vote. The House will vote on Monday on a new "rules package" to begin the new Congress which will include a remote voting option. But in the House, you can't carry over rules from the 116th Congress to the 117th Congress.
That’s why everyone has to show up at noon today.
This poses an interesting, ethical question: