Senate Democrats are criticizing McConnell for bringing back the Senate and accusing him of endangering lives only to get executive and judicial nominees confirmed. Roughly half of senators are 65 and older, making them more prone to contracting the virus. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the oldest member of the Senate at the age of 86, asked McConnell this week to reconsider.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is calling on McConnell to hold oversight hearings immediately on the administration’s handling of coronavirus-related legislation.
„It’s a positive step that Senate Republicans are following Senate Democrats’ calls and considering scheduling some oversight hearings in the coming weeks with key White House Coronavirus Task Force officials, Dr. [Deborah] Birx and Dr. [Anthony] Fauci and Secretary [Steven] Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair [Jay] Powell,“ Schumer said. „But it’s shameful these hearings won’t happen until mid-May at the earliest.“
But the GOP leader’s office shot back, highlighting that the Senate will next week hold a confirmation hearing for Brian Miller, the nominee for inspector general for pandemic recovery at the Treasury Department. In addition, McConnell’s office noted that several committees will hold coronavirus-related hearings.
Coronavirus, however, will not be the only agenda item for the Senate. The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold a hearing for Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) to be director of National Intelligence and may also consider legislation to reauthorize expired provisions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. While the Senate approved a temporary reauthorization in March, the House never took it up, allowing the provisions to remain lapsed.
Burgess Everett contributed to this report.
Source: politico.com
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