The number of coronavirus cases in the Washington area continues to climb, with local officials predicting the region has yet to reach its peak and D.C. remaining under a stay-at-home order until at least May 15. In addition, House leaders had yet to develop robust guidance for how to resume full operations with hundreds of members and thousands of staffers and support staff in the Capitol complex.
Despite the safety concerns, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is moving ahead with plans to return on Monday to advance judicial and executive branch nominees.
“We’re 430 members, the decision was made on the strength of our numbers and people coming together,” Pelosi said Thursday when asked about McConnell’s decision.
“Now, what they advised the Senate, I don’t know. They are 100, we’re four times that. … I can’t speak for the Senate, I just know what our responsibility is in the House.”
Still, the House won’t be completely dark next week. A House Appropriations subcommittee has scheduled an in-person hearing with hopes of having the government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, testify. Pelosi said Thursday some other “smaller” committees might also meet, if members were able to maintain proper social distancing.
And House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), who joined the speaker at her news conference, said his new select coronavirus oversight panel might convene in some capacity next week as well. Pelosi announced Democratic members of the panel on Wednesday.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who criticized Pelosi’s picks and slammed the effort as “impeachment 2.0”, hinted that Republicans might not participate in the panel, but said he would make a decision by next week.
“I’m not convinced that we even participate in something like this,” McCarthy told reporters on a press call.
House leaders reversed their plans to return next week after hearing from furious members on both sides of the aisle, who were blindsided by the initial announcement on Monday and said they were given no guidance about how to keep themselves or their aides safe while working in the Capitol’s close quarters.
“We had no choice. If the Capitol physician recommends that we not come back, then we have to take that guidance,“ Pelosi said earlier this week.
Source: politico.com
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