Congress will return to business in Washington next week, leaders in both chambers announced Monday, joining states across the country in trying to get back to work — even if that work looks decidedly different.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said doctors, nurses, truck drivers, grocery store workers and others are still on the job — and he said it’s time for senators to join them,
“This crisis has every part of our society in dire need of stability, clarity and certainty. The Senate has already stepped up, but our work is not over,” the Kentucky Republican said. “I look forward to seeing all my colleagues next Monday.”
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, also told colleagues on a conference call they’ll be back on Monday.
But what they’ll be working on is still up in the air.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Congress has ponied up taxpayer money for hospitals, businesses and laid-off workers. She said the next law needs to send federal money to states and localities, helping them plug budget holes that have arisen in dealing with COVID-19.
Mr. McConnell has been cool to the idea, suggesting bankruptcy might be a better way for some states to go.
President Trump’s team has distanced itself from Mr. McConnell’s remarks, though Mr. Trump himself tweeted Monday, “Why should the people and taxpayers of America be bailing out poorly run states (like Illinois, as example) and cities, in all cases Democrat run and managed.”
Mr. Trump, also has his own spending priority, hoping to get Congress to pass a massive infrastructure program he says can play a part in getting folks back to work.
Mr. McConnell, meanwhile, said there’s work to be done on limiting lawsuits to allow health care workers and small businesses continue to operate without fear of being put out of business by lawyers.
“Our nation is facing the worst pandemic in over a century and potentially the worst economic shock since the Great Depression. Our response must not be slowed, weakened, or exploited to set up the biggest trial lawyer bonanza in history,” he said.
He said any bill will have to include liability limits, but warned he’ll reject any “tangential left-wing daydreams.”
Coming back into session is also critical for Mr. McConnell’s goal of approving presidential nominations — particularly judges, who will hold office far after Mr. Trump has relinquished the White House.
With the election looming and the GOP’s grasp on both the White House and the Senate in question, conservatives are looking to fill every possible court vacancy then can.
Both chambers effectively shut down in late March and have been meeting in pro forma sessions, with the exception of a couple meetings last week to pass a new infusion of cash for small businesses to keep their payrolls intact.
Mr. McConnell said the Senate will modify its routines to minimize risk of infection.
The House, during debate on the cash infusion last week, tested out some of its new procedures.
Lawmakers were limited in their ability to be on the floor, and many of those that did get floor time to speak wore masks. Voting was done alphabetically, with lawmakers coming to the chamber on a schedule, and took 90 minutes per tally. The chamber was shut and sanitized between votes.
Mrs. Pelosi had planned to move forward last week with a system for allowing remote voting by proxy and conducting committee business virtually, on an emergency basis to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
She delayed the move after Republicans objected, saying they questioned the legality of the moves. GOP leaders agreed to try to work out a solution with Mrs. Pelosi’s team.
On Monday the New Democrat Coalition, a group of House Democrats, urged the speaker to push ahead even without GOP support.
Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washington, chairman of the coalition, endorsed the plan to vote by proxy and hold virtual committee hearings. He argued that if organizations and workers across the country have adapted to working from home, so should Congress.
“While we hope a bipartisan agreement with Republican Leadership that results in temporary remote capabilities on the floor and in committees can be reached in the coming days, if House Republican leadership does not engage on this matter in a constructive way, we must move forward,” Mr. Kilmer said in a letter to his party’s leaders.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.