U.S. House gets schedule update

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives returned home after voting on legislation Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, D.C. Though individual committees will meet, it’s unclear when the House will again gather.

According to a new calendar released last week, the full House is not yet scheduled to have any additional votes until June 30.

However, in a letter to colleagues Friday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., noted that the House has already passed legislation expanding covid-19-related aid, forwarding the package to the Republican-controlled Senate.

“I expect, then, that the House will be in session at some point in June, once the Senate does act, for further Floor action on this critical issue,” Hoyer wrote. “I will be providing Members with at least seventy-two-hours’ notice of any Floor action relating to COVID-19 response legislation.”

Regardless of what occurs in the Senate, House members have been told to expect votes on June 30, July 1 and July 2.

After a break that coincides with Independence Day, they’re scheduled to return for votes July 20-31.

After the August recess, the House will be in session for much of September. On the afternoon of Oct. 2, lawmakers are scheduled to return to their districts. They plan to return Nov. 16 for five days before beginning their Thanksgiving recess.

Under rules recently passed by House Democrats, members who are not present can cast proxy votes, authorizing a lawmaker who is present to cast their vote for them.

Planning to visit the nation’s capital? Know something happening in Washington, D.C.? Please contact Frank Lockwood at (501) 908-5204 or flockwood@arkansasonline.com. Want the latest from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s

Washington bureau? It’s available on Twitter, @LockwoodFrank.