U.S. House won’t return to D.C. — for now
WASHINGTON — Facing the stark, startling reality that Congress may not be able to fully resume for a year, House leaders are desperately reaching for workfrom-home options after a revolt from the ranks over the health risks of convening during the coronavirus pandemic.
House Democratic leaders abruptly reversed course Tuesday, shelving plans for the chamber’s 400-plus lawmakers to return for work on the next virus aid package after warnings from the Capitol physician that the public health danger was too great. The Senate, with its smaller numbers, still expects to return next Monday.
“We had no choice,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “If the House physician recommends that we not come back, then we have to take that guidance.”
It’s not just the elected officials at risk. The U.S. Capitol is a throwback of crowded hearing rooms, packed hallways and thousands of congressional staff crunched in office cubicles and cafeteria lunch lines — all unwelcome in the new era of social distancing. It additionally relies on an army of cooks, custodians, electricians and police, who keep the iconic domed building and sprawling maze of offices running.
Despite a halt in public tours, started in mid-March and extended Tuesday through mid-May by the House and Senate sergeants at arms, few other protocols have been announced beyond masks for lawmakers and staggered roll call votes.
President Donald Trump scoffed from the White House that the stay-home House members were “enjoying their vacation.”
Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer declared the sudden about-face on regular meetings after consultation with the Capitol physician as lawmakers vigorously objected to next week’s schedule.
During a private caucus call, one lawmaker, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., said plans to return were dangerous.
Others questioned whether virus testing would be available and what steps were being taken to keep staff safe. They heard few answers, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the private call and granted anonymity to comment.
Because the Washington, D.C., area remains a “hotspot” under stay-home orders, with the number of cases “going up and not down,” Hoyer said it makes sense to hold off reopening for now.
House Democratic leaders were negotiating Tuesday with Republican counterparts on remote legislating and proxy vote proposals.
As lawmakers envision the new norm in Congress, one top priority for both parties is to reopen their committees to conduct oversight of nearly $3 trillion in coronavirus relief and to draft legislation, including the next virus aid package.
“Technology has enabled us to do things without physically being in the same place together,” Hoyer said. “That’s what I hope we can achieve for committees.”
Holding committee meetings via teleconference would require a change to House rules that now largely mandate that lawmakers be physically present for most sessions.
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California has signaled he favors opening up committees for work.
But House Republicans argued the House should return to work and panned a more ambitious proposal for proxy voting that was shelved last week so talks could continue.
The Senate, meanwhile, remains on track to return Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that if it is essential for doctors, nurses and grocery workers “to keep carefully manning their own duty stations, then it is essential for senators to carefully man ours.”
It’s unclear whether the GOP leader sought guidance from the physician’s office. McConnell’s office said it had no further comment.