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Members of the House of Representatives are now not expected to return to Washington until May 4 at the earliest, a senior House Democrat said Monday.
The news wasn’t unexpected, given lawmaker concerns about travel in the wake of the coronavirus and the stay-at-home lockdowns in place in most states. But it has implications for efforts to craft a consensus package of follow-on legislation to the more than $2 trillion coronavirus act signed into law on March 27.
“Members are advised that absent an emergency, the House is not expected to meet prior to Monday, May 4, 2020,” according to a floor update from Rep. Steny Hoyer’s (D, Md.) office. The Majority Leader handles the House floor schedule.
“Members are further advised that if the House is required to take action on critical legislation related to the coronavirus response or other legislative priorities, Members will be given sufficient notice to return to Washington, DC,” the notice said.
Previously, Hoyer had advised members they would return no sooner than April 20. The Senate, when it agreed to have periodic pro forma sessions, where there would be no roll-call votes or substantive business conducted, set a slightly more concrete target of returning to business April 20.
That, too, is in doubt.
At the Senate Monday, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R., Alaska), who gaveled the Senate in and out in a brief pro forma ceremonial session, was also noncommittal about the April 20 date.
“We’re all in discussions,” Sullivan said when asked if he thought the Senate would be back next Monday. Because Alaska has a strict quarantine for people coming in from out of state, including residents, Sullivan said the Alaska delegation has largely remained in Washington instead.
Read:Democrats, Republicans still at impasse over boosting coronavirus aid
But having no lawmakers around to vote is complicating negotiations on an interim coronavirus response package. Senate Republicans want to authorize another $250 billion for a program to support businesses during the virus-induced lockdown, while Democrats want to add in aid for hospitals and states as well. With both chambers reduced to passing things through only unanimous consent or voice votes, a single lawmaker on either side can stymie a bill.
Still, Lowey said that is the best method of operation lawmakers have right now.
“Unless it’s safe, I think we’re better off doing our work as we’ve been doing, passing bills by unanimous consent and hopefully there is a bipartisan will to rally focus on what we need and leave partisan politics aside,” she said.
U.S. equity benchmarks closed mostly lower on Monday as investors were worried about the damage of the coronavirus on corporate earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -1.38% closed down 328.60 points at 23,390.77.
Jonathan Nicholson is a Washington-based journalist who has covered economic and fiscal policy for more than 20 years.
