Hoyer Vows House Members Won’t Leave DC Without Relief Bill Deal

July 31, 2020 by Dan McCue
Hoyer Vows House Members Won’t Leave DC Without Relief Bill Deal
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., vowed Friday that members will not leave the nation’s capital until there’s a deal on a new coronavirus relief package.

Speaking on the House floor, Hoyer said, “We will not start the August district work period until we pass appropriate COVID-19 relief to meet the current health and economic crisis confronting our people and our country.”

As a result of lawmakers’ inability to strike a deal on a new round of coronavirus aid, a supplemental $600 in weekly federal unemployment benefits is set to expire at midnight.

Also set to end, unless lawmakers intervene, is a federal moratorium on evictions that has shielded millions of renters — though some Americans remain protected by similar state and local actions.

Throughout the day on Friday, both sides in the negotiation accused the other of playing politics during the ongoing negotiations over the relief bill.

At the White House, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made four different offers to the Democrats that were rejected without the offer of a counterproposal.

“The Democrats believe that they have all the cards on their side, and they’re willing to play those cards at the expense of those that are hurting,” Meadows said.

Later, during her weekly briefing with reporters on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Meadows, the White House and Senate Republicans were projecting their own internal dysfunction onto the Democrats.

“Every time they say something, I say, ‘Perhaps you are characterizing yourself and think that that’s how we are,'” Pelosi said. “We’re not. We’re here. This is serious. This is life-and-death.”

She also noted that the House approved a Democratic proposal to provide $3 trillion in coronavirus relief in May and has been waiting to make a deal with the White House and Senate ever since.

At the time, Pelosi called the relief package, which passed by a vote of 208-199, largely along party lines, “a very strategically planned piece of legislation that is tailored strictly to meet the needs of the American people regarding the coronavirus pandemic.”

“To do anything less would not be responsible,” Pelosi said.

Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled the Senate’s $1 trillion relief package proposal, but it immediately drew fire from members of his own party, undermining the unified negotiating stance the administration wanted to present to the House.

Speaking on the House floor Friday, Hoyer gave no indication how long he thinks negotiations will drag on.

“Members are further advised as conversations surrounding [additional] coronavirus relief legislation continue, it is expected the House will meet during the month of August,” he said. “No one should schedule themselves for next week or until such time as we adopt COVID-19 legislation.” 

A+
a-
  • coronavirus relief package
  • House Democrats
  • Mark Meadows
  • Nancy Pelosi
  • Steny Hoyer
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Congress

    March 27, 2024
    by TWN Staff
    Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 25, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    CPAC Releases Ranking of Most Conservative Members of Congress

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of the House and Senate based on their conservative bona fides or lack thereof. To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    After a Decade on Capitol Hill, Brad Howard Steps Out on His Own

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and communications director of the Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Howard knew it was time for change. “It was time to move into the private sector,” he... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Greene Files Motion to Vacate Speaker’s Chair

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed a motion to vacate the chair of the party’s speaker. But this time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says the motion is intended merely as a... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Gallagher to Leave Congress April 19

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing he plans to leave April 19, several months before his current term is up. Gallagher’s impending departure will further shrink the razor-thin Republican... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top