House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the Senate has been convening in person against the advice of medical experts.
Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, defended a decision to change the House rules to allow voting by proxy, which will be used for the first time on Wednesday.
The Washington, D.C.-region is considered a “hot spot” for the coronavirus, Hoyer pointed out, and some House lawmakers have health problems or transportation difficulties.
“And there’s great concern about flying on airplanes, some of which are now very crowded because they’ve reduced very, very substantially the flights,” Hoyer said.
Hoyer said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell “has ignored in many respects, the advice of our health experts” by gaveling in the Senate during the coronavirus outbreak.
President Trump’s coronavirus task force has advised against large gatherings and against nonessential travel.
House lawmakers voted earlier this month to allow proxy voting and virtual committee hearings and votes.
The House will allow proxy voting beginning on Wednesday when it takes up two minor pieces of legislation commemorating Police Week. The House will vote again on Thursday on whether to extend a key anti-terrorism surveillance law that has expired.
McConnell last week criticized House Democrats for failing to return to the Capitol. The Senate reconvened in early May.
“While essential workers across the country continue to clock in, the Democratic House of Representatives has essentially put itself on paid leave for months,” McConnell said last week.
Hoyer said the Senate often votes by unanimous consent or holds a voice vote that requires only a handful of senators to be present in the chamber. Hoyer called it “a less disciplined proxy.”
“His attacks on us are totally, solely political in nature,” Hoyer added.
The new House rule will allow lawmakers to designate a member present in the chamber to vote on their behalf.
Both chambers allow unanimous consent and voice votes and they are not considered votes by proxy. The Senate allows proxy voting in committees.
