The Senate will not reconvene until May 4 due to the threat of the coronavirus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Tuesday.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said the Senate this week will work to pass by unanimous consent or voice vote a $250 billion measure to replenish a small business aid program. Neither action requires a quorum of lawmakers to be present in the chamber for a roll call vote. Democrats blocked the measure last week.
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“As the country continues working together to flatten the curve, following the advice of health experts, the full Senate is not expected to travel back to Washington, D.C, sooner than Monday, May 4th,” McConnell said. “All members will receive at least 24 hours’ notice if this changes. This bipartisan decision reflects consultation with Leader Schumer and my colleagues in Senate leadership.”
The decision aligns the Senate schedule with the House. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, announced Monday the House would also remain in recess until May 4. Both the House and Senate were both scheduled to return on April 20, but the Trump administration has issued social distancing guidelines until April 30.
McConnell signaled in the Tuesday statement that he will again try to pass the $250 billion measure despite Democratic opposition. Democrats seek to fence off half the money for certain businesses that traditionally have difficulty obtaining loans. Democrats also want to add an additional $100 million for hospitals and $150 million for state and local governments.
But both Republicans and the Trump administration oppose the Democratic proposal. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday the small business fund is about to run out of money, while funding for hospitals and local governments are far from depleted.
“Clean funding for worker pay in a crisis should not be controversial,” McConnell said Tuesday. “I hope our Democratic colleagues will let Congress act this week. American workers deserve paychecks, not pink slips caused by political games.”
