House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Monday she is extending rules that allow remote voting and virtual hearings until Aug. 17.
Special rules set to expire July 3 allow lawmakers to vote by proxy, meaning they don’t have to show up in Congress but can assign another lawmaker to vote on their behalf instead.
The California Democrat has extended the rule several times since the House first voted for the change in May 2020. Republicans have called for the House to return to normal business now that most members are vaccinated, and the pandemic has greatly diminished across the United States.
Pelosi cited a memo from Sergeant at Arms William Walker as the reason for the latest extension, who declared “the public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus remains in effect.”
Pelosi has the authority to extend proxy voting unilaterally, and she has done so repeatedly.
The proxy voting allowance ended a 231-year-old requirement that House lawmakers debate and vote on legislation in person. The rule allows House members in the chamber to cast a vote for up to 10 other lawmakers who designate them as their proxy.
It also allows lawmakers to hold virtual hearings and vote remotely on legislation considered by committees.
Last week, top Republicans complained Democrats who run the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee refused to hold an in-person hearing, instead maintaining a virtual schedule.
Democrats on the panel blamed the GOP for refusing to wear masks and adhere to social distancing when some Republicans are not vaccinated.
