Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Friday that House members can continue to vote remotely until Dec. 30 due to concerns over COVID-19.
Pelosi's announcement came in a note to House members posted on her office website.
The note read: "To All Members on Extension of Remote Voting 'Covered Period.' In light of the attached notification by the Sergeant-at-Arms, in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician, that a public health emergency is in effect due to a novel coronavirus, I am hereby extending the 'covered period' designated on January 4, 2021, pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, until December 30, 2021."
William Walker, sergeant-at-arms, had notified Pelosi by letter that in "consultation with the Office of 'Attending Physician,' I write to provide further notification that the public health emergency due to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 remains in effect."
The House has allowed remote voting as a way for members to social distance while still fulfilling their duties. The rules initially adopted allowed for proxy voting in 45-day stretches that the Speaker has the option to extend, though the House sergeant-at-arms and the Capitol physician must first confirm that there is still an ongoing public health emergency.
Axios reported in August that, despite initial opposition and a lawsuit from House Republicans, remote voting by House members generally had caught on. Pelosi even was pressed by some House members to make the process permanent, the outlet noted.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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