After days of negotiations, the massive coronavirus relief bill passed the Senate, and now, it heads to House, where lawmakers are expected to hold a voice vote on it.
House leaders said in order to protect keep members safe and limit the risks of contracting the coronavirus, they plan to hold a voice-vote on the legislation — which would not require the full House to be present.
However, just one member could object to a voice vote and call for a recorded vote that would require House members to return to vote on the legislation. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who has raised concerns about the bill, said she has not read it but is “open” to such a move “if necessary.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was asked during his weekly press conference if he had a message to members who were considering objecting to a voice vote.
“I’ve heard AOC, I read something where she’s thinking that she might do that, I think that’s wrong,” he said.
He added, “We’ll have the ability to read the text as well, we’ll have a debate, and we’ll have a voice vote. I do not think there’s a need for anything else.”
Watch the video below:
REPORTER: What’s your message to any member who is thinking of objecting to the voice vote tomorrow [on the coronavirus relief bill]?
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) March 26, 2020
MCCARTHY: I think that is wrong. … I think there will be enough to make sure we get this through.
Live updates: https://t.co/ksxLB2xxrD pic.twitter.com/u9NuZxxAQQ
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) predicted that the House would pass the relief bill, “We will have a victory tomorrow for America’s workers.”
She said that if members have an objection to the legislation, “They can put that in the record.”
“We’re not worried about that,” she added.
Watch her comments below:
.@SpeakerPelosi: "We will have a victory tomorrow for America's workers. If somebody has a different point of view they can put that in the record. We're not worried about that."
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 26, 2020
Full video here: https://t.co/04uPjMspX4 pic.twitter.com/6SKthyeCFW
The House is expected to consider and pass the legislation on Friday, and President Donald Trump has said he will sign it into law “immediately.”