On Monday, House Democrats withdrew more than a dozen bills from the floor – including one in honor of police officers for defending the Capitol on January 6 – after conservative Republicans threatened to force isolated votes on each proposal.
The 13 bills were scheduled for the suspension calendar, a routine procedure that allows non-controversial bills to pass quickly through the House floor. Among them was a proposal, sponsored by the Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi says the Capitol rebellion was one of the most difficult times in her career. Hillary Clinton asks women to “repair” COVID-19’s “damage” to women’s rights. (D-Calif.), To award Congressional gold medals to the Capitol Police and the DC Metropolitan Police for the role of each department in the deadly attack on the Capitol on January 6.
However, conservatives at the Republican Party conference indicated that they would require a roll call vote on each bill – a lengthy process due to health concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic – that would have kept lawmakers voting in plenary until almost dawn on Tuesday -market.
Instead of moving ahead with that arduous timetable, Democratic leaders have postponed the activities of the 13 suspension projects and will look for ways to accelerate them at a later date.
“The Republicans told us that they planned to call a roll call vote on all 13 bills, which, in this COVID environment, with each vote taking 45 minutes, would mean about 10 hours of votes,” says the office of the majority leader in the camera Steny Hoyer
Steny Hamilton HoyerRepublicans ‘stonewall’ forces Democrats to pull the bill in honor of the Capitol Police Overnight Health Care: After a brutal year, are the United States getting close to normal? | CDC says it is safe for vaccinated people to meet indoors | Biden will give prime-time speech on the anniversary of the blockade pandemic. House vote on relief from COVID-19 expected on Wednesday MORE (D-Md.) Said in a statement announcing the time change.
“What a way to thank them,” added the office, referring to the officers who are awaiting the medal.
It is unclear why Republicans sought to prolong the debate over suspension projects, some of which were sponsored by Republican lawmakers and all with broad bipartisan support.
The position of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthyRepublicans ‘stonewall’ forces Democrats to pull bill in honor of Capitol Police Trump speeds up battle with Republican leadership RNC shoots against Trump, says he “has every right” to use his name in fundraising appeals (R-Calif.) Did not respond to a request for comment.
The Congressional gold medal, the country’s largest civilian tribute, is usually reserved for individuals. But, given the extraordinary nature of the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill – and the large number of police officers who were present that day – the House resolution would celebrate these officers collectively, with one medal going to the Capitol police force, another going to the DC Metropolitan Police and a third party provided to the Smithsonian Institution. It has broad bipartisan support, with 300 co-sponsors.
Other bills postponed on Monday include proposals to supply COVID-19 vaccines to military veterans, encourage lending to small businesses in rural areas and expand programs to combat child abuse.