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Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced her decision to extend the House’s proxy voting system until Aug. 18 because of the ongoing public health emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Pelosi said Monday her decision was based on the advice from House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D. Irving, in consultation with the Office of the Attending Physician, who notified her that the virus continues to be a public health emergency.

“I am hereby extending the ‘covered period’ designated on May 20, 2020, pursuant to section 1(a) of House Resolution 965, until August 18, 2020,” Pelosi wrote.

The rules change to include proxy voting was first implemented on May 20, initially for 45 days, with the provision that the time for remote voting could be extended if the Speaker feels there are further public health concerns from the pandemic.

Without the recent extension, the 45-day period would end in early July. According to guidelines (pdf) prepared by House majority staff on “Best Practices for Remote Floor Voting,” proxy voting “can be extended or renewed if the public health emergency persists or there is a resurgence.”

Republicans have been opposed to the change from the beginning; they have filed bills to hold paychecks of members who do not vote in person. House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) led Republicans in filing a lawsuit that argues that proxy voting is unconstitutional.

read more here: https://www.theepochtimes.com/speaker-pelosi-extends-house-proxy-voting-until-august-amid-republican-opposition_3406031.html