House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some of her top chairman outlined the Democratic priorities for a phase four coronavirus package on Monday, but won’t rush to push the bill through.
Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, said she doesn’t expect the package to be ready until after Easter and Passover. Though members are continuing to work on it remotely, so it’s ready to vote when members eventually do return.
“All three of our bills have been bipartisan and we would want this one to be so as well,” she said. “So right now we’re collecting information, taking inventory — what are the actual needs.”
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said last week he wanted Congress to hold off on pushing through any more major coronavirus packages until the first three bills had a chance to have an effect. Phase one cost $8.3 billion, followed by a nearly $105 billion phase two package, and finally last week’s $2.2 trillion phase three.
But Democrats already have a long list of issues they want to tackle.
One of their top priorities is shoring up Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) protections for workers on the frontline either fighting the coronavirus or ensuring essential businesses keep running.
Education and Labor Committee Chairman Rep. Bobby Scott will take the lead on this portion of the package. He said the bill will have OSHA issue a temporary emergency standard within seven days to require employers craft new protections for adverse employees. Democrats also want to expand the types of workers covered under emergency OHSA protections, including TSA employees and grocers.
“Legislation is required. It’s been blocked three times. If we fail to act, it will make the situation more dangerous,” Mrs. Pelosi said. “Rather than call them our heroes, rather than just thank them, we have to protect them.”
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