As the coronavirus spreads, Republicans and Democrats in Congress consider economic stimulus measures including paid sick leave.
The impact of the coronavirus drew closer to Washington as five lawmakers, in rapid succession, announced their self-quarantine following exposure to someone with the virus and as Republicans and Democrats considered separate ideas to address the economic fallout.
The exposure of five lawmakers to the virus — including Rep. Matt Gaetz who flew on Air Force One with President Trump the day he announced his self-quarantine — brings the coronavirus into stark relief for lawmakers and raises new questions about how Congress will continue to function. They are a group of generally older people who frequently fly on planes and attend large events where they shake hands with many people.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer say any economic stimulus package must include paid sick leave for quarantined workers and parents, and enhanced unemployment insurance, among other measures. House Democratic leaders will meet Monday evening to discuss next steps to address the economic effects of the coronavirus, according to a senior congressional aide.Details of any kind of economic stimulus plan are still in their infancy.
Ruiz, whose home county of Riverside was the first to take in and quarantine repatriated Americans, said any future stimulus may need to take into account additional costs faced by those localities. Congress last week approved $8.3 billion in coronavirus spending that provided some reimbursement to localities, but it is unclear whether it will be enough.
Gaetz was criticized by some other lawmakers last week after he seemed to mock concerns about the coronavirus by tweeting out pictures of himself working in the Capitol in a gas mask. His office said that was how he “demonstrated his concern.” The person with coronavirus recalled meeting “several” members of Congress at the event, and the Office of Attending Physician on Capitol Hill notified those members of their exposure on Saturday, according to the office. The office did not disclose how many lawmakers were exposed.
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