Speaker Pelosi extends House remote voting through July 3 amid GOP pushback

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Monday that lawmakers can cast votes remotely through July 3, extending a controversial provision first put in place in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

"In light of the attached notification by the Acting Sergeant-at-Arms, in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician, that a public health emergency is in effect due to a novel coronavirus, I am hereby extending the "covered period" designated on January 4, 2021, pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, until July 3, 2021," Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues. Remote voting was enacted through a party-line vote last May, marking the first time that Congress allowed lawmakers to cast votes while off the floor. The provision drew criticism from Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise who have argued it is unconstitutional and granted the Democrats undue control over congressional proceedings. PELOSI CONDEMNS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE'S ‘VERBAL ASSAULT’ ON AOC