Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a statement Saturday regarding the upcoming Senate floor schedule, saying for the next two weeks “the Senate [will] meet in pro forma sessions” upon obtaining “a consent agreement”, and “previously-scheduled floor activity will be rescheduled until after October 19th.”
However, McConnell noted, “The important work of the Senate’s committees can and will continue as each committee sees fit”, through “a hybrid method”; physically and virtually.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee will convene on October 12th as Chairman Graham has scheduled to begin confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The Senate’s floor schedule will not interrupt the thorough, fair, and historically supported confirmation process previously laid out by Chairman Graham,” Senator McConnell said in his statement.
“Since May, the Judiciary Committee has operated flawlessly through a hybrid method that has seen some Senators appear physically at its hearings while other members have participated virtually. The Committee has utilized this format successfully for many months while protecting the health and safety of all involved. Certainly all Republican members of the committee will participate in these important hearings,” he added.
The Senate Majority Leader’s statement comes after Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted on Friday, “We now have two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who have tested positive for COVID, and there may be more. I wish my colleagues well. It is irresponsible and dangerous to move forward with a hearing, and there is absolutely no good reason to do so.”
Schumer vented his frustration again on Saturday after McConnell announced the Judiciary hearings for Judge Barrett will convene as planned: “The decision to recess the Senate for 2 weeks after at least 3 GOP Senators have tested positive for COVID makes clear that the Senate cannot proceed with business as usual If it’s too dangerous to have the Senate in session, it’s too dangerous for committee hearings to continue,” he tweeted Saturday. Continued Below
Senator Mitch McConnell’s statement:
Senate floor proceedings will be postponed until October 19th. The @SenJudiciary confirmation hearings for Judge Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court will convene on October 12th as scheduled by Chairman Graham. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/7ThKZPJBZG
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) October 3, 2020
Senator Chuck Schumer’s tweets:
We now have two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who have tested positive for COVID, and there may be more. I wish my colleagues well.
It is irresponsible and dangerous to move forward with a hearing, and there is absolutely no good reason to do so.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 3, 2020
The decision to recess the Senate for 2 weeks after at least 3 GOP Senators have tested positive for COVID makes clear that the Senate cannot proceed with business as usual
If it’s too dangerous to have the Senate in session, it's too dangerous for committee hearings to continue
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 3, 2020
Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) have tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) chair of the Judiciary Committee, said on Friday that the hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett will occur on October 12 as planned. “…Look[ing] forward to the hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 12. Any Senator who wants to participate virtually will be allowed to do so,” he tweeted.
Like millions of Americans, I'm wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS well regarding their COVID-19 infections. @SenMikeLee informed me today that he expects to be back at the @senjudiciary, fully engaged, by Oct. 12. I talked to Mike today – he's in good spirits and on the mend.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 2, 2020
I feel fine and look forward to the hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Oct. 12.
Any Senator who wants to participate virtually will be allowed to do so.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 2, 2020
