Both chambers of Congress will remain on recess later than scheduled, returning no earlier than May 4, lawmakers said on Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced the upper chamber would add two weeks to its current recess in a Tuesday note to fellow senators, then in a press release. His announcement follows a similar message from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Monday.
The goal is to continue social distancing and combat the spread of the respiratory disease COVID-19, the lawmakers said. Congress was originally scheduled to return from recess April 20.
“As the country continues working together to flatten the curve, following the advice of health experts, the full Senate is not expected to travel back to Washington D.C. sooner than Monday, May 4th,” McConnell said in the release. Senators would be given 24 hours’ notice before being required to return for a regular session.
Any pending nominations will now be extended until at least May 4 as a result.
The leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees have recently told reporters they plan to mark up the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the end of May. The annual defense policy bill covers the National Nuclear Security Administration, and most of the work done by the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management office. However, lawmakers acknowledge that schedules remain fluid and are dependent upon health guidelines issued by federal, state, and local government officials.
This story first appeared in Weapons Complex Morning Briefing affiliate publication Defense Daily.
