Following his recovery from the coronavirus, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to take questions on the pandemic and other issues from members in the House of Commons.
Minority Whip Dick Durbin talked about the impact the Coronavirus is having on minority communities. He called for additional coronavirus legislation and was critical of Senate Republicans.
Senate Majority Whip John Thune and Texas Senator John Cornyn spoke about the ongoing pandemic. Senator Cornyn talked about the impact the virus is having on mental health services. He mentioned the death of Dr. Lorna Breen who committed suicide after treating patients with the virus and then contracted COVID-19.
Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-MD), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), & Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) came to the floor to discuss coronavirus oversight legislation.
Senate Leader Mitch McConnell spoke the Senate agenda and the nomination of Justin Walker to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Senator John Thune talked about National Nurses Week and the ongoing challenges health care workers face during this pandemic. Following his remarks Sen. Ron Wyden spoke in opposition to NCSC director nominee William Evanina, while Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Mark Warner came to the floor and spoke in favor.
Sen. Cory Gardner spoke about the impact the pandemic is having on people and businesses in his state. He paid tribute to some of the first responders in Colorado who lost their lives to the coronavirus. Senator Chris Murphy then discussed the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus. Texas Senator John Cornyn talked about COVID-19 and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Judge Justin Walker to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Throughout the hearing, Democratic members questioned Judge Walker about his judicial experience as well as his past comments criticizing the Supreme Court's 2012 Affordable Care Act decision. In addition, Democratic senators urged the committee to focus on the coronavirus response efforts rather than on judicial nominees. At the st art of the hearing, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced Judge Walker, who currently serves on U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the committee followed social distancing guidelines and many senators participated remotely by video teleconference.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court heard oral argument via teleconference on a case challenging the Trump administration's new rules expanding the number of organizations that can file for religious or moral exemption from the health care law's birth control mandate. Under the Affordable Care Act, contraceptive coverage for women is required of company employee insurance plans. However, nonprofit religious employers can file an accommodation form to be exempt for their religious beliefs. In 2017, under the Trump administration, the Health and Human Services Department issued new rules that expanded the number of entities and organizations that can be exempt. Lawsuits soon followed including the two cases in this consolidated oral argument. The justices have through June to issue a ruling.
The National Constitution Center held a panel discussion following the Supreme Court oral argument in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania. The case challenges the Trump administration's new rules expanding the number of organizations that can file for religious or moral exemption from the health care law's birth control mandate. George Mason University law professor Helen Alvare and ACLU Deputy Legal Director Louise Melling joined the discussion moderated by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court heard oral argument via teleconference on a case challenging a government-debt exception to the robocall ban to cell phones. The 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act bans automated calls to cell phones. There are exceptions though and they include: emergency purposes, prior consent from the party, and calls to collect debt on behalf of the United States. The American Association of Political Consultants Inc. filed suit concerning the last exception pertaining to government calls, saying it violates free speech. The case made its way through the lower courts and now the justices will have the summer to issue a ruling.
The National Constitution Center held a panel discussion following the Supreme Court oral argument in Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants. The case challenges a federal exception that allows automated calls to cell phones in order to collect debt on behalf of the U.S. government. Public Citizen Litigation Group attorney Scott Nelson and Institute for Justice senior attorney Robert McNamara joined the discussion moderated by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen.
Senate Leader Mitch McConnell spoke the Senate agenda and the nomination of Justin Walker to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Senator John Thune talked about National Nurses Week and the ongoing challenges health care workers face during this pandemic. Following his remarks Sen. Ron Wyden spoke in opposition to NCSC director nominee William Evanina, while Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Mark Warner came to the floor and spoke in favor.
Sen. Cory Gardner spoke about the impact the pandemic is having on people and businesses in his state. He paid tribute to some of the first responders in Colorado who lost their lives to the coronavirus. Senator Chris Murphy then discussed the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus. Texas Senator John Cornyn talked about COVID-19 and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) spoke on the floor about immigrant health care workers impacted by President Trump's executive order which ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) spoke on the floor about current immigration laws preventing foreign medical students studying in the U.S. to practice medicine in America for two years after graduating.
