In a rare joint message, the Democratic and Republican leaders in the US Congress rejected a proposal from the administration of President Donald Trump for a quick examination of the members of the Senate, with the continuing spread of the Corona virus (Covid-19).
Despite their political rivalry, House Speaker Democrat Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell formulated a joint statement in which they affirmed that "Congress wants to continue to direct resources toward first-line institutions," similar to hospitals.
The 100 members of the Senate are scheduled to return to Washington, to participate in a public session after the parliamentary holiday that started at the end of March and was extended due to the epidemic. The Federal Capital lives in the shadow of a continuous stone until May 15.
For her part, Pelosi indicated that members of Parliament will not return to work at least until next week, according to the recommendations of the institution’s doctor.
The Trump administration announced that mobile test equipment would be sent to the Senate for rapid "Covid-19" examinations, and Trump said on Twitter, the day before yesterday, that there was "a large examination capacity in Washington intended for members of the Senate, including the parliament that should have He returns to work, but he does not do it because of Nancy Pelosi's madness. ”
Pelosi and Mitchell replied to the offer in their letter by saying: "Congress appreciates the administration's generous offer by placing the potential for prompt scrutiny at its disposal, but we refuse to respect this offer now." They added that parliamentarians are now following the directions of the health authorities and the doctor in Congress so that these fast technologies become more available to Americans.
The United States is the country most affected by the emerging coronavirus, with 66,000 deaths, and more than one million and 120,000 out of nearly 330 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University.