WASHINGTON – Votes on a series of spending items from President Joe Biden’s political calendar have been delayed in Congress due to the relentless COVID-19 outbreak.
The commander-in-chief himself tested positive for the highly transmissible omicron BA. 5 variant last Thursday. Several lawmakers across the aisle have also taken charge of the virus in recent days.
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Due to forced isolation, key laws such as the CHIPS Act (to particularly speed up semiconductor production in the United States) and a bill for marriage equality were delayed in Congress before the August recess. And who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks? Here’s what you want to know:
At least five lawmakers have been tested for COVID-19 in recent days. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, showed her diagnosis in a July 25 message on Twitter.
“I will adhere to the doctors’ recommendation and guidance and will be quarantined at home in Alaska while I perform my jobs remotely,” Murkowski wrote. He campaigned to retain his Senate seat.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin tested positive on July 25. Manchin, a Democrat, said on Twitter that he would “isolate himself and abide by CDC rules while continuing to paint remotely to serve the other people of West Virginia. “
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. , said she hoped to return to service “as soon as possible” in a social media post about her COVID-19 diagnosis on July 20. Smith said he was experiencing “mild symptoms” and followed CDC guidelines.
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del. , tested positive for COVID-19 in a weekly test, according to an article posted on Twitter on July 21. . “
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. , was also tested on July 21, according to an update on social media. Connolly said he “had very mild symptoms and would isolate himself. “
The Creating Useful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for the United States Act, or CHIPS, introduced in the House through Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, in June 2020. It would provide $52 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to domestic chipmakers to reduce their dependence. in chips imported from Asian countries and compete with China in the semiconductor race.
The Senate voted Wednesday to pass the CHIPS Act, despite reluctance from some Republicans because of maximum subsidies, but it has yet to pass the House.
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The House voted 267-157 last week to pass the Respect Marriage Act, which codifies the right to marriage regardless of sexual orientation. Jerry Nadler, D-N. Y. , the bill’s sponsor, in the House on July 18.
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The bill’s approval was motivated by fears that the Supreme Court would oppose its 2015 ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas challenged the ruling in his concurring opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson, who annulled Roe v. Wade and a constitutional right to abortion.
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So far, no competing positions have been filed in the Senate. And since it takes 60 votes under Senate regulations to introduce legislation, a Senate vote on the marriage bill would likely have to wait until more senators can get back to work.
Senators set a date for voting on the bill.
Contact Chelsey Cox on Twitter at @therealco.