Nancy Pelosi announces she will extend proxy in the House voting until October 1 because of COVID ahead of crucial debates on infrastructure and the budget

Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Friday she was extending proxy voting in the House until October 1 due to concerns about the coronavirus.

The decision, made in consultation with the capital physician, means lawmakers will be able to vote by absence as the House debates the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion budget package that sets the stage for a massive social policy program favored by liberals.  

Lawmakers can vote by proxy simply by signing a letter to the House clerk saying they were 'unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency.' 

Many Republican lawmakers bashed proxy voting even as several of them have used it themselves, notably earlier this summer when about a dozen of them traveled to the border for an event with Donald Trump.

Several GOP lawmakers also filed a lawsuit to try and stop proxy voting - to no avail.  

Democrats, who in general embraced COVID health restrictions more from the start, have used the tool to ensure Pelosi keeps her slim majority vote in the House even when all lawmakers can't be physically present.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is extending proxy voting in the House until October 1 due to concerns about the coronavirus

With proxy voting in hand, Pelosi can ensure all 220 House Democrats vote with her. 

Proxy voting first began in May 2020 in the early days of the pandemic. Pelosi has extended it several times as the pandemic continues.

Nearly three in four House Democrats have voted remotely at least once, according to a July 1 analysis by CNN, and six Democrats had not voted in person since January, including some who have serious health risks. Republican use has been less, but dozens of GOP lawmakers have used it.

Additionally, since its start, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have used it to their advantage - to be able to cast their vote in Washington D.C. while working back home in their district.

In June, outgoing Democratic Rep. Ron Kind used proxy voting so that he could accompany President Joe Biden on a visit through his home state of Wisconsin.

In February, a dozen Republicans, including Matt Gaetz of Florida, used proxy voting while they attended the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida. Many of those GOP lawmakers had criticized Democrats who used proxy voting.

But there are also many members of Congress who use it who are higher risk for COVID, mainly because of age. Of the 435 members of the House, 141 are over the age of 65. 

Lawmakers can request to vote by proxy simply by sending a letter to the House clerk; members of both parties have used that option

The House is scheduled to return the week of August 23. 

The extension of proxy voting comes as two big items - both top priorities of President Biden - loom on the House agenda. 

First is a bipartisan infrastructure bill. The Senate passed the measure - which funds traditional projects like roads and bridges - on Tuesday with 69 votes, including 19 Republicans. 

Now it is in the House.

Additionally, the Senate then approved on Wednesday the $3.5 trillion budget resolution with only Democratic votes.  If the House passes the resolution, it will allow Democrats in both chambers to pass a massive social policy program - including free pre-school, expanded paid family and medical leave, and environmental programs - this fall without fear of a Republican filibuster in the Senate. 

Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have told their committee chairs in their respective chambers to draft the social policy package - also known as reconciliation legislation - by September 15. 

The goal of leadership is to have both bills passed by late September or early October.