Dear Friend,

Any day now, members of Congress could be forced into quarantine, leaving
Donald Trump in power with NO congressional oversight.^1

This is not a drill: As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the country, we’ve
never needed Congressional oversight more. Our legislators are the only
ones looking out for the working people and passing bills to provide
health care and economic support, while Trump pumps money into Wall Street
and the oil industry.

Congress needs to pass emergency legislation NOW to allow lawmakers to
vote and deliberate by teleconference. Without it, we will be left in the
middle of a pandemic with a full-blown crisis of democracy.

[ [link removed] ]Will you donate to help Demand Progress call on Congress to pass
emergency powers to legislate remotely?

Although the technology to telecommute and conference remotely has existed
for decades, Congress and most state legislatures are behind the times.
Congressional rules dictate that legislators must convene in person to
pass any legislation, whether during an emergency or not.^2

This is a system designed for failure during the coronavirus pandemic.

We’re already seeing the worst-case scenario overseas. 10% of the Iranian
Parliament has tested positive for the coronavirus, and two members have
died. The European Parliament was forced to shut down in Strasbourg. And
at home, two New York lawmakers have already contracted the virus. Many
members of Congress have been exposed.^3

Half of the Senate and one-quarter of the House is over age 65, a risk
factor for serious complications or death from coronavirus, and the CDC
has recommended gatherings of less than ten people.^4 A quarantine is
imminent.

We have the technology to allow Congress to conduct its business remotely
and publicly, through services like Zoom. But if Congress doesn’t act now,
the consequences will be dire.

The national budget will be up for debate in the summer, and the
government will shut down without a new one. Congress needs to pass
emergency coronavirus bills and ensure that people are getting the
supplies and care they need. And we have an election approaching that we
could need to adjust the rules for, like implementing vote-by-mail, if
participation is affected by the pandemic.

The Supreme Court has already shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak.^5
Without new procedures in place, the country will be left with no
legislative branch, either—just Donald Trump and his out-of-control
executive orders.

Demand Progress has mobilized a high-alert campaign to pressure Congress
to pass an emergency bill allowing lawmakers to legislate through
teleconference for the duration of the pandemic. We are testifying in
Congress, publishing an alert in news outlets, and rallying grassroots
pressure to get this done immediately.

[ [link removed] ]The window to preserve our democracy is closing—we have to act now.
Will you rush an emergency donation today?

Thanks for standing with us.

Robert Cruickshank,
Demand Progress

[ [link removed] ]DONATE

Sources:

1. Common Dreams, "As Lawmakers Fall Ill, Congress and State Legislatures
Must Enact Continuity Plans," [ [link removed] ]March 16, 2020
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
4. Quorum, "How Old is Congress?," [ [link removed] ]accessed March 17, 2020
5. CNBC, "Supreme Court postpones arguments because of coronavirus, citing
Spanish flu precedent," [ [link removed] ]March 16, 2020
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