Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) issued the following statement in anticipation of the House of Representatives voting this week on H. J. Res 7, legislation introduced by Congressman Gosar to terminate the COVID-19 national emergency declaration:
“I am pleased that the new Republican majority will vote this week to repeal the national emergency declared over COVID-19, requiring the Biden administration to finally end this outdated and abusive order.
Last September, Mr. Biden declared “the pandemic is over,” cases are down, and America has opened back up. This hardly sounds like a country under a national emergency, yet Mr. Biden and Nancy Pelosi repeatedly blocked debate about the merits of extending the COVID-19 national emergency declaration, as required by law, thus handicapping Congress from performing its most basic Constitutional duty: checking the powers of the executive branch.
Mr. Biden even used the national emergency powers to “justify” his bogus student loan forgiveness scheme claiming the COVID-19 pandemic created a hardship that made it difficult to repay college loans. Despite assertions that the pandemic is over, yesterday the Biden Regime issued a Statement of Administration Policy opposing H. J. Res 7, promising to veto the legislation that has garnered bi-partisan support.
Mr. Biden’s unwillingness to let go of power and force Americans to live under extreme measures depriving us of our freedoms is the mark of a tyrant. It’s time to end this emergency declaration now,” concluded Congressman Gosar.
Jessica Anderson, Executive Director for Heritage Action for America, added: “Since taking office, the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress have used COVID 'compliance' to further send the country into crippling debt, pass unrelated partisan priorities, and pay American workers to stay home. This week, conservatives in the House are set to pass a series of measures that will end both the national emergency and public health emergency declarations, repeal the federal vaccine mandate for health care employees, and finally send federal employees back to work.”
Rick Manning, President of Americans for Limited Government, stated: “This week, the House of Representatives will be voting on two pieces of legislation by U.S. Representatives Paul Gosar and Brett Guthrie to end the 2020 presidential declaration under the National Emergencies Act and by the Department of Health and Human Services for the Covid pandemic. The fact is, the virus is much less deadly than it was in 2020. When the pandemic began, estimated cases peaked in March 2020 at 157,000 per day, and then daily fatalities peaked by April 17 at 2,328 daily, about a 1.47 percent fatality rate, according to IHME. Today, fatalities in the U.S. reached about 645 daily deaths on Jan. 11, out of 1.7 million peak daily new cases from December, a 0.037 percent fatality rate. Americans for Limited Government praises House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar and Brett Guthrie for offering legislation that will bring an end to the official Covid emergency, long after the actual emergency has passed. The pandemic is over, and it is time Congress said so.”
Background:
The National Emergencies Act (NEA) was passed in 1974 to reign in presidential emergency powers which are activated when a formal emergency is declared. On March 13, 2020, President Trump rightfully declared a national emergency concerning COVID-19. Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi have since repeatedly blocked debate about the merits of the extended declaration, as required by law. A provision in the NEA requires Congress to review termination of national emergencies, stating that after six months, and every six months after the emergency continues, Congress must meet to consider a resolution of termination. In the 117th Congress Congressman Gosar introduced multiple resolutions, including H.J.Res.46, to require Congress to debate the merits of the continued emergency declaration. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi changed the rules of the entire House to prevent members of Congress from considering the resolution. Congressman Gosar introduced a petition in an attempt to force consideration of H.J. Res. 46 in the 117th Congress, garnering 132 Republican signers. Companion legislation recently passed the Senate with overwhelming bi-partisan support, 61-37.
H.J.Res. 7 is subject to expedited procedures in the 118th Congress. Federal law and new House Rules require Congress to expeditiously debate H.J.Res 7 and whether the COVID-19 national emergency declaration shall be terminated.
To date, there are 64 co-sponsors in the United States House of Representatives and H. J. Res 7 has received support from the following organizations:
- FreedomWorks
- Heritage Action for America
- Club for Growth
- Competitive Enterprise Institute
- Americans for Limited Government
- Advancing American Freedom
- National Association for Gun Rights
- Less Government
- America First Legal
