Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House - Wittman to Pelosi: Stay in town, work for Americans

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

Today, I write to urge you and the House Leadership to cancel August recess if the House has not addressed the many critical issues facing our Nation and the American people. Also, I would like to offer my full support to working on bipartisan, realistic funding bills, even if the House must convene during late nights, weekends and forgo August recess. Our chamber has major issues affecting the American people that deserve thorough debate and examination. Therefore, I urge you to cancel the August recess and keep members of the House in Washington to do the people's work.

The House has yet to complete consideration of the twelve annual appropriation bills on the floor. Furthermore, the House has additional pressing pieces of legislation that need addressing before it can responsibly send members back to their respective districts, such as a future COVID-19 relief package and the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. With fewer than forty legislative days until the end of 2020, Congress should remain in Washington until this work is complete.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are struggling to make ends meet and facing significant uncertainty about their future. Congress must work on solutions to combat the economic, educational, and health issues resulting from COVID-19. Moreover, protecting the ports and harbors that are the lifeblood of coastal communities has been one of my top priorities, and full consideration of that critical piece of legislation must be had.

I appreciate that district work periods allow members to visit with constituents back in their respective communities, but it has become a habit for Congress to abandon a long "to do" list in the rush to get out of town. But Congress has not done its job. Our constituents expect us to stay and complete the work of the American people. The American people expect Congress to work diligently to pass critical national priorities.

These serious national priorities, especially funding our nation's military and safely getting children back to school are too important to postpone. I ask that you keep the House in session to finish the business of the American people. Furthermore, I ask that you urge the Senate to remain in Washington until the appropriations process and other key pieces of legislation are complete.

Sincerely,

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