House Majority Leader: It’s time for a ‘virtual Congress’ during coronavirus

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters on Wednesday that it's time for Congress to implement a plan to conduct its operations virtually during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are meeting virtually in every way except in acting either in committee or on the floor. We intend to reach that objective. We want to do it with assurance and fairness to every member who participates – the Republicans, the Democrats, witnesses, the administration," the Maryland Democrat said on a conference call with reporters. "We must provide a way to move forward effectively on behalf of the Constitution and the American people."

Hoyer said a "virtual Congress" is necessary in emergencies and the legislative branch must continue to operate given that it serves as a "check and balance" on the executive branch. He added that committee action and votes on legislation each should now be done virtually.

"We want to do nothing other than have the Congress act as it's acting now and hasn't acted historically but now because of the pandemic and health risks needs to conduct its business virtually," Hoyer said. "I'm still working on achieving bipartisan agreement on how those hearings will be held honoring the traditions of the House, honoring the requirement of fair hearings, fair votings, fair participation by Democrats and Republicans."

Hoyer argued that President Trump would like to see Congress "sidelined" during the pandemic. He referred to Trump's opposition to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci testifying before the House.

Trump has in fact repeatedly called on Congress to return to work, even vowing to use executive branch to get members to return to Capitol Hill during the coronavirus pandemic.

Fauci will testify next week before the Republican-led Senate.

"We're not going to allow the Congress to be sidelined," Hoyer said. "Certainly the president of the United States would like to see that. He's refusing to allow witnesses to come to the House of Representatives because he perceives the House of Representatives as a hostile body. He was more colorful: 'a bunch of Trump haters,' he called us."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has raised security concerns about the House operating virtually.

"The House averages 1.6 billion unauthorized scans, probes, and malicious attempted network cyber-connections per month," McCarthy wrote on Tuesday.

Hoyer downplayed potential security issue with remote operations. 

"Rarely do we act in secret," he said. "But when we do, and that's required, we can make special provisions for that. But frankly committee hearings are open to the public. Markups are open to the public. Voting is open to the public. There's nothing secret about any of that."

Hoyer said fellow House Democrats also think a virtual Congress is needed right now.

"We think that's appropriate and that it's possible while maintaining full respect with how the Constitution expected the Congress to work," he said.