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House again votes to end pandemic emergency declaration

Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar introduced the bill on Jan. 9.

Published: February 1, 2023 6:37pm

Updated: February 1, 2023 10:44pm

The House on Wednesday approved legislation to formally end the COVID-19 national emergency declaration implemented in March of 2020, marking the second such vote this week.

Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar introduced the bill on Jan. 9. Eleven Democrats joined Republicans in backing the measure, per Politico.

"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, pursuant to section 202 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622), the national emergency declared by the finding of the President on March 13, 2020, in Proclamation 9994 (85 Fed. Reg. 15337) is hereby terminated," the bill reads.

Then-President Donald Trump made the declaration in early 2020 as COVID-19 began to sweep the country. The White House has extended the declaration without interruption ever since.

On Tuesday, the House approved the Pandemic is Over Act, which would also mandate the end of the emergency declaration. Neither bill is likely to succeed in the Democratic majority Senate.

The Office of Management and Budget announced earlier this week that the administration would end the declaration on its own accord on May 11.

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