House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a move and announced that she is forming a House committee to investigate the Trump admin’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
No one knows how she will do this with the House out of town for the foreseeable future. She also said that it will be bipartisan and if she does not give equal power to the GOP that will be in name only.
“The committee will be empowered to examine all aspects of the federal response to the coronavirus, and to assure that the taxpayer dollars are being wisely and efficiently spent to save lives, deliver relief and benefit our economy,” Pelosi said announcing the move.
NBC reported that House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., will chair a newly formed House select committee, Pelosi said. She din’t detail how many Republicans and Democrats would serve on the committee.
“The panel will weed out waste, fraud and abuse,” Pelosi said. “It will protect against price gouging, profiteering and political favoritism. It will press to ensure that the federal response is based on the best possible science and guided by the nation’s best health experts.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, voiced opposition to the select committee Thursday on a separate press call.
He stated that Congress already wrote oversight provisions into the latest funding package. He also said that he doesn’t support Clyburn serving as the chairman.
McCarthy said Clyburn will seek to use the committee as an opportunity to restructure government and the economy.
The committee will have subpoena power, said Pelosi. But she said the committee should not be viewed as an investigation of the Trump administration, adding she hopes Republicans will cooperate.
The panel will oversee the funding Congress has already approved in three separate packages, including the $2 trillion stimulus bill. The committee would also provide oversight of future funding.