These Are the 40 Republicans Who Voted Against the ‘Families First’ Coronavirus Response Bill – Newsweek
Republican and Democratic representatives came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the early hours of Saturday morning to provide relief to American workers and families in the face of the growing coronavirus crisis.
If passed by Senate and signed into law by President Donald Trump, who has expressed support for the bill, the Families First CoronaVirus Response Act would ensure provisions for paid emergency leave for those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as free testing for those who need it.
But while 363 participating Democrats and Republicans voted in favor of the measure, 40 Republican representatives stood against it, voting "nay" on its passage, while Independent Justin Amash voted "present."
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While representatives from both sides of the aisle have agreed that the coronavirus outbreak demands an urgent response from lawmakers, many Republicans who voted against the package said they did so because they felt they were not afforded sufficient time to review the bill.
In a statement published online, GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona said she was unable to support the bill given the lack of time representatives had been given to review it.
"I could not in good conscience vote for a 100-plus page bill that neither I nor my staff had an opportunity to read or review," she said. "Voting on a multibillion-dollar piece of legislation less than 30 minutes after being introduced is no way to conduct the People's businessespecially after reports that small businesses and hospitals could be negatively impacted."
"The United States Congress should not have to pass a bill to find out what is in it," Lesko said. "We all want to help Americans as we face the spread of coronavirus, but this complete rush job is not the way to do it."
In a separate statement published online and shared with Newsweek, Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama also attributed his refusal to support the bill to being given insufficient time to review it.
"Tonight, I was asked to vote on a 110 page bill that spends billions of dollars and contains numerous mandates on small businesses only 26 minutes after receiving the text," he said. "Although I agree with many of the provisions in this legislation, this is no way to govern.
"We should be sending a message of calm and steady leadership in the face of this crisis, not forcing through bills in the dead of night," the representative said. "While it is critical that we continue to take actions to address the coronavirus, we should do it thoughtfully and responsibly. For that reason, I reluctantly voted no.
"I appreciate the Trump Administration working to greatly improve this bill over what was proposed by Speaker Pelosi," Byrne said. "I hope that the Senate next week will engage in the due diligence that House Democrats were unwilling to do."
The three representatives were not alone in refusing to support the bipartisan bill.
Below is a full list of the 40 representatives, who are all Republican, who voted against the measure:
- Republicans have only 5 weeks to save their House majority - The Hill - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Trump Has Glossed Over High Prices. Republicans Worry It Will Cost Them. - The Wall Street Journal - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Trump factor: Two Iowa Republicans respond to whether Donald Trump will endorse them - KTIV Siouxland's News Channel - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Jeffries accuses Republicans of walking away from government funding talks - The Hill - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans new Medicaid arguments: Theyre only cutting waste, fraud, and abuse - STAT - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans should reform Social Security. Do they have the stomach for it? | Opinion - USA TODAY - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Republicans are too busy telling jokes to care about Americans losing jobs | Opinion - USA TODAY - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Pennsylvania Republicans who narrowly won their House seats feel the heat of early votes back home - The Associated Press - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- "It could be trouble": Republicans fear their big budget win is actually a 2026 time bomb - Axios - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Opinion | Republicans Need to Learn Government Unions Cant Be Trusted - The Wall Street Journal - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- How Democrats, Republicans Reacted To Trump-Zelensky Clash - NDTV - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Republicans don't care about fixing the economy. Americans need them to start. | Opinion - USA TODAY - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Republicans and Elon Musk Are Also Causing a Constitutional Crisis in the States - Mother Jones - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Some Republicans fear Medicaid cuts could cost them their jobs - The Washington Post - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Opinion | House Republicans are betting big on pain - MSNBC - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans voice DOGE concerns in meeting with White House chief of staff - NBC News - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- House Republicans hit the brakes on town halls after blowback over Trump's cuts - NBC News - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- In uproar over low test scores, Republicans try to shift blame to DEI, social emotional learning - Maine Morning Star - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Budget plan: Long and extremely divisive process ahead for Republicans - The College of Arts & Sciences - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Eyeing a friendly Supreme Court, Republicans in Georgia and other states push for the Ten Commandments in schools - WABE 90.1 FM - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Congressional Republicans Budget Plans Would Force Americas Working Class To Foot the Bill for Tax Cuts for the Wealthy - Center For American Progress - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Now Trapped by Their Own Budget - Newsweek - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Majority of Republicans nationally identify as MAGA for first time in Unity Poll - Vanderbilt University News - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Republicans Once Wanted Government out of Health Care. Trump Voters See It Differently. - Kaiser Health News - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Rep. Fredericks Statement on U.S. House Republicans Budget - Minnesota House of Representatives - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Poll: Majority of MD Republicans, independents have considered leaving the state - wmar2news.com - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Analysis | Republicans could be touching the third rail on Medicaid - The Washington Post - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Republicans press House leadership for help as they face pressure over DOGE cuts at home - CNN - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Trumps firing of military brass prompts concern but little pushback from Republicans - The Associated Press - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Some Republicans Sharply Criticize Trumps Embrace of Russia at the U.N. - The New York Times - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- Republicans who got an earful from constituents have message for Trump and DOGE - ABC News - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- House Republicans Vote to Gut Medicaid for Tax Cuts After Pressure From Trump - Truthout - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- House Republicans press ahead with budget vote amid revolt - Axios - February 27th, 2025 [February 27th, 2025]
- After heated town halls, Republicans seek more information and compassion from DOGE - NBC News - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Stefaniks Confirmation Is on Ice as Republicans Guard Their Scant Majority - The New York Times - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- House Republicans unfazed by protests: Were moving forward with the cuts - POLITICO - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- The few Republicans who still oppose Trump gather in search of a path to oppose him - The Associated Press - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Republicans idolize DOGEs Gen Z techies: The young guns are taking over the country for the better - Fortune - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Dems are preparing to blast Republicans on health care. It worked in 2018. - POLITICO - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- House Republicans face headwinds as they seek to pass budget for Trump's agenda - NBC News - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- House Republicans Plan to Renew Effort to Expand Trial Courts - Bloomberg Law - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- At town halls, Republicans feel the heat from Trump and Musk's firing and cutting spree - NBC News - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Opinion | Trump and state Republicans are giving liberal residents the blues - The Washington Post - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Brooks and Capehart on Republicans facing backlash over federal cuts - PBS NewsHour - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- North Carolina Republicans are Trying to Throw Out College Students Votes to Steal an Election - Teen Vogue - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- House Republicans ready to roll the dice on budget blueprint - Roll Call - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Republicans put the sick in sycophancy as they compete to fawn over Trump - The Guardian US - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Some Republicans shrug off DOGE protests and town halls - Axios - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Republicans condemn Gov. Evers bill for changing mother to inseminated person - WMTV - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- US Senate Republicans push to pass border bill without Trump tax cuts - Voice of America - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- As Trump Turns Toward Russia and Against Ukraine, Republicans Are Mum - The New York Times - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- California Assembly Republicans attempt to force vote on bill to address 'hidden gas tax' - ABC10.com KXTV - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Republicans Face Backlash, and the Dangers of Fake A.I. Therapists - The New York Times - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- In window before special election, House Republicans push for votes on their agenda - MPR News - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Its a race for NJ governor, but Republicans want to focus on immigration - POLITICO - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Live updates: Musk calls for judge impeachment; Republicans aim to hammer out Trump's budget bill - The Hill - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Republicans race to release plans to advance Trump policy agenda in Congress - NPR - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Americans, including Republicans, now fear higher inflation this year - CNN - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- How Republicans won on DEI and wrestled the topic from Democrats - The Independent - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans advance bill to ban use of student IDs when voting - WFYI - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Republicans in Congress mostly shrug as Musk and DOGE set sights on spending - NPR - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Republicans say they are nearing deal on Trump's tax cuts, divided on cost - Reuters - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans release budget blueprint ahead of Wednesday markup - POLITICO - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Oregon Republicans respond to Trump order on trans athletes by touting state legislation - Oregon Public Broadcasting - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- With US House stymied, Senate Republicans prepare to move on Trump agenda - Reuters - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Georgia Republicans advance bill to make Atlanta let the Fulton County sheriff use its jail - The Associated Press - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- With House Republicans stuck, Senate pushes ahead with its plan to fund Trump's agenda - ABC News - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Republicans insist they could eventually restrain Trump and Musk - Semafor - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Andy Ogles and Mike Lee, congressional Republicans, introduce bill to repeal D.C.'s home rule - Washington Times - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Trump details his tax agenda in meeting of House Republicans - POLITICO - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- How the White House convinced skeptical Republicans to back RFK Jr., Gabbard and Hegseth - CNN - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING THE BIDDING OF AN UNELECTED, OUT-OF-CONTROL BILLIONAIRE PUPPET MASTER Congressman Hakeem Jeffries -... - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- OUR VIEW: Find your courage, Republicans. Trump is president, not the 'Wizard of Oz' - Madison.com - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Republicans Break With Trump On Proposed Gaza TakeoverHeres What To Know - Forbes - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Republicans conflicted on Trumps pitch to own Gaza: I thought we voted for America First - The Guardian US - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- House Republicans to work through weekend on budget package - Roll Call - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans insist Elon Musk isn't in charge after whirlwind actions - ABC News - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- DeSantis goes to battle with Florida Republicans in trying to get closer to Trump - The Associated Press - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Registered Republicans lead Democrats in Nevada for the first time in 20 years - The Associated Press - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- US House Republicans divided over how to pay for Trump's tax cuts - Reuters - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]