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:
- More House Republicans are leaving Congress to run for governor than in decades amid frustration over 'toxic environment' - MSN - December 27th, 2025 [December 27th, 2025]
- Republicans weigh second reconciliation bill despite long odds in Congress - Fox Business - December 27th, 2025 [December 27th, 2025]
- Four Republicans join Democrats to force vote on bill that would extend Obamacare subsidies - The Guardian - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- House Republicans pass health care plan without re-upping insurance subsidies - Politico - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Fact-checking Trump's speech and centrist Republicans' health care revolt: Morning Rundown - NBC News - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Obamacares popularity is the Republicans problem - Brookings - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Voters are mad about utility bills. Republicans are blaming some in their own party - CNN - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Another poll shows two Republicans leading governors race. Should CA Dems fret? - Sacramento Bee - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- An Overview of Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Anti-Affordability Measures - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Sarah McBride Lobbied Some Republicans to Vote Against an Anti-Trans Bill - NOTUS News of the United States - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Republicans are trying to change the subject on health care affordability to transgender care - Politico - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- House Republicans Block Vote on ACA Subsidy Extension - The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Here are the 4 Republicans that broke party lines to force health care subsidies vote - LiveNOW from FOX - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson unveils health care plan as divided Republicans scramble for alternative - AP News - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- STATEMENT: Republicans Flee D.C., Leaving Millions to Face the GOPs Health Care Crisis - Protect Our Care - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- "Cash is king": Senate Republicans sound bullish on the Midwest - Axios - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Iowa Republicans vote for health care bill without ACA subsidy renewal - The Des Moines Register - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Four centrist House Republicans join Dems to force vote on extension of health care subsidies - The Lund Report - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- These House Republicans Wont Commit to Running in 2026 - NOTUS News of the United States - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Discussing whether Republicans will extend Obamacare: Thiessen on Fox News Audio's 'Brian Kilmeade Show' - American Enterprise Institute - AEI - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Republicans push mail-in voting for the midterms in defiance of Trump - Politico - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- House Republicans advance sweeping anti-trans bills ahead of holiday break - The 19th News - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Assembly Republicans Mourn the Passing of McCarthy Patrick - Insider NJ - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Republicans Clinch Democrats Bid to Force Vote on ACA Subsidies - The New York Times - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Gov. Walz calls on House Republicans to provide whistleblower fraud tips to DHS, BCA - 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- NEW POLL: Voters See Trump and Republicans Jacking Up Health Care Costs While Democrats Are Fighting to Lower Them - Protect Our Care - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of the last remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, won't seek re-election - NBC News - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Trump speech draws mixed reviews from Connecticut Republicans and Democrats - New Haven Register - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Article | Inside Brendan Carrs tightrope with Republicans - POLITICO Pro - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans push for progress on funding package this week, with another shutdown possible in new year - CBS News - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- Extremely demoralizing: Republicans respond to the bombastic Wiles interview - Politico - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- E&E News: How Republicans saved the SPEED Act from oblivion - POLITICO Pro - December 18th, 2025 [December 18th, 2025]
- House GOP tensions erupt as Republicans turn on each other heading into year's end - Fox News - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Why Both Republicans and Democrats Are Wrong About Health Care - The New York Times - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Why Republicans Are Spreading Lies About the Mass Shooting at Brown - The New Republic - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- More redistricting bad news for Republicans: Texas may not net five GOP seats like they planned - CNN - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Trump on Rob Reiner: Republicans react to president's comment - LiveNOW from FOX - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- House Republicans unveil health care package that does not extend ACA subsidies ahead of next week's vote - ABC News - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Watch live: House Republicans give remarks amid pressure to extend ACA subsidies - thehill.com - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Trumps pardon of Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar leaves local Republicans surprised and disappointed - The Texas Tribune - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- House Republicans propose healthcare plan with no extension of tax credits - The Guardian - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Democrats condemn Republicans calling for Muslim ban on the heels of Australia shooting - The Guardian - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Analysis | Rank-and-file Republicans feel heat from constituents on health care - The Washington Post - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Mad About Trumps Awful Rob Reiner Post. Something Is Changing Here. - Slate - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Here are the Indiana Senate Republicans up for reelection who voted against redistricting - Axios - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- For Republicans, Trumps Hands-Off Approach to Health Care Is a Problem - The New York Times - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Splitting Over Israel. Will Democrats Take Advantage? - The Intercept - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Trump bashed Rob Reiner after his death. Some Republicans are pushing back - Syracuse.com - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- How the Supreme Court Warps This Bedrock Principle of Election Law to Help Republicans Win - Balls and Strikes - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Those 21 Republicans stood up to the rule of law: Brazile on Indiana map rejection - ABC News - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Mark Halperin Reports That College Republicans VP May Have Been Target of Brown University Shooting - Yahoo - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Building a Better Connecticut forum covers affordability, housing - The Monroe Sun - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- House Republicans throw federal labor unions a lifeline in a rare rebuke of Trump - KSLTV.com - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Top Pennsylvania Republicans are projecting relative calm amid 2026 national party panic - Inquirer.com - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- An aspiring neurosurgeon and a student leader of campus Republicans died in the Brown campus shooting - WXXV News 25 - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Offer Rare Criticism of Trump After His Broadside at Rob Reiner - NOTUS News of the United States - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- STATEMENT: As Republicans Run Out the Clock on Open Enrollment, the American People Dont Have Time for Their Health Care Games - Protect Our Care - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Republicans divided over whether to salvage Obamacare or replace it ahead of subsidy deadline - Fox News - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson pleads with Republicans to keep concerns private after tumultuous week - Richmond Times-Dispatch - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Booker Hosts Roundtable with New Jerseyans to Discuss Republicans Refusal To Address Spiking Health Care Costs for NJ Families - Insider NJ - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans have a mess on their hands over health care subsidies - Axios - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- List of House Republicans Pushing to Extend Obamacare Subsidies - Newsweek - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Minnesota Republicans respond to ICE operations, Trump 'garbage' comments - FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- House Republicans urge action to prevent cutoff of SNAP food benefits - WDEL - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans may be staring down a rerun of the disastrous 2018 midterms - The Hill - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans left tribes out of their $50B rural fund. Now its up to states to share. - Alaska Beacon - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Florida Republicans Start Redistricting Talks, but Some Arent in a Rush - The New York Times - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- At the Races: Republicans in revolt? - Roll Call - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans ask the Supreme Court to gut one of the last limits on money in politics - vox.com - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans begin to tighten the screws on Hegseths Pentagon - The Washington Post - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans Had a Plan to Avoid Abortion in 2026. It Just Imploded. - Slate - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Trump pollsters health care advice for Republicans: Pivot to drug prices - Politico - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Article | Trump pollsters health care advice for Republicans: pivot to drug prices - POLITICO Pro - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- How William Hendrix Became Part of a Racist, Antisemitic Group Chat for Young Republicans - The New York Times - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans won the special election in TN - but by a narrower margin than in 2024. A look at how voters changed - WSMV - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Why the Tennessee race deserves a closer look from Republicans - Roll Call - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- At least 11 Indiana Republicans were targeted with threats or swatting attacks amid redistricting pressure from Trump - NBC News - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Trumps Henry Cuellar Pardon Complicates Republicans Messaging Around His Race - NOTUS News of the United States - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans want the Supreme Court to save them from their own inept mistake - vox.com - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans are covering their backsides on the double-tap strike - CNN - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]