Congress will return to Washington, D.C. next week. Although both chambers already have items on their respective agendas before the August recess begins, another phase of COVID-19 response legislation is expected to be considered. If text exists, few have seen it. Like the previous COVID-19 responses from Congress, the process is entirely controlled by congressional leadership.

On Friday, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) sent a letter with 20 of his colleagues to President Trump urging him to oppose any additional coronavirus relief packages while our country awaits the full impact of the last three phases, including the most recent $2.3 Trillion CARES Act. Among the signers of the letter are Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), renowned budget hawk Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), and others.

Only a few days after Congress passed a massive $2.3 trillion bill, the CARES Act, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, some in Congress are already eyeing a “Phase IV” bill as a vehicle for their pet legislative priorities that have nothing to do with the pandemic. As we learned last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was more than willing to use this crisis to shill for leftist policies, but it’s becoming a bipartisan problem.