(CNSNews.com) - As she threw the floor open to questions at her regular Thursday news conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pulled out a tissue and wiped her nose.
The otherwise unremarkable act came at a remarkable time: She had just finished plugging the Democrats' "Families First" legislation, intended to respond to Americans who may face hardship as the coronavirus spreads, closing some schools and workplaces.
"We are here to pass a bill," Pelosi said.
"When we pass a bill, we will make a judgment about what comes next and we will see the manner in which the bill is passed. I'm not giving any travel arrangements."
Congress is scheduled to be in recess next week, but that may change if the emergency bill gets bogged down. Pelosi said the House will take it one step at a time.
The bill includes "free coronavirus testing by and large for almost everyone in the country," Pelosi said. "We're having some discussion about that with the administration that maybe some people want to pay." She said no one will be denied a test because they can't afford it.
At the end of her news conference, Pelosi said she was off to a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon with the Irish Prime Minister and other members of Congress. She said she told the Irish PM in advance that they wouldn’t shake hands – they’d elbow-bump instead.