U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne was one of 40 House members – and the only one from Alabama -- to vote against an early morning coronavirus relief package.

Byrne, in a statement, chastised the process by saying it was “no way to govern” because the bill was forced “in the dead of the night. The legislation was approved by a 363-40 vote shortly after midnight. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration and possible final approval.

“While it is critical that we continue to take actions to address the coronavirus, we should do it thoughtfully and responsibly,” said Byrne, a Republican who represents Alabama’s 1st congressional district that includes Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe, Washington and parts of Clarke County.

We need calm and steady leadership to address the coronavirus, not @SpeakerPelosi rushing bills that we have not read or vetted through Congress in the dead of night. The American people deserve better.https://t.co/02A4RFXrFE — Rep. Bradley Byrne (@RepByrne) March 14, 2020

Byrne said the bill contained “110” pages requesting that “billions of dollars” be spent, and mandates on small businesses. He said the vote occurred “26 minutes after” he received the text of the bill.

The bill was bipartisan and received the backing of President Donald Trump late Friday night. The president congratulated the bill’s passage, calling it “good teamwork” between Republicans and Democrats.

Good teamwork between Republicans & Democrats as the House passes the big CoronaVirus Relief Bill. People really pulled together. Nice to see! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 14, 2020

Said Byrne, “I appreciate the Trump Administration working to greatly improve this bill over what was proposed by Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi. I hope that the Senate next week will engage in the due diligence that House Democrats were unwilling to do.”

The Senate is expected to take up the measure next week. Senators are expected to be in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Five Alabama lawmakers – four Republicans and one Democrat – voted in support of the bill: Reps. Mo Brooks, Robert Aderholt, Martha Roby, Gary Palmer and Terri Sewell.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, was one of 26 lawmakers who did not vote.

Sewell, Alabama’s lone Democratic representative in the House, praised the legislation for containing “critical” provisions such as access to testing to prevent the spread of a virus that so far includes around 2,300 confirmed cases in the U.S. and 50 deaths. Alabama, as of Friday, confirmed six cases of coronavirus.

The World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic on Wednesday. Trump declared a national emergency on Friday, followed up by states – including Alabama – declaring their own emergencies. Alabama’s K-12 public schools will close for two and a half weeks starting at the end of the school day on Wednesday.

Sewell praised the House measure for including free virus testing for people who lack insurance. She was one of the lawmakers introducing the no cost COVID19 testing on Tuesday.

“Controlling the coronavirus crisis is a matter of pubic health and safety and it’s containment is dependent upon whether we make coronavirus test kits readily available at no cost, regardless of health insurance coverage,” Sewell said in a statement earlier in the week. “Free testing will not only help Alabamians get diagnosed, but also ensure that if they are infected, they can take the necessary precautions to help contain the spread of the disease.”

The legislation also includes 14 paid sick days for employees, as well as up to three months of paid family and medical leave throughout the coronavirus outbreak. Small and mid-sized employers will be reimbursed through tax credits.

It also included boosting programs providing food for children, the elderly and to food banks. The agreement provides $500 million to women, infants and children nutrition programs, and eliminates work requirements on the food stamp programs.

The package also includes increased federal funds for Medicaid as states face increasing costs.

The House approval capped off what had been described as frantic and hard-fought negotiations involving Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, among others.

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