Republicans are seeking to put off for a few days their effort to censure House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff to subpoena top DHS official, alleges whistleblower deposition is being stonewalled Schiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power MORE (D-Calif.) following the death of longtime Rep. Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md.), the head of the powerful House Oversight and Reform Committee.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who is leading the censure effort against Schiff, had introduced a measure Wednesday that would allow the minority party to force a vote and bring the resolution to the floor by Thursday.

But Biggs wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.) on Thursday to request that the vote on his privileged resolution instead be taken up on Monday, out of respect for their late colleague and those close to him.

Cummings died Thursday at the age of 68.

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“I am deeply saddened at the passing of our colleague, Chairman Elijah Cummings. He was a fierce advocate for what he believed in. I express condolences to his family and colleagues,” Biggs wrote.

“Out of respect to him and his family, I instructed my staff to work with your staff, and the staff of the Minority Leader. I do not wish to intrude on the grief felt by his colleagues today by proceeding with a floor vote of my motion to censure Adam Schiff,” he added.

Biggs requested that Pelosi guarantee a floor vote before the end of Monday’s 6:30 p.m. vote series, when he would be required to reintroduce the measure.

The House conservative leader also criticized Democrats for continuing with a planned hearing Thursday as part of their impeachment probe into President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE.

Biggs called it "questionable" that the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees would continue with a joint hearing behind closed doors.

"It seems grossly inconsistent to minimize floor activity today and tomorrow, and to delay a vote on my resolution while all committees proceed as if nothing happened,” Biggs wrote.

“It is unseemly that Chairman Cummings' own committee is proceeding on the day of his passing while H.Res. 630 is not going to receive a floor vote," he added, referring to his bill.

Biggs went on to blast Schiff for opting not to postpone Thursday's hearing, arguing lawmakers should have been provided time to grieve.

Schiff, Pelosi and other Democratic leaders issued statements and tweets earlier in the day Thursday remembering Cummings, who became a key player in the House impeachment investigation and battled the Trump administration on various issues.

Elijah Cummings was the heart and soul of our caucus, a dignified leader with a voice that could move mountains.



He was our moral and ethical North Star. Now we will be guided by his powerful memory and incomparable legacy.



Rest In Peace, my friend. — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) October 17, 2019

“I am prepared, and frankly, sanguine with the agreement to hold the vote on H.Res. 630 Monday evening,” Biggs wrote Thursday.

“Nevertheless, it is terribly disrespectful that Chairman Schiff could not find a warm spot in his heart to delay his rush to impeach the President for even a single day so that we might all reflect on Chairman Cummings, his life, and things that are bigger than any of us," he wrote.

Biggs's resolution aiming to censure Schiff faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled House, though it has garnered more than 140 GOP co-sponsors, including the support of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyHouse to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Ginsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins MORE (R-Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseGinsburg becomes the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol House GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections MORE (R-La.) and GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power Graham vows GOP will accept election results after Trump comments Liz Cheney promises peaceful transfer of power: 'Fundamental to the survival of our Republic' MORE (R-Wyo.).

The measure is aimed at formally condemning Schiff for using "parody" when recounting details of Trump's call with the leader of Ukraine and for the chairman's remarks stating the committee did not have any prior contact with an intelligence community whistleblower prior to the submission of their complaint that sparked the impeachment inquiry, a comment that Schiff later walked back.

Schiff has defended his exaggerated recounting of Trump’s conversation with the president of Ukraine, arguing his comments during his opening statement at a televised hearing last month were made partially in jest.