Former President Donald Trump addresses attendees, saying his political journey is "far from over," at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Larry Kudlow, former assistant to Trump for economic policy. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Robert Unanue, owner of Goya Foods. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Trump supporters line up along the street outside the Hyatt Regency Orlando Hotel, which hosted the conference. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
A Trump supporter holds flags outside the hotel. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Vendors sell Trump merchandise outside the hotel. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem addresses attendees on Saturday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Leo Terrell, civil rights attorney and Fox News contributor. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., attends a panel on renewable energy. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Vendors show their Trump-related products and logos at the conference. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
A toy truck, hat and notebook are on display at a vendor's stand at CPAC. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Ric Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Jan Jekielek, senior editor of the Epoch Times and host of "American Thought Leaders," is prepared for video from CPAC. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
A Trump supporter in an Uncle Sam costume speaks in a megaphone outside CPAC. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Trump supporters assemble outside CPAC. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Kimberly Guilfoyle addresses attendees at CPAC on Friday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Donald Trump Jr. speaks. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, addresses attendees on Friday. Cruz's appearance came days after he was castigated for going to Cancun, Mexico, during Texas' winter storm crisis. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Rep. Ted Budd, R-N.C. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
"Uncle Jam" serenades the crowds. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
The stage is prepared for CPAC on Thursday. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
A sound technician monitors audio at CPAC. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Presenters prepare "Media Row" at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
The conference room is prepared for CPAC. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Thirteen House Republicans skipped the House vote on a COVID-19 relief bill and instead attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla.
The representatives filed paperwork Friday to have colleagues cast their votes against the COVID-19 relief bill, citing the ongoing pandemic. But they were actually scheduled to speak at CPAC, CBS News and CNN reported.
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House Democrats passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, which includes $1,400 direct payment stimulus checks, early Saturday morning in a 219-212 vote, despite unanimous Republican opposition.
Some of the House Republicans were slated to address the annual conference for conservative activists Friday, including Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Tedd Budd, R-N.C., Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., and Greg Steube, R-Fla.
Others were slated for Saturday and Sunday remarks, including Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., Mark Green, R-Tenn., Devin Nunes, R-Calif., Mike Kelly, R-Pa., Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas.
"Congressman Issa complied with all House voting rules in lodging his opposition to what the Democrats labeled as COVID relief, but that devoted more than 90% of its total to non-COVID spending," Issa's spokesman, Jonathan Wilcox, said in a statement to CNN.
Cawthorn has previously criticized the vote-by-proxy rule during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Leaders show up no mater how uncertain the times are," Cawthorn tweeted last summer. "The Democrats are cowards for not showing up to work."
Norman told CNN that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi changed the schedule on voting for COVID-19 relief "to interfere with CPAC," but he cited the public health matter as a reason to vote by proxy because it was "the only thing you could check."
"Apparently hypocrisy has become a tenant of the Republican Party," House Rules Chairman Jim McGovern, D-Mass., told CNN. "Let me get this straight: these members can't vote in person because of the pandemic, but they manage to attend CPAC? They were even maskless at this super spreader event. It's outrageous!"