House Approves Sensenbrenner-Dreier Continuity Legislation

April 22, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation that provides for special elections in the event of mass vacancies and protects the integrity of the U.S. House as the only truly elected body in the federal government. The Continuity in Representation Act, H.R. 2844, was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support, 306-97.

"The House has always been the 'people's House' because the Constitution requires that it 'be composed of Members CHOSEN every second year BY THE PEOPLE," Dreier said. "The strength of this bill is that it continues the over 216-year practice of every person serving in the House of Representatives being elected. No other part of the United States Government can say that. In the event of a catastrophe, if House Members are not elected, it is conceivable that an appointed President and an appointed Senate and an appointed House could be making crucial decisions for our democracy. That concerns me."

H.R. 2844 is part of the response by the House to assure the American people that their government will continue in the face of any catastrophe. If more than 100 Members are killed, the Speaker may announce "exceptional circumstances" exist and thereby trigger expedited special elections in affected districts which must occur within 45 days. The bill seeks to preserve the fully elected nature of the House, which remains the only body in the Federal government to which its Members must be elected. The Constitution, Art. 1, Section 4, specifically authorizes the Congress by law to set the parameters for the election of Members.

Dreier noted that the recent recall election held in California demonstrated that large elections can indeed be held under severe time constraints and with minimal complication. "Some people have expressed concerns that the 45-day time frame for special elections in the bill is too short. I would point them to our recent experience in California. That election saw a field of not 2 or 3 candidates in a district of 650,000 people, like most of our House elections. Rather, it saw a field of 135 candidates running to represent over 34 million people. That elections went off without a hitch in just 55 days."

Dreier congratulated Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) for his work on the issue. Dreier and Sensenbrenner were the original co-sponsors of the legislation.