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States Must Be Prepared to Replace Representatives in National Emergency
Speech on House Floor Urges Swift Special Elections if Disaster Occurs
October 2, 2002
Congressman John Linder (R-Georgia) today spoke on the House floor in support of a resolution urging states to ensure their own election laws provide for the swift replacement of Members of Congress in the event of a catastrophic disaster or a national emergency. The bill passed the House with a unanimous 414-0 vote, and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
“September 11th taught us many lessons about the need for enhanced homeland security,” said Linder. “Given that it is widely believed that United Airlines Flight 93 was headed for the U.S. Capitol that Tuesday morning, we can only imagine the damage that would have been done to the Legislative Branch of our Federal government, but for the truly remarkable bravery of Flight 93’s passengers.”
Linder is a co-sponsor of the resolution, H. Res. 559, which asks the 50 States to examine their laws governing special elections and make any necessary changes to fill vacancies in the House swiftly in the case of a catastrophe that results in the death of a significant number of Members. According to Article I of the U.S. Constitution, any vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives must be filled through a special election. Vacancies in the U.S. Senate are filled by gubernatorial appointment.
As chairman of the House Rules Subcommittee on Technology and the House, Linder will play a key role during the 108th Congress in determining how the House’s own Rules might need to be altered to allow the institution to conduct business in the event of a catastrophic disaster. He will work closely with a bipartisan Commission, chaired by Congressmen Chris Cox (R-California) and Martin Frost (D-Texas), to see that the continuity of Congress is ensured. “Nothing less than the future stability of the U.S. Congress, the Federal government’s Legislative Branch, and the rule of law are at stake,” said Linder.
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