Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to speak in support of my legislation, the Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act.

At a time when our Nation is facing threats around the world, we cannot afford for those who are critical to America's national security to disappear without explanation and a clear delegation of their responsibilities.

As someone who served in the Armed Forces for nearly 10 years, I was alarmed by reports back in January that those at the highest levels in the chain of command were not informed when Secretary of Defense Austin required an unexpected leave of absence due to health challenges.

For days, essential members of the National Security Council, including the President, were left in the dark regarding his status, causing a serious breach of command and control that is the bedrock of America's defense supremacy.

I am concerned for Secretary Austin's health and wish him well. However, the Department of Defense's lack of transparency surrounding his absence is very concerning.

Critical communication breakdowns like these could have disastrous results and put our men and women in uniform at risk.

To ensure America remains capable of combating threats wherever and whenever they occur, we not only need an unparalleled fighting force but also a strong chain of command among our military's leadership that cannot be compromised.

That is why I introduced the Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act alongside my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Congressman Davis of North Carolina, to prevent any similar chain of command breakdowns in the future and preserve the integrity of our national security.

My bipartisan legislation would amend existing law to require all members of the National Security Council to notify the executive office of the President, the Comptroller General of the United States, and to each Chamber of Congress within 24 hours of any planned or emergent medical incapacitation.

In the event this notification does not occur, a comprehensive report must be submitted providing transparency surrounding the incapacitation and related notification failure within 30 days.

At a time when our servicemembers are facing lethal attacks from our adversaries overseas, my bill will help ensure continuous chain of command so that our military and national defense systems can operate seamlessly in case of an emergency and achieve mission success.

It is my goal in Congress to advance legislation that protects our country, our citizens, and our men and women in uniform.

That is why I drafted this national security bill in a way that all commonsense Members can support, no matter which side of the aisle they are on.

I was pleased when the Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act was passed unanimously out of the House Oversight Committee in February, proving just how nonpartisan this effort is. I thank Congressman Davis of North Carolina for his partnership with me on this critical issue.

The world is a dangerous place. We can't afford a lack of transparency from our senior military leaders. We must preserve the integrity of our national security, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will keep our country and our military men and women safe.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. LaTurner for his excellent introduction. I rise also in support of H.R. 6927, which would amend the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 to require any agency head who is a member of the National Security Council to notify the executive office of the President, GAO, and congressional leadership within 24 hours in the event of medical incapacity.

This bill was brought forth after the hospitalization several months ago of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to treat complications from cancer surgery.

Secretary Austin has taken responsibility for the lack of notification to the President during his hospitalization and has assured the American people that ``there were no gaps in authorities and no risks to the Department's command and control'' during his absence.

A congressional hearing on the topic in February confirmed as much, and a classified review found no ``ill intent'' by the Secretary's staff.

I commend the Biden administration for the swift action it took to conduct a thorough review of current protocols and to ensure that the Office of the President receives all proper notifications. This bill aligns with the Biden administration's efforts in the field.

Consistent with the spirit of transparency embodied in the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which requires congressional leadership to be notified if the President is unable to discharge the duties of his or her office, I agree that Congress should be notified if an agency head who is a member of the NSC is similarly incapacitated.

I support this legislation, I congratulate Secretary Austin on his recovery, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his eloquent remarks, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, we had such a nice bipartisan spirit going. I almost want to bite my tongue, but I do have to respond to the last speaker who took a gratuitous shot at President Biden and the Biden administration, which has moved very quickly to get behind this legislation and to address this gap in the law.

We do need to always establish the chain of command, and we need to know, as the gentleman from Wisconsin was saying, where is the Commander in Chief? Where is the leader?

That was the question everybody was asking on January 6 when this institution, this body, came under brutal, merciless attack by a mob incited by the former President.

Nearly 150 of our police officers were wounded, brutalized, and hospitalized in that attack, and everybody was asking this very question the gentleman from Wisconsin was asking, which is: Where is the Commander in Chief? Where is the leader? Where is the National Guard?

I am sorry to have to make that refutation of the last interjection by the gentleman from Wisconsin. Again, I thank Mr. LaTurner for the bipartisan spirit with which he brings this legislation forward, and I strongly support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6972) to amend title 5, United States Code, to require an Executive agency whose head is a member of the National Security Council to notify the Executive Office of the President, the Comptroller General of the United States, and congressional leadership of such head becoming medically incapacitated within 24 hours, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, like many of you, I was shocked this past February when Congress learned that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was medically incapacitated for days before the President or congressional leaders were made aware.

The lack of transparency set off alarm bells on both sides of the aisle and across the national security community.

We are experiencing crises across the world, crises that require our defense leadership to be alert and ready.

Unfortunately, our defense leadership was not ready earlier this year. Secretary Austin was incapacitated, and no one knew.

In these times, we cannot afford to be caught so unprepared. That is why this bill is an important measure to ensure military readiness.

The Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act requires congressional and Presidential notification when someone who is a member of the National Security Council and is the head of an executive agency becomes medically incapacitated.

Under the bill, the person filling in for the incapacitated official must send the proper notifications within 24 hours of the official's medical incapacitation.

If the proper notifications are not provided, a report detailing why the notification rules were not followed must be sent to Congress, the President, and the Comptroller General within 72 hours. This is a measured and balanced solution to this national security issue.

I thank my colleagues, Representative Kiggans of Virginia and Representative Davis of North Carolina, for their bipartisan work on this important and timely legislation.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Raskin for his comments.

I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. We were so close, Mr. Speaker. So close.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this commonsense government transparency bill to address a relevant national security concern.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Raskin for yielding time.

I rise in support of H.R. 6972, the Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act. As a proud United States Air Force veteran, I join my colleague, Representative Kiggans of Virginia, who also served our country in uniform, to introduce this bipartisan bill.

If we have learned anything from the past several months, it is, indeed, we are in a more dangerous world. As tensions and threats rise across the globe, timely responses are vital to safeguarding the American people and saving lives.

Congress must require National Security Council agencies to provide a notice of the incapacitation of their agency heads within 24 hours. That is reasonable.

This requirement for our Nation's leaders is a minimum expectation to ensure transparency and accountability. The American people deserve nothing less, and I support the legislation.