Lawmakers: U.S. lacks terrorism preparation

More than six years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress doesn’t have a viable plan to address continuity concerns if a significant number of members are killed or incapacitated in a similar strike, Reps. Brian Baird (D-Wash.) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) said Thursday.

The two lawmakers are proposing separate constitutional amendments to fix a problem they said is threatening democracy at its core.

{mosads}“Until we act on this, the terrorists know that if they set off a nuclear weapon or other device that incapacitates or kills a large number of members they will create a situation of constitutional ambiguity and government chaos,” Baird said.

Baird’s plan calls for both House and Senate members to provide a hierarchical list of three alternative members in the event that they are unable to serve, creating “full function within 48 hours of a major attack.” The plan is tailored to a catastrophic attack and would be put into place if a “significant number” of members died, were incapacitated or disappeared following a strike.

Some members expressed concern that the plans would appoint an unelected representative.
Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) said he was on the House Administration Committee when the issue was discussed years ago.

“The struggle was with the idea that anyone that has walked through those doors [and onto the House floor] should be elected to Congress,” he said.

Rohrabacher said his amendment addresses that concern, calling for an alternate to be placed on the ballot in the general election. The alternate would serve as an immediate and temporary replacement for a dead or incapacitated member.

Rohrabacher’s plan also would kick in if a single member in either chamber were to die or become incapacitated, he said, using Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), who suffered a brain aneurysm earlier this year, as an example.

Both lawmakers have advocated for years for a swifter continuity plan, but thus far have been unsuccessful.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement, “Providing for the continuity of Congress should a catastrophic event render a critical mass of members unable to serve is a serious issue.”

Baird called for a widely televised joint session of Congress on the matter.

Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.) said he likes Baird’s idea and believes Congress needs a more viable solution to address continuity.

“Jefferson wrote to Madison that the Constitution would be something that each new generation should look at based on the needs of those people at that time,” Davis said.