[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11256-11257]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   ENSURING CONTINUITY OF LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS DURING AN EMERGENCY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to announce introduction of 
H.R. 5007, a bill to authorize the National Academy of Sciences and the 
Librarian of Congress to conduct a study on the feasibility and costs 
of implementing an emergency electronic communications system for 
Congress to ensure the continuity of legislative operations during an 
emergency.
  Let me first express my most sincere gratitude to a man who 
illustrates the power of responsible, effective leadership, a man who 
made today possible and whom I am so proud to call my

[[Page 11257]]

close friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney). The Chairman has 
devoted an immense amount of time to this issue of congressional 
continuity. He has led this House through one of the most difficult 
times in our history and has done so with great dignity. I honestly 
cannot thank him enough for his dedication and hard work in joining me 
in introducing H.R. 5007.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the 
ranking member of the Committee on House Administration. He has 
provided the same kind of leadership, wisdom, and guidance in moving 
this issue through the legislative process. He has worked closely with 
me ever since I introduced legislation to investigate alternatives in 
conducting congressional business in the United States Capitol and 
surrounding areas if there was a future attack or disaster. I would 
like to thank him for his support and commitment throughout this 
process.
  Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues know that for months now I have 
promoted the establishment of an electronic communications system for 
an emergency situation. When I introduced the Ensuring Congressional 
Security and Continuity Act last year, I wanted to spur some meaningful 
dialogue among Members on what we need to do to prepare for what was 
once an unthinkable but now, according to our own Vice President, is 
inevitable. I am pleased to report that the dialogue has indeed begun.
  On February 28, the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on 
the Constitution began this dialogue with a hearing on how to replace 
Members if a significant number were killed or incapacitated in an 
attack. My good friend, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), has 
introduced some insightful legislation to address this very issue.
  On May 1, I was proud to see the Committee on House Administration 
hold a hearing on my proposal and the various issues surrounding the 
use of technology to conduct congressional operations in an emergency 
situation.
  On May 16, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Frost) brought together chairmen, ranking members, and 
other leaders in this area to discuss congressional continuity issues. 
Since then, the Cox-Frost team has continued to study this issue in a 
bipartisan and thorough fashion.
  September 11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks on our congressional 
offices exposed just how vulnerable we are, particularly because we are 
centrally located. While none of us wants to think about or face our 
mortality, especially at the hands of terrorists, we have to recognize 
that it could happen. It is our duty as Members of Congress to ensure 
this country remains safe and we leave the American public with a 
system that ensures our freedom and democracy will prevail over any 
catastrophe.
  Mr. Speaker, today we can do just that by passing H.R. 5007. I urge 
the leadership to bring this bill to the floor as expediently as 
possible. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), 
the chairman; the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the ranking 
member; and their staffs for working with me to meet this objective.

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