Constitutional Amendment to Address "Mass Casualty" Event, Aiming to Rapidly Replace House Members and Ensure Government Continuity
U.S. lawmakers are proposing a new constitutional amendment to prepare for a potential "mass casualty" event that could incapacitate a large number of House representatives, disrupting the function of the federal government.
The bipartisan group, including Reps. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), William Timmons (R-S.C.), and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), aims to create a system for rapidly replacing House members should at least 100 seats become vacant, as might occur during a significant terror attack or other catastrophic event entry.
Currently, House vacancies are filled by special elections, a process that can take months, which poses a challenge in times of crisis. Under the proposed amendment, each representative would submit a list of five potential replacements to their state’s governor, who would appoint one as a temporary member within 10 days of the vacancy.
This would provide continuity in governance until a special election can be held.
The proposal addresses growing concerns about the increasing threats against lawmakers and the potential for political violence to disrupt congressional power.
The effort stems from events like the 2017 congressional baseball shooting and other violent acts aimed at shifting the balance of power in Washington. However, the amendment faces significant challenges, as passing a constitutional amendment requires approval from two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.
[oai_citation:3,Suggested 28th Amendment Focuses on a Terror Attack](https://www.newser.com/story/356725/proposed-amendment-plans-for-mass-casualty-event-in-dc.html) [oai_citation:2,Lawmakers propose amendment to address mass casualty events](https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/09/lawmakers-propose-amendment-to-address-mass-casualty-events-amid-rising-political-tension/) [oai_citation:1,Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Address 'Mass Casualty Event' | SCNR](https://scnr.com/article/lawmakers-introduce-legislation-to-address-mass-casualty-event_0b88a6e0769c11ef9c930242ac1c0002).
