IV 
107TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 559
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that each State should 
examine its existing statutes, practices, and procedures governing special 
elections so that, in the event of a catastrophe, vacancies in the House 
of Representatives may be filled in a timely fashion. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2002
Mr. COX (for himself, Mr. FROST, Mr. DREIER, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. NEY, Mr. 
HOYER, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. VITTER, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. 
LANGEVIN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. CAMP, 
Mr. COBLE, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. TOM 
DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. DELAY, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. 
DOOLITTLE, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. FLETCHER, Mr. GIBBONS, 
Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GOSS, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. 
GREENWOOD, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HULSHOF, Mr. HYDE, 
Mr. ISSA, Mr. JENKINS, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. JONES of North 
Carolina, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. KERNS, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. LAHOOD, 
Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. 
MCHUGH, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. MCKEON, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. PETERSON of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. PORTMAN, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. 
ROHRABACHER, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SES-
SIONS, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. SHAW, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SIM-
MONS, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. 
TERRY, Mr. TOOMEY, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. WELDON of Florida, 
Mr. WELLER, Mr. WICKER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr. DELAHUNT, Ms. DELAURO, 
Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. GEPHARDT, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. 
GREEN of Texas, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. 
HONDA, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mrs. 
JONES of Ohio, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. LYNCH, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. 
MCGOVERN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. REYES, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 
SANDLIN, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SNYDER, 
Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. WYNN, Mr. GOODE, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. HOEFFEL, 
and Mr. JACKSON of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on House Administration
•HRES 559 IH 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
each State should examine its existing statutes, practices, 
and procedures governing special elections so that, in 
the event of a catastrophe, vacancies in the House of 
Representatives may be filled in a timely fashion.
Whereas the death or disability of hundreds of Members of 
Congress would deprive millions of Americans of rep-
resentation in Congress, possibly for a period of months 
until special elections to fill the vacancies could be con-
ducted; 
Whereas such a catastrophe would severely impair the func-
tioning of the House and effectively disrupt the legislative 
branch for an extended period; 
Whereas the only method prescribed by the Constitution to 
fill a vacant seat in the House of Representatives is 
through election by the people; 
Whereas article I, section 4 of the Constitution of the United 
States provides that ‘‘The Times, Places and Manner of 
holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall 
be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; 
but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter 
such Regulations, except as to the places of chusing Sen-
ators.’’; 
Whereas section 26 of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States (2 U.S.C. 8) provides that ‘‘The time for holding 
elections in any State, District or Territory for a Rep-
resentative or Delegate to fill a vacancy, whether such va-
cancy is caused by a failure to elect at the time pre-
scribed by law, or by the death, resignation, or incapacity
•HRES 559 IH 
of a person elected, may be prescribed by the laws of the 
several States and Territories respectively;’’; and 
Whereas it is in the interest of each State to ensure that the 
people maintain their full rights to representation in the 
House: Now therefore, be it
Resolved, That— 
(1) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that each State should examine its existing 
statutes, practices, and procedures governing special 
elections so that, in the event of a catastrophe, va-
cancies in the House of Representatives may be 
filled in a timely fashion; and 
(2) the Clerk of the House shall send a copy of 
this resolution to the chief executive official of each 
State.
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