A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to enable the participation of absent Senators during a national crisis.

Bill: 116-sres-548
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2020-03-19
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional operations and organization

Legislative rules and procedure

Members of Congress

Senate
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text: CR S1859-1860)

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution sets forth procedures that allow Senators to cast their votes from outside of the Senate chamber. Specifically, these votes may be cast using certain technology approved by the Secretary of the Senate and Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper if the majority leader and minority leader determine that an extraordinary crisis of national extent exists in which it would be infeasible for Senators to cast their votes in person.</p>

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 548 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 19, 2020 Mr. Portman (for himself and Mr. Durbin ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to enable the participation of absent Senators during a national crisis.

That 1. Participation of absent Senators during a national crisis Rule XII of the Standing Rules of the Senate is amended by adding at the end the following: 5. Senators may use technology that has been approved by the Secretary of the Senate and Sergeant at Arms and Director of the Doorkeepers as reliable and secure to cast their votes from outside of the Senate Chamber if the majority leader or his or her designee and the minority leader or his or her designee determine that an extraordinary crisis of national extent exists in which it would be infeasible for Senators to cast their votes in person. Senators in such circumstance may then cast votes under this paragraph only during the 30-day period beginning on the date on which such determination is made unless such period is renewed by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Senators duly chosen and sworn. During such period, Senators participating remotely and using approved technology to cast their votes under this paragraph shall be deemed present for quorum purposes. The determination made under this paragraph shall not rely on any decision of any other branch of the United States Government. The majority leader or his or her designee and the minority leader or his or her designee shall submit at the beginning of the first session of each Congress an order for designees of each caucus in the case of such a crisis. .