Legislative Proxy and Absence Accommodation Resolution
Legislative Proxy and Absence Accommodation Resolution is a concurrent resolution that would create a formal framework allowing Members of both the House and the Senate to vote by proxy and to participate remotely in committee proceedings when they are unable to be physically present. It covers illnesses, death in the family, jury service, military service, acts of God or terrorism, and other emergencies. The bill would amend House rules and Senate standing rules to permit designated proxies to vote or record a member’s presence, and to allow remote participation in committee meetings without it counting as an absence. It also requires official recordkeeping and public disclosure of who is designated as a proxy or remote participant, and under what grounds and for how many days. Overall, the measure aims to keep Congress functioning during emergencies while providing transparency about who is voting or attending remotely.
Key Points
- 1Proxy voting in both chambers: If a member meets one of the defined grounds, they may designate another member to vote or record their presence by submitting a signed letter (which can be electronic) naming the proxy. The proxy’s action is treated as the member’s vote or presence for purposes of the chamber rules, and counts toward quorum.
- 2Grounds for proxy use (House and Senate): The allowed grounds include
- 3- Family or medical leave under FMLA provisions, with documentation as required;
- 4- Illness not categorized as a serious health condition (with per-year day limits);
- 5- Being summoned to serve as a juror;
- 6- Death of a family member (with a limit on consecutive days);
- 7- Absence due to uniformed service (with per-year day caps);
- 8- An act of God, terrorist attack, or other conditions preventing travel or work at the committee location.
- 9Remote attendance at committee proceedings (House and Senate): If a member meets a ground, they may participate remotely during in-person committee proceedings, including casting votes or recording presence. Remote participation shall not be counted as an absence for certain rules and must still count toward quorum. There are per-year day limits similar to proxy use (e.g., illness, uniformed service, death, etc.).
- 10Quorum and counting: Votes cast by designated proxies and remote participants are treated as part of the member’s attendance for establishing quorum. Remote attendance is expressly allowed to avoid counting as an absence under specified rules.
- 11Public recordkeeping: The Clerk (House) and the Secretary (Senate) must maintain up-to-date, publicly accessible electronic lists showing:
- 12- Designations submitted or in effect (proxy designations);
- 13- For each designated proxy, the number of days designated and the grounds used;
- 14- Members eligible to participate remotely and, for those who participate remotely, the days used and the grounds.
- 15Scope and nature of change: This is a rules-change mechanism (via a concurrent resolution) that would amend standing rules for the House and Senate. It does not create new statutory law but alters internal congressional procedures, requiring adoption by both chambers.