Regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of government.
This bill is a concurrent resolution that would allow the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader (or their designees), jointly and after consultation with the House and Senate minority leaders, to notify Members of each chamber to assemble at a location outside the District of Columbia if they determine the public interest warrants it. It is not a law and does not relocate the government by itself. Rather, it provides a formal mechanism for Congress to convene outside Washington, DC in extraordinary circumstances or emergencies, as a matter of continuity and flexibility in how Congress can meet. The resolution expresses Congressional authorization for such an action, contingent on leadership decisions and bipartisan consultation.
Key Points
- 1It is a concurrent resolution, not a statute, meaning it expresses the sense or authorization of Congress rather than creating enforceable law.
- 2The action is limited to convening Members to assemble at a place outside the District of Columbia, not permanently moving the seat of government.
- 3The decision to convene outside DC would be made jointly by the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader (or their designees), after consulting with the House and Senate Minority Leaders.
- 4The trigger for using this option is a determination that the public interest warrants it; there is no specific emergency defined in the text.
- 5The resolution requires bipartisanship in its consultation, ensuring both majority and minority leaders in each chamber have input before proceeding.
- 6The text indicates the measure passed the House on January 3, 2025; the status in the Senate is not shown, so it would need Senate action to become effective.