I just want to let you know your advocacy, today you have just got a new sponsor on that bill.

I really have to take issue with the fact that somehow this is the least productive Congress.

Other measures such as the greater adoption of remote working tools ought to remain in place, in my opinion, Mr. Chairman, because we have seen how they help make the House more accountable, transparent, and efficient.

I continue to believe that what we did at a very challenging time saved lives here.

Should we have said to them, Coloradans (sic), by act of happenstance, you will not be represented. I think not.

This is not about anything other than giving people the opportunity during these difficult times or during difficult times in their life to be able to participate.

The Supreme Court has been very emphatic actually that the values and the principles of the Constitution must be applied by us through the prism of new and existing technology.

Nobody should go to Washington, because potentially you change.

I think there are situations in the future, post-pandemic, that we heard here today where there might be exceptions, you know, where proxy voting might be useful.

I mean--and I guess the purpose of this is that--hopefully, we are moving beyond the pandemic.

I would say, at the very least, for dealing with a death or very serious illness in the family, Members should be able to meet their constitutional duties of representing their constituents and also meet their family needs.

I think that is a reasonable, legitimate, and compelling exercise of our power under Article I, section 5, to set the rules of our own proceedings.

I think that was a testament to the strength of what this body is supposed to mean by our doing our jobs and being physically present.

I think that Mr. Gallagher has put his finger on the question we need to deal with, which is, have there been abuses of this system?

I think what we did was an absolute necessity. And you are to be commended for your leadership, Mr. Chairman.

They see value in that. I do too. Personally, I think there is something to be said for that.

I think this saved a lot of lives here. I really do.

I suggest to you that this comment about proxy voting only presumes the outcome would be different if, in fact, we precluded somebody from voting if they were sick if, per chance, they were absent.

We have adapted by ending the practice of voting by group and reducing voting times on the floor.

The principle there the court said in a 7-to-1 decision... was that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy embodied in the Fourth Amendment.

Members should be able to avail themselves of proxy voting if they have a compelling medical reason to do so or, I would say, a compelling family reason to do so.

While proxy voting wasn't created for a number of the situations we talked about here today, it has actually helped increase voting participation in the House, believe it or not.

I do think it probably hurt the ability to collaborate, you know? Because where the friendships really develop are in passing, at dinner, you know, doing sports together, family outings together.

I believe that it is important for us to discuss how proxy voting and remote committee proceedings have worked over the past 22 months.

I think this is--I guess I would--one thing you had suggested, Mr. Roy--and I appreciate this--is, you know--because we are trying in the Modernization Committee to figure out a better way to schedule things.