Candice S. Miller: “Mr. Chairman, the Continuity in Representation Act provides a process to ensure that our democratic government remains…”

“Mr. Chairman, the Continuity in Representation Act provides a process to ensure that our democratic government remains stable and orderly during a possible time of great instability. In addition, it preserves the unique status of the House of Representatives by continuing the tradition and the constitutional mandate that every Member of this body must be elected by his or her constituents. In such a time of crisis, the people of this Nation must have a voice in the critical decisions that are being made. This legislation ensures that that will be the case. The time limit of 49 days that this bill lays out is more than adequate, Mr. Chairman. In fact, a survey of election officials confirmed that this is a realistic time frame, and I will tell you as a former elections official myself, I concur with those findings. Furthermore, several States already have laws in place that require special elections to be conducted in a shorter period of time than the 49-day limit that this legislation requires.”