John Conyers: “Congressional succession is one of the most timely--yet challenging--issues facing this body. In order to successfully…”

“Congressional succession is one of the most timely--yet challenging--issues facing this body. In order to successfully resolve this issue, we must craft a solution that will ensure that the legislative branch of government remains fully functional; while also guaranteeing that the will of the people is constantly reflected. Along the way, of course, we must also guarantee that all of the civil rights laws--currently on the books--remain unaffected. I initially agreed to serve as an original cosponsor of the legislation before us because I generally believe that we should avoid amending the Constitution, when a statutory response is available. Such an approach is quicker, more likely to be passed into law, and avoids amending our most sacred national charter. While recognizing that this bill is far from perfect, I considered it to be a good first step-- something we could build upon in a bipartisan way. Unfortunately, several serious concerns remain unaddressed.”