Jim Baird: “I understand there is good intent behind the bill before us today and the amendment, but it is not enough. It simply is…”

“I understand there is good intent behind the bill before us today and the amendment, but it is not enough. It simply is not. It leaves our country vulnerable for 45 days and that is too long. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, what our bill would do is tell the terrorists, you could come on a single day and set off a nuclear weapon in this town and kill every single Member of us; and though we would be missed, the very next day the Congress would be up and functioning with every single State, every single district having full representation by statesmen and stateswomen at a time of national crisis. That is what the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and I are trying to do. We are trying to tell the terrorists, you can kill all of us as individuals, but you will not defeat this institution. You will not defeat the principle of representation. You will not defeat the principles of checks and balances. You will not impose martial law.”