Charles Skelton: “first let me say that the amendment being offered today by my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.…”

“first let me say that the amendment being offered today by my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and by my next door neighbor back home, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), is very important. It would ensure that adequate time is provided to the States holding continuity-of-government elections to ensure that overseas and deployed servicemembers have sufficient time in which to register and vote. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) also and the ranking member of the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost). Again, a special thanks to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) for working with us. We had to work it out over a period of several days. And we appreciate, I think, at the end of the day, it is a very, very good amendment. So we thank them for that. This act would require States to conduct expedited special elections in extraordinary circumstances which means that there are more than 100 vacancies in the House of Representatives. States would have 45 days in which to nominate candidates and hold elections to fill these congressional vacancies. The deadly terrorist attacks on September 11 raised the Nation's awareness that a catastrophic assault on our country's soil was not just a historical event, but a constant threat that we truly must face.”