Kiggans Aims to Prevent Future Chain of Command Breakdowns within National Security Council

Jan 12, 2024
Armed Forces
National Security
Press

WASHINGTON, DC:Yesterday, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act following reports that essential members of the U.S. government, including the President, were left in the dark over the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s recent absence due to health challenges. At a time when our nation is facing countless global threats, this bipartisan legislation ensures a continuous chain of command among members of the National Security Council (NSC) to preserve America’s nation defense superiority. Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) has joined Congresswoman Kiggans in this important effort to protect the integrity of the national security apparatus.

Specifically, this legislation would amend the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to require all members of the NSC to provide notification to the Executive Office of the President, the Comptroller General of the United States, and to each chamber of Congress within 24 hours of any planned or emergent medical incapacitation. In the event this notification does not occur, the respective agency would be required to submit a comprehensive report providing transparency surrounding the incapacitation and related notification failure to the above entities within 30 days.

“I’m concerned for Secretary Austin’s health and wish him well, however, the Department of Defense’s lack of transparency surrounding his hospitalization is very concerning,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “As someone who served in the Armed Forces for nearly 10 years, I’m alarmed by reports that those in the chain of command were not informed about Secretary Austin’s status for days. At a time when our nation is facing threats around the world, we cannot afford for those who are critical to America’s national security to disappear without explanation and a clear delegation of their consequential responsibilities. I’m hopeful my bipartisan legislation will receive a vote soon so that we can prevent any similar chain of command breakdowns in the future and preserve the integrity of our national security.”

“If we have learned anything from the past several months, it is that we live in a dangerous world,” said Congressman Don Davis. “As tensions and threats rise across the globe, timely responses are vital to safeguard the American people. Congress must require National Security Council agencies to provide a notice of the incapacitation of its agency head within 24 hours. We owe this to the American people.”

The full text of the Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act can be found here.

###

Recent Posts


Nov 20, 2024
Press

Kiggans Selected as Sponsor of U.S. Navy’s USS Congress 

WASHINGTON, DC: Yesterday, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) was selected to be one of four sponsors of the USS Congress, a new Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigate. The ship’s additional sponsors are Senators Joni Ernst (IA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI), and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04). Notably, sponsors of the USS Congress […]



Nov 18, 2024
Press

Kiggans Votes in Favor of Putting Veterans First

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) voted in favor of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This legislation, which passed out of the U.S. House by a vote of 389-9, includes Congresswoman Kiggans’ bills, H.R. 3581, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act and H.R. 3504, the VA Medical Center Security Report […]



Nov 12, 2024
Press

Kiggans Votes to Boost Social Security Benefits for Public Servants

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) voted with the majority of the U.S. House Representatives in favor of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. This legislation, which passed the House by a vote of 327-75-1, would eliminate Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions, allowing public service employees to collect their […]