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H.R. 6972 118th Congress House

Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act

Official title: To amend title 5, United States Code, to require an Executive agency whose head is a member of the National Security Council to notify the Executive Office of … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title 5, United States Code, to require an Executive agency whose head is a member of the National Security Council to notify the Executive Office of the President, the Comptroller General of the United States, and congressional leadership of such head becoming medically incapacitated within 24 hours, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 11, 2024 Introduced by: Jennifer A. Kiggans Republican · Virginia See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2024
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 711.
Dec 17, 2024
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Peters with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 118-305.
Nov 20, 2024
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 7, 2024
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
May 6, 2024
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 6, 2024
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2841)
May 6, 2024
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2841)
May 6, 2024
Considered as unfinished business.
May 6, 2024
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6972.
May 6, 2024
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2840-2842)
May 6, 2024
Mr. LaTurner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Feb 6, 2024
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
Feb 6, 2024
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Jan 11, 2024
Introduced in House
Jan 11, 2024
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
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 Latest action December 17, 2024

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 711.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act

This bill requires certain notifications whenever a head of an executive branch agency who is a member of the National Security Council (for example, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense) becomes medically incapacitated.

In the event that such an agency head becomes medically incapacitated, the person serving in an acting capacity as the agency head (or, if no person is acting, the first assistant to the office of the agency head) must notify within 24 hours the Executive Office of the President, the Comptroller General, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

In the event that such notifications are not made, the bill requires a report containing certain information related to the medical incapacitation, the individual who served in an acting capacity, and an explanation of why the required notifications were not made.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 14
All 14 Democratic 1 Republican 13
R
LaLota, Nick
New York · Feb 13, 2024
 R
Houchin, Erin
Indiana · Feb 9, 2024
 R
Bice, Stephanie I.
Oklahoma · Jan 17, 2024
 R
Finstad, Brad
Minnesota · Jan 17, 2024
 R
Lawler, Michael
New York · Jan 17, 2024
 R
Mills, Cory
Florida · Jan 17, 2024
 D
Davis, Donald G.
North Carolina · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Fallon, Pat
Texas · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Gimenez, Carlos A.
Florida · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Mace, Nancy
South Carolina · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Moylan, James C.
Guam · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Owens, Burgess
Utah · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Van Orden, Derrick
Wisconsin · Jan 11, 2024
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Jan 11, 2024
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6972: Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-6972/
MLA
"H.R. 6972: Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-6972/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6972, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-6972/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6972: Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-6972/)
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