Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Rick Crawford, R-Ark., are reintroducing a bill to allow House members to virtually take part in committee meetings and vote remotely on suspension bills while physically being in their home districts, Axios is reporting.
The website attributed its information to an advanced copy of a press release it obtained.
The move comes amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
Several members of Congress, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., have put themselves under a 14-day self-quarantine after coming in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
In addition, millions of people visit the Capitol each year – increasing the risk to those in Congress.
Swalwell and Crawford's bill, would create a secure, remote voting system for members so they could vote on suspension bills, noncontroversial measures requiring a two-thirds vote to pass. The bill is called the MOBILE (Members Operating to Be Innovative and Link Everyone).
"Modern technology belongs in Congress and my resolution would allow members to not only spend more time with their constituents and their families, but would prove useful for a number of situations, including the public health crisis in which we currently find ourselves," Swalwell said.
He has introduced the bill before and failed to get it passed.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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