Wed Oct 20, 2021 AT 10:48 AM EDT
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Thursday called for creating a system that would ensure the continuity of government’s legislative, executive, and judicial branches in the event of a catastrophe. “Large-scale events could quickly alter elections or render the House unable to achieve a quorum,” the lawmakers wrote. “In a closely contested Congress . . . a single assassin could alter the makeup and balance of power of the body.” The move comes on the heels of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and also takes into account vulnerabilities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol. There is currently no provision on the books to ensure Congress could continue to operate in the event a significant portion of lawmakers was incapacitated. Read Full Story