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BOYLE INTRODUCES "MEMBERS ONLY" RESOLUTION

July 19, 2021

Legislation that would require the U.S. House Speaker be a Member of Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) introduced the Mandating that being an Elected Member Be an Essential Requirement for Speakership (MEMBERS) Act, to require that only elected Members or Delegates be eligible to serve as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The Speaker of the U.S. House is second in the United States presidential line of succession. That Donald Trump's name would even be tossed around as a potential speaker in the people's house, should serve as an alarm bell that our current requirements need to be amended in the name of protecting our nation and our democracy. As such, our laws should mandate that the Speaker be a member of the U.S. House. This legislation would establish that mandate in very clear and direct language, and it would serve as a check against those who would seek to undermine and derogate the authority and responsibilities of the Speaker's office."

Congressman Boyle remains an outspoken defender of our democratic norms and institutions. He previously introduced the STABLE GENIUS Act (Standardizing Testing and Accountability Before Large Elections Giving Electors Necessary Information for Unobstructed Selection) that would require that all presidential candidates undergo a standardized medical examination and publicly disclose its results before the election. Also in recent years, Boyle has introduced legislation to stop "Dialing for Dollars" by members of Congress and the Clean Money Act, which would strengthen the public financing of elections system to decrease the influence of big donors and special interests in politics.
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