We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lloyd Cutler, one of the Commission's co-chairmen, and President Gerald Ford, a honorary commission co-chairman. We send our condolences to both families.

Please see John Fortier's May 12, 2005 column in The Hill about Mr. Cutler's passing.

In the fall of 2002, the Continuity of Government Commission was launched to study and make recommendations for the continuity of our government institutions after a catastrophic attack. September 11th raised the possibility that foreign enemies might seriously disrupt the filling of vacancies in Congress, presidential succession, and achieving a quorum for the Court so much so that our basic institutions might not function in a normal constitutional manner.

President Jimmy Carter is the honorary chairman and and Alan Simpson is the commission's chairman. The commission consists of members who have served in government at the highest levels. Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute and Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution are senior counselors. The commission met twice in the fall of 2002 and issued a report on the Continuity of Congress in January 2003. It is an American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution project, funded by the Carnegie, Hewlett, Packard, and MacArthur Foundations.

For more information, see About the Commission.

Contact your Representative
To write to your Representative, go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/.

A new National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive was issued on May 9, 2007. It can be found here.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) introduced S.1427, the Federal Emergency Managment Act of 2007 on May 17, 2007. It is currently in the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced HR.540, the Presidential Succession Act of 2007 on January 17, 2007. It is currently in the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

October 27, 2003 • 10:00am - 3:45pm
Hearing on Potential Reforms to the
Presidential Succession System
transcript
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Room SD-226

June 4, 2003 • 10:00am - 11:30am
Continuity of Congress After a
Catastrophic Terrorist Attack
transcript
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth St., NW
Washington, DC 20036

The Continuity of Government Commission issued its first report on Continuity of Congress at this press conference.

October 16, 2002 • 10:00am - 12:00pm
Second Commission Meeting transcript
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

September 23, 2002 • 10:00am - 4:00pm
First Commission Meeting
transcript
House Administration Committee
Longworth House Office Building
Room 1310

We do not have any upcoming public events scheduled at this time. Please check back periodically for updates.

For more information or email us at PoliticalCorner@aei.org or call 202.862.5834