Gallagher Introduces Bill to End Proxy Voting

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today introduced legislation that would amend House rules to eliminate proxy voting and remote committee activity. Following introduction of the resolution, Rep. Gallagher released the following statement.

"Proxy voting is destroying Congress. It's impractical, unconstitutional, and exploited by both parties in a way that allows members to use their platforms not to legislate, but to fundraise and accrue media fame. Given that members of Congress have now had access to the vaccine since December, there's simply no logical reason to allow this practice to continue. It's time to end proxy voting before it ends Congress."

In a National Review op-ed published this morning, Rep. Gallagher outlined the fundamental flaws of proxy voting and the ways in which both parties have abused it. In addition to utilizing proxy voting to attend events that conflict with official duties, he noted members have become increasingly likely to utilize proxy voting on fly-in and fly-out days.

Rep. Gallagher has long opposed proxy voting, arguing it declared Congress nonessential last May. He later joined 161 of his colleagues in a lawsuit asserting that proxy voting is unconstitutional.

Click HERE for text of the resolution.