Van Orden Speaks in Support of Legislation to Secure U.S. Defense Chain of Command
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 6972 - the Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act. The bipartisan bill led by Congresswoman Kiggans (R-VA) and cosponsored by Rep. Van Orden requires all members of the National Security Council to report any medical incapacitation within 24 hours to preserve the U.S. military chain of command. The bill was introduced after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was unexpectedly hospitalized in January and essential U.S. government members, including President Biden, were not notified of his absence for an extended period of time.
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Congressman Van Orden’s Floor remarks, as delivered:
Mr. Speaker,
I spent over 25 years in the United States military.
I have designed elements from as large as a SEAL team down to a small tactical unit, and the first thing you establish is something called CCIRs – Commander's Critical Information Requirements.
The first one is, “where's the commander and is the commander in place and able to make decisions?”
Unfortunately, the most powerful Department of Defense in the history of the world, led by Lloyd Austin, failed to do the most simple task that is required of any commander and that is to inform the Commander in Chief of your presence.
This to me is another sign of an incredibly incompetent Department of Defense and the Biden administration's inability to lead and protect this nation.
I am so thankful that my colleagues across the aisle have identified this, also. They know that the Biden administration must be held accountable for their lack of leadership in protecting the United States of America.
It is unquestionable that the world is a much more dangerous place under the Biden administration and Mr. Austin's role as Secretary of Defense.
I want to thank my colleagues across the aisle for this bipartisan effort to hold the Biden administration accountable and to make sure any member of the National Security Council who is incapable of performing their duties is informing the president in a timely manner.
And with that, I yield back.
The Securing Chain of Command Continuity Act passed the House by voice vote. To read the full bill text, click here.