News Releases

Sen. Moran Cosponsors ARTICLE ONE Act

Legislation would restore Congressional authority over emergency declarations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – released the following statement after cosponsoring the Assuring that Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act:

“The National Emergencies Act of 1976 cedes too much of Congress’s legislative and appropriations authority to the president. The ARTICLE ONE Act appropriately rebalances the law to restore Congressional authority over taxpayer funds, while still giving the president the ability to act quickly when facing a national emergency.”

The ARTICLE ONE Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

This legislation would restore to Congress significant legislative powers that were improperly given to the executive branch by the National Emergencies Act (NEA) of 1976. Specifically, the ARTICLE ONE Act would automatically end all future emergency declarations made pursuant to the NEA after 30 days unless Congress votes affirmatively to extend the emergency. Currently, Congress can cancel an emergency declaration only by passing a resolution that can withstand a presidential veto.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.
 

# # #