06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 13:43
WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today introduced the National Emergencies Reform Act. The measure would rebalance the power dynamic between Congress and the Executive branch by permitting a president to declare a national emergency for 30 days and require a vote of Congress to extend it beyond that time.
Congressman Cohen held hearings in 2019 on the National Emergencies Act of 1976 when he served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. He continues to partner with Congressman Chip Roy on the Assuring Robust, Thorough, and Informed Congressional Leadership is Exercised Over National Emergencies (ARTICLE ONE) Act which also requires Congress to vote and affirmatively extend an emergency. The ARTICLE ONE Act passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in September 2024.
Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
"A 'national emergency' that goes on for years or even decades is not an emergency; it's the new normal. Congress must reclaim the significant legislative power it surrendered and establish a mechanism for authorizing the extension of these declarations, or for shutting them down. Particularly when the rationale for declaring a national emergency appears patently baseless or dubious, Congress must have the power to end the lawlessness."
The National Emergencies Reform Act would limit the President's emergency powers, automatically ending emergencies unless Congress extends them. Further, it includes provisions that require the President to disclose Presidential Emergency Action Documents (PEADs) to Congress. The National Emergencies Reform Act was included in the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which passed the House on December 9, 2021.
# # #