Rep. Roy joins Leader McCarthy in legal fight on proxy voting to Supreme Court

Statement

WASHINGTON-- On Thursday, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement as he joined House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) in petitioning the Supreme Court to perform its duty and end house proxy voting:

I am pleased to join Leader McCarthy in petitioning the Supreme Court to perform its duty and put an end to Speaker Pelosi's unconstitutional proxy voting procedures once and for all.

The Constitution rightfully contemplates that a quorum be present, and that no member of Congress passes off his or her obligation to vote to another. Our founders understood that Congress best serves the people when it actually debates and deliberates the issues facing them before casting a vote, and that it should therefore conduct the people's business in-person.

Prior to the start of this unconstitutional farce, Congress voted in-person regardless of surrounding circumstances. We did not allow proxy voting while the nation was engulfed in the Civil War, after the Capitol building was on fire during the War of 1812, during World War II or in the wake of 9/11. We shouldn't be doing it now.

Proxy voting makes a mockery of this body's purpose, allowing Members to evade their responsibility and avoid accountability. Americans entrust their elected member, and that member alone, the duty to decide votes on their behalf. Therefore, this practice permits elected officials to delegate away something that is simply non-delegable.

Proxy voting should have never been allowed in the People's House and it should not be allowed to continue. The American people deserve to have their representatives show up for work, and the Constitution demands it.

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