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Committee hears resolution urging Congress to require House candidates to establish district residency; no committee action taken
Summary
Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, introduced by Senator Cathy, would memorialize Congress to enact a district residency requirement for U.S. House candidates. The committee heard the measure and questions about scope; the resolution was reported without action.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, introduced by Senator Cathy, asks Congress to enact a residency requirement for candidates seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives so that nominees must establish residence in the district they seek to represent.
Senator Cathy told the committee the resolution aims to address what she called "congressional carpetbagging," pointing to candidates who live outside the districts they seek and noting that other offices generally impose residency requirements. "It's actually, in my research, the only, the only elected office in this country that does not have a residency requirement that I can find," she said.
Committee members questioned how such a requirement would operate and whether it would force sitting members to step down. Senator Fessy asked whether existing federal and state requirements would be affected and whether the measure might create precedent. Senator Cathy replied the resolution merely asks Congress to consider legislation and that implementation details would be for the federal body to decide.
The committee did not move SCR 9; the chair stated there was no motion and the resolution was reported without action. The committee adjourned thereafter.
Next steps: Because the committee did not report the resolution favorably, SCR 9 remains without committee endorsement pending further action.
