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H.R. 5390: Presidential Succession Act of 2004

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H.R. 5390: Presidential Succession Act of 2004

108th Congress · introduced 2004-11-18 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2004-11-18 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Presidential Succession Act of 2004

Plain summary

Presidential Succession Act of 2004 - Rewrites provisions concerning presidential succession. Modifies the presidential succession list to include: (1) following the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Homeland Security on the list; and (2) specified U.S. Ambassadors at the end of such list. Requires the President-elect, prior to taking office, to file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate a notice designating whether the Speaker or the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and whether the majority leader or minority leader of the Senate, should act as President.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Presidential Succession Act of 2004

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-27] reported raising $2.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr5390 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108