S. 2073: Presidential Succession Act of 2004

108th Congress · introduced 2004-02-12 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8771)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-02-12 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8771) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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 - Removes members of Congress from the line of Presidential succession, such that the Secretary of State is the first in line in the event the President and Vice President are unable to serve. Adds the Secretary of Homeland Security to the line of succession immediately following the Attorney General. Provides that any officer serving as acting President serves either until a new President is elected or the disability of the President or Vice President is removed. Allows an individual to act as President without resigning from the Cabinet position which qualified the individual to act as President. Grants compensation for an acting President at the rate the President would receive. Provides that the line of succession remains the same if an acting President is unable to serve. Prohibits an officer from serving as acting President unless the officer is: (1) eligible for the office of President under the U.S. Constitution; (2) appointed to a Cabinet office, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, prior to the time the powers and duties of the President devolve to such an officer; and (3) not under impeachment by the House of Representatives at the time the powers and duties of the office of President devolve to such an officer.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Presidential Succession Act of 2004

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] reported raising $8.6 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

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108s2073.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/s>

Record fed-us-cong108-s2073 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108