Summary
- Dem Rep. Perez wants cognitive tests for Congress.
- Tests target aging members' mental fitness.
- The proposal aims for transparency, public trust.
- Amendment attached to funding bill, voted down.
- Office of Congressional Conduct to create standards.
Voters have expressed concerns about the age of lawmakers to Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), a two-term Democrat who won a seat that Trump won twice.
“What I've heard from my neighbors, my community is this idea that this place is being run by a bunch of staffers,” the 36-year-old told Axios. “
And we're seeing a very real decline in confidence in Congress.
Gluesenkamp Perez responded by proposing an amendment to the appropriations bill that requires the Office of Congressional Conduct to develop a standard to evaluate members "ability to perform the duties of office unimpeded by significant irreversible cognitive impairment." The amendment would require funding for congressional operations.
Arriving at the U.S. Capitol for a series of votes is Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). She is putting forward fresh ideas to address the issue of an aging Congress.
Subcommittee chairman David Valadao (R-CA) stated that elections are the appropriate gauge, but that there is "a lot of concern with some of our colleagues sometimes when we see some of their comments," which is why the amendment failed to pass during a markup.
"It's not a comfortable thing to think about time being irreversible and how our lives change, but [being] willing to have these honest, candid, and difficult conversations is [being] real respect for our communities and the body here,"
Gluesenkamp Perez told Axios.
The subject of whether senior politicians can continue to do their duties has been addressed by Congress, especially by Democrats. The House Oversight & Accountability Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), passed away earlier this year following a diagnosis of esophageal cancer last year.
Following President Donald Trump's joint speech to Congress in March, freshman Democrat Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) passed away. Turner had a history of cancer and was 70 years old.
Additionally, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) passed away earlier this year following a protracted fight with cancer. Last year, Grijalva missed the most votes in the House of Representatives.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein passed away in office at the age of 89 during the last Congress after being repeatedly questioned about her mental health.
The most obvious example was probably during former President Joe Biden's disastrous one-and-only debate with Trump in June of last year. Biden appeared weak, fumbled over his words, and frequently stopped speaking in the middle of sentences. Less than a month after the debate, Biden, then 81, resigned, and his vice president Kamala Harris emerged as the Democratic presidential nominee before losing to Trump.
Other Democrats have also questioned their mental health, including Rep. David Scott (D-GA) and Del. Eleanor Holmes, the nonvoting representative for Washington, D.C., in Congress.
What are the main arguments for and against cognitive testing of Congress members?
Cognitive tests can help ensure that elected officials, especially aging members, are mentally capable of performing the demanding duties of office without impairment. This helps protect the integrity of government decision-making on critical issues.
Proponents argue that voters deserve transparency about the cognitive health of lawmakers making major decisions about policy, budgets, and national security. Testing provides a straightforward way to inform the public without necessarily leading to removal from office.
Routine cognitive assessments can identify early signs of decline, allowing intervention or adjustments in responsibilities before serious issues arise.