Mandate Fitness Tests for Congress
As the average age of members of Congress continues to rise, public concern has grown over whether some legislators are physically and cognitively capable of fulfilling their duties. High-profile cases — including Senators Dianne Feinstein and Mitch McConnell — drew national attention to the absence of any formal mechanism to assess or disclose a member's fitness to serve. Unlike the Executive Branch, which has the Twenty-Fifth Amendment as a framework for presidential incapacity, Congress has no equivalent safeguard for its own members.
Advocates and legal scholars have proposed that Congress address this gap through ordinary statute or internal chamber rules — no constitutional amendment required. Proposals include mandatory, age-thresholded cognitive and physical fitness evaluations (for example, at age 70 or 75) conducted by independent medical panels, with results publicly disclosed to constituents. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a 2024 amendment in the House Appropriations Committee to establish cognitive acuity standards for representatives; it was voted down, but it demonstrated that this reform is achievable through the normal legislative process.
Constituents are urging their senators and representatives to support legislation or chamber rule changes that would require members of Congress above a defined age threshold to undergo standardized, independent cognitive and physical fitness evaluations, with results made publicly available. This is a matter of democratic accountability: voters deserve to know that the officials casting votes on their behalf are capable of doing so.
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Live Call Script
Hello, I am an assistant calling on behalf of a constituent, {{first_name}} {{last_name}} from {{city}}, {{state}} zip code {{zip_code}}. The constituent is calling to urge {{representative_name}} to support legislation or chamber rule changes requiring mandatory, publicly disclosed cognitive and physical fitness evaluations for members of Congress above a defined age threshold. Congress currently has no formal mechanism to assess or disclose a member's fitness to serve — unlike the Executive Branch, which has the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. High-profile cases of visible cognitive decline among sitting members have made clear that this gap undermines democratic accountability. The constituent asks that {{representative_name}} take the following specific actions: First, co-sponsor or actively support any legislation that mandates age-thresholded fitness evaluations — conducted by independent, nonpartisan medical panels — for sitting members of Congress, with results publicly disclosed to constituents. Second, support equivalent internal chamber rule changes that would achieve the same standard of transparency without requiring a new statute. This is not a partisan issue. Voters across the political spectrum deserve assurance that their elected representatives are capable of performing their duties. The constituent respectfully requests that {{representative_name}}'s office provide a response on their position regarding congressional fitness disclosure requirements.
Voicemail Version
I am calling on behalf of {{first_name}} {{last_name}}, a constituent from {{city}}, {{state}} {{zip_code}}. The constituent is urging {{representative_name}} to support legislation or chamber rule changes requiring mandatory, publicly disclosed cognitive and physical fitness evaluations for members of Congress above a set age threshold. Congress currently has no formal mechanism to address member incapacity, leaving constituents without assurance that their representatives are fit to serve. They ask that {{representative_name}} co-sponsor relevant legislation or advocate for internal rules that bring independent, transparent fitness standards to Congress. You may contact me at {{phone_number}} to discuss further.