A U.S. President is arguably the most powerful person in the world. They have access to nuclear weapons capable of global destruction, and they can impact the course of our future in the U.S. and around the world for years to come beyond their administration. Their capacity to serve should not be up to chance.

It is only sensible to make Fitness for Duty examinations, including medical, and neuropsychiatric assessments, a requirement for Presidential candidates. Such tests are required for other positions of public responsibility including high-ranking military officers, airline pilots, and air traffic controllers.

There have been two recent efforts to put mandatory presidential assessments in place, but they have not moved forward. In 2017, then-House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT-3) was working on such legislation. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, then-House Minority Leader, expressed enthusiastic support for this. At a Capitol news conference, she called it "a very good idea,” and said, “I can’t wait until he [Chaffetz] introduces that legislation, to be able to join him as co-sponsor."

In 2019, Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-2) introduced H.R. 3736. This Bill would have amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by requiring medical examinations of candidates who had won the nomination of a political party.

We implore you Chairwoman, Carolyn B. Maloney and The House Oversight Committee to re-start this work and carry it forward. We must create this common-sense legal requirement for presidential candidates to undergo medical and neuropsychiatric Fitness for Duty assessments for the good of our country and the world. Let this be part of our new legacy and an example for all nations.