(UnitedVoice.com) – Even before President Joe Biden was sworn into office, there were rumors about whether or not he would be able to serve out his full term in office. Recently, a request by dozens of House Democrats is putting those concerns in the spotlight again.

Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) sent a letter to Biden asking him to renounce his authority to be the sole official with the nuclear codes. The letter, which was signed by about three dozen other representatives, said allowing just one person to hold that “authority entails real risks.” In a tweet, Panetta claimed relinquishing sole authority would “install checks and balances” in the “nuclear command-and-control structure.”

ICYMI: I'm calling on @POTUS to install checks & balances in our nuclear command-and-control structure.

Past presidents have threatened nuclear attacks on other countries or exhibited concerning behavior that cast doubt on their judgment. Read more: https://t.co/Ntk8uvRqxO

— Rep. Jimmy Panetta (@RepJimmyPanetta) February 24, 2021

The lawmakers proposed alternatives to the current process, like requiring the vice president and House speaker, to approve any nuclear strike. They also proposed forming a council of congressional leaders to be consulted before “first use of nuclear weapons.” Although the lawmakers blamed the suggestions on past presidents, it’s telling that they never sent a letter like this to any past presidents. That makes it even harder to ignore the obvious concerns — coming from his own party — about Biden’s ability to do the job.

Copyright 2021, UnitedVoice.com