[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    JUMP-START CONGRESSIONAL REFORM

  (Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I hope your recent comments 
about bringing a congressional reform bill to the floor this spring, 
truly reflect a commitment to jump starting our reform efforts.
  The recommendations from the Joint Committee on the Organization of 
Congress are very basic, obvious reforms, like having Congress comply 
with the laws we pass. They should receive broad, bipartisan support.
  But if we are going to make real changes around here, then those 
recommendations must only be our starting point, and start we must.
  We should have the chance to openly debate the additional, and very 
significant proposals for change, upon which the Joint Committee could 
not agree. Those include such basics as improving the ratio of 
Democrats to Republicans on committees and committee staff, the 
elimination of proxy voting, and limiting committee chairs to 3 terms; 
to name but a few.
  Just as I read your comments in the press about the year's schedule, 
I read of your desire to improve the image of Congress. It is obvious, 
Mr. Speaker, where to start. Let us clean up our act first, and as soon 
as possible.

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