[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 CONGRESS SHOULD CLEAN UP ITS OWN HOUSE

  (Mr. ISTOOK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, this body will investigate anyone but 
ourselves when it comes to scandals and impropriety.
  Got suspicious activity in foreign banks? We will have hearings. 
Something up with Iran-Contra? We will have hearings. Got a Senator 
accused of sexual harassment? They will have hearings.
  But when Members of this House are implicated for embezzling through 
the House Post Office? We will defer to the Justice Department. Maybe 
they will bury it for us.
  It is a national embarrassment.
  A sworn confession from the former House Postmaster, Robert Rota, 
says he helped several Members of this body to embezzle taxpayer money 
from the House Post Office. He pleaded guilty to being a conspirator 
with Congressmen.
  That is far stronger evidence than is usually used to spark a 
congressional investigation. But no investigation this time, because it 
hits too close to home.
  It is past time to face this issue. The House Ethics Committee must 
get to the bottom of this.
  Millions of Americans are disgusted with Congress, and this is a big 
reason why. We must clean up our own house.

                          ____________________