[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 13 (Thursday, February 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               RESTORING THE PUBLIC'S FAITH IN GOVERNMENT

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 10, 1994

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, earlier today the House considered amendments 
to H.R. 811, the Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act. One of the 
amendments concerned whether or not Members of Congress should be 
subject to the provisions of the independent counsel bill.
  Today, I voted against the Bryant substitute which would have 
weakened the requirement standard for Members of Congress under the 
independent counsel bill. I also voted against the substantially 
changed Gekas amendment because it now included the text of the Bryant 
amendment, which I had just voted against. The amended version of the 
Gekas proposal sets different standards for Members of Congress than 
for the President or other officials of the executive branch and, as 
such, was unacceptable. In this vein, I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 
349, the Congressional Accountability Act, which removes congressional 
exemptions from the same laws that apply to all Americans.
  I think Members of Congress should be covered by the independent 
counsel law. If the Attorney General receives specific and credible 
information that a Member of Congress may have been engaged in criminal 
wrongdoing, I believe they should be required to conduct a preliminary 
investigation under the independent counsel law. While the legislation 
as passed gives the Attorney General the option to do this, I think 
this leaves open a window of opportunity for abuse that is unnecessary. 
People need to know that all credible allegations of criminal actions 
by an elected official will be pursued, just as this law does for the 
President and the executive branch. Congress should not set a different 
standard for itself.

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