[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 20 (Tuesday, March 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. MICHEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, I have asked for this 1 minute so that I 
might inquire of the distinguished majority leader how our program will 
unfold for today, and the balance of tomorrow, and maybe the rest of 
the week.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield to the distinguished 
majority leader.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Michel], the distinguished minority leader, as you know, we have talked 
with you and other members of your leadership, and we want to inform 
the membership of the House that we have decided to postpone action 
today on H.R. 6, the Improving America's Schools Act, otherwise known 
the elementary and secondary education bill. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, 
we are postponing action on a bill which would have been scheduled to 
be considered under suspension of the rules, S. 1789, funding for 
seismic retrofit of bridges, and therefore there will be no votes 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that this decision inconveniences many Members 
who accommodated their schedules to be here today while expecting votes 
on amendments to the education bill, but our decision, reached in 
consultation with the Republican leadership, was based on the request 
by the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Natcher] to suspend voting on today 
only so that he may recover from a treatment he is receiving today at 
Bethesda Naval Hospital.
  As all of my colleagues know, Mr. Speaker, Chairman Natcher's 
distinguished service in the House is underscored by the record setting 
votes he has cast without missing a single vote. To date he has cast 
18,397 votes.
  Mr. Speaker, the chairman has communicated to us that he would 
suspend his treatment, which is critical for his recovery, so that he 
could be here to vote today. We felt that it was important that he get 
that treatment quickly so that he can get back on his feet quickly, and 
I know that I join all of our colleagues in wishing him a speedy 
recovery from this treatment so that he can be again in our midst. We 
will be meeting at 2 p.m. tomorrow to resume action on the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act.
  I am also told that the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook] is going 
to file a motion that may or may not go forward on tomorrow, but he is 
protecting his right on his motion.
  Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to concur in the gentleman's 
remarks, and particularly with respect to our distinguished colleague, 
the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Natcher] who we all would regard as a 
prince of this House and certainly deserving of our according him this 
request, knowing full well how much it means to him and to his welfare. 
So, I thank the majority leader and the Speaker for taking the time to 
inform the House of the reasons for our adjusting the schedule. I think 
certainly it is very justified and is well within the bounds.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Michel] and know that a lot of Members went out of their way to be here 
today, and we apologize to them for the inconvenience. But this is a 
human institution that has to pay attention to human needs within the 
institution, and that is what we tried to do today, and I say to the 
Members, ``I appreciate your cooperation.''
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MICHEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield briefly to the gentleman from 
Oklahoma.
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House last 
Wednesday I would like to give notice of the revised language which we 
have been working on on a privileged resolution which, under the 
previous order of the House, I would be bringing up tomorrow.
  As I have mentioned to the majority leader, we will continue to 
consult with him and others to see if we can achieve a consensus 
language and determine whether or not we will, in fact, bring this up 
tomorrow as opposed to Thursday since the different deadlines have been 
pushed back.
  But to satisfy the priorities of the House, Mr. Speaker, I will ask 
unanimous consent that the revised language, which I will present to 
the Clerk, be included in the Record, and, as I mentioned to the 
majority leader, I would certainly appreciate the opportunity to confer 
later today and see if we can achieve a bipartisan consensus.
  The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  The revised language in the resolution on the House Post Office 
investigation, House Resolution 238, is as follows:

Resolution on House Post Office Investigation, H. Res. 238, as Amended 
                             by Mr. Istook

       Calling on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 
     to initiate an inquiry into activity at the House Post Office 
     to determine violations of House rules.
       Whereas, allegations reported in public and made in 
     official court documents that personnel of the House Post 
     Office provided illegal cash to certain members in three 
     ways: (1) cash instead of stamps for official vouchers, (2) 
     cash for postage stamps which, had earlier been purchased 
     with official vouchers, and (3) cash for campaign checks;
       Whereas, these allegations directly affect the rights of 
     the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the 
     integrity of its proceedings; and the rights, reputation, and 
     conduct of its Members;
       Whereas, Article I, Section V of the Constitution gives 
     each House of the Congress responsibility over disorderly 
     behavior of its Members;
       Whereas, the Committee on Standard, of Official Conduct has 
     jurisdiction over the conduct and behavior of current House 
     Members, Officers, and employees, including investigatory 
     authority, and is the appropriate body of this House to 
     conduct any inquiry: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Committee on Standards of Official 
     Conduct is instructed to immediately investigate all possible 
     violations that are related, but not limited to, the 
     documents received by the Committee on Standards, of Official 
     Conduct from the Committee on House Administration, and the 
     allegations stated above; and be it further
       Resolved, The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct 
     shall coordinate its investigation with the related efforts 
     of the Department of Justice so as to not jeopardize any 
     ongoing criminal investigation; and by it further
       Resolved, That in pursuing its investigations, the 
     Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall determine 
     Members, Officers or employees who have violated House rules, 
     practices and procedures in connection with the House Post 
     Office; and be it further
       Resolved, The Committee shall inform the Department of 
     Justice regarding the procedures and aspects the Committee 
     intends to investigate. If the Department of Justice then 
     responds that a specific matter the Committee intends to 
     investigate is material to, or subject of an official 
     investigation, the Committee may defer that inquiry pending 
     the conclusion of the investigation by the Department of 
     Justice; and be it further
       Resolved, That, the Committee on Standards of Official 
     Conduct shall file a public status report within 60 days of 
     the adoption of the resolution and periodically thereafter.

                          ____________________