[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Mr. KOHL. Madam President, I rise today as an original cosponsor of 
the Congressional Accountability Act. Since at least the passage of the 
1964 Civil Rights Act, there has been an insidious and growing 
perception among the American people that Congress considers itself 
above the law, that we enact legislation which applies to everyone but 
ourselves. Some have joked that if it could, Congress would exempt 
itself from the law of gravity. This trend--unless it is arrested and 
ultimately reversed--is destructive of the bedrock notion that ours is 
a system of government of the people, by the people, and for the 
people.
  I recognize that there are legitimate Constitutional and policy 
concerns which must be considered in addressing the overall issue of 
placing Congress under laws which apply to the private sector and/or 
the executive branch. I am satisfied that the Congressional 
Accountability Act maintains our system of separation of powers and 
checks and balances while bringing Congress under the provisions of the 
civil rights laws, labor legislation, and laws providing rights of 
access to certain information that are specified in the Act.
  This is clearly an act whose time has come. Its enactment will go a 
long way toward rebuilding the bonds of trust between the people and 
their government. I urge my colleagues to support the Congressional 
Accountability Act.

                          ____________________