[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1994

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.


                amendment no. 1776 to amendment no. 1775

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, this proposal to stage hasty and poorly 
structured Senate hearings on the so-called Whitewater matter is to my 
mind ill-advised and ill-timed.
  In my six terms here, it has been my experience that special 
investigations are usually exercises in political gamesmanship which 
reflect badly on the institution without serving a valid legislative 
purpose.
  In this case, the matter has been referred to a special prosecutor 
who has specifically asked us to at least hold off until he has done 
his job. And the Senate, by its 98-0 vote on March 19, agreed to honor 
that request. So the proposal before us is ill-timed at best.
  But beyond that, the proposal exceeds the spirit of the March 19 
agreement both in scope and in its clear partisan intent.
  The Whitewater matter involves distant dealing, 12 long years ago in 
a small town setting, long before the principal parties involved had 
any connection with Federal office. To the extent Federal interests 
were involved, they would appear to be marginal. If there were 
indiscretions or errors, they will be and should be brought to light in 
the normal course of the special prosecutor's investigation.
  If there are issues still left which rise to the level appropriate 
for Senate scrutiny, they will be taken into account in keeping with 
the March 19 agreement and the second degree amendment of the majority 
leader.
  In the meantime, the work of the Senate in this day and season should 
be focused on the big issues of our time: health care reform, economic 
growth and stability, reduction of crime in our cities, peace and 
stability around our globe, and reconstruction of the former Soviet 
Union. Let us be on with the business to which the Nation expects us to 
attend.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. DeConcini). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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