[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

                                 ______


                               speech of

                          HON. THOMAS J. RIDGE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 10, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4822) to 
     make certain laws applicable to the legislative branch of the 
     Federal Government:

  Mr. RIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I believe by passing H.R. 4822, the 
Congressional Accountability Act, the House took the first step in 
bringing reform to this body. This bill applies 10 laws to Congress to 
which businesses in the private sector must already abide. It also 
provides a detailed process for congressional employees to raise 
allegations of violations to these laws. The intention of the bill is 
to provide legislative branch employees with the same employment rights 
and protections that are available to employees of the private sector 
or Federal branch of government.
  This legislation is long overdue. It is a privilege and honor to 
serve in Congress and this privilege should not be abused. Congress 
should hold themselves to at least the same standards that they enforce 
on others.
  There is no reason that Congress should be exempt from laws such as 
the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Age 
Discrimination Act, and the American with Disabilities Act. These laws 
have been enacted to ensure that discrimination does not occur in the 
work place. Members of Congress should take the lead on such issues; 
not pass legislation which, in essence, ensures they don't even have to 
follow the rules they impose on other employers.
  It is time that we, as Members of Congress, start acting as servants 
of those who elected us. We must stop placing ourselves above laws that 
we feel are necessary for others. Until we do--and to some degree 
rightly so--this institution's reputation with the American people will 
continue to erode.
  I hope this is just a first step in reforming Congress. The Joint 
Committee on the Organization of Congress, which was established to 
make recommendations on how Congress can operate more efficiently and 
effectively, has made many other recommendations that need to be 
considered by this body. Only when the entire reform proposal is 
debated and passed will credibility begin to be truly restored to this 
body.
  It is time for us to send a message to our constituents that we do 
not believe we are above the laws we create.

                          ____________________