[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         EXPLANATION OF ABSENCE

  Mr. SASSER. Mr. President, I would like to submit a statement to the 
Senate regarding the vote for which I was absent earlier today.
  Unfortunately, I was unable to make the vote today because of long-
standing commitments to meet with law enforcement officials in 
Tennessee.
  I supported this legislation when it passed the Senate.
  It is an important step in the reform of our system of lobbying. S. 
349 would ban gifts to Members of Congress and their staffs and would 
require disclosure of lobbying activities.
  It was clear, though, that cloture would not be achieved today. In 
addition, it was clear that even if it had been the debate would have 
been extended over most, if not all, of the available 30 hours.
  I would have welcomed that opportunity to fully discuss the important 
questions that have been raised over the provisions which were added in 
the conference--particularly registration requirements. It is important 
that in efforts to revise lobbying activities we must also be mindful 
of the need to permit full expression of citizen opinion through a wide 
variety of grassroots organizations.
  I am very proud of my record of attendance, which was the last time I 
checked just about 99 percent.

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