[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     URGING PASSAGE OF THE GIFT BAN

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we need to take up the President's 
challenge and ban gifts of any kind from paid lobbyists, and we need to 
restrict the amount of royalty income that Members of Congress are 
permitted to receive to one-third of their annual salary. The Bryant 
bill would do just that. It is the toughest lobby reform and ethics 
legislation ever considered by Congress.
  We must pass the Bryant bill, because it is not enough for each 
Member of Congress to simply pledge that we will not longer take gifts 
or accept royalties, we also need to enforce disclosure by lobbyists. 
The American people have a right to know what legislation these groups 
are attempting to influence and how much money they are spending in 
those efforts.
  On January 4, the first day of the 104th Congress, House Democrats 
moved to impose tough gift restrictions and royalty limits. But that 
effort failed--not a single Republican voted for the gift ban.
  It is time for Republicans to live up to their rhetoric on reform. 
Perks and privileges demean this institution and everyone who serves 
here. Let us pass the gift ban, now.

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