[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              TERM LIMITS

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 1995
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, this week the House will hold the first 
ever vote on term limits. The American people will witness a historic 
vote on an issue that previous Democrat-controlled Congresses prevented 
from ever being voted on in committee or on the House floor. Last 
September, House Republicans pledged to bring this historic legislation 
to the floor. We kept our promise.
  The new Republican controlled House has already shown its commitment 
to internal term limits. The Speaker is limited to four terms in that 
office, and committee and subcommittee chairmen are limited to three 
terms. Now we must take the next step and vote on term limits for every 
elected Member of the House.
  I applaud the Republican leadership for devising a strategy that 
provides the best opportunity to secure the votes necessary for 
passage. The winner takes all procedure allows for Members to support 
the term-limit package they feel most comfortable with regardless of 
outside groups and member sponsors.
  Forty years of Democrat rule in the House has created an institution 
less accountable to the people. Republicans are working to change this. 
The American people want to know that their representatives will serve 
their needs, not the Government's needs. Passage of term-limit 
legislation this week will bring Washington closer to the people it 
serves back home.


                          ____________________