[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5558-S5559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 104TH CONGRESS

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I wish briefly to add my reflections on 
the accomplishments of this Congress and especially of our colleagues 
in the House of Representatives during this first 100 days of that 
historic Congress.
  The new leadership of the House of Representatives made certain 
commitments, ambitious commitments to the people of the United States 
in the course of last year's campaign covering a number of vitally 
important subjects to the people of the United States. Those 
commitments were repeated after the election was over. Those 
commitments have been kept to the letter by our colleagues in the 
House.
  I believe that this remarkable record of achievement has created a 
distinct resonance on the part of the American people whose opinion of 
Congress, extremely low as recently as 6 months ago, has at least begun 
to recover. Perhaps more significant in the long run will be the 
content of the 100 days' promises, dramatic changes in the way in which 
Congress does its business, a very real attack on the problem of 
violent crime in our society, a major step 
 [[Page S5559]] forward toward welfare reform, toward tax relief for 
families, and for the creation of jobs, toward our national security, 
and toward legal reform, Mr. President.
  As each of us knows in this body, on the other hand, no one can 
safely make 100-day promises. The right of unlimited debate, vital to 
the liberties of the people of the United States, causes more careful 
consideration frequently of particular items and often frustration on 
the part of Members of the Senate and of the country itself. 
Nevertheless, at least three items in the contract for America have 
passed this body as well as the House.
  The announcement I just made on behalf of the majority leader 
indicates that a portion of the legal reform agenda will be the first 
item to be discussed by the Senate upon its return, and I would hazard 
the estimate that before this year is over every one of the items on 
the Contract With America will have been discussed and voted on in the 
Senate. We can no more promise than the Speaker of the House can that 
all will be passed. Each and every one of these items requires at least 
a degree of bipartisan support in the Senate given the rules of this 
body. But it is clear that this Congress as a whole has acted more 
decisively and has created a greater change in course and direction for 
the country than any Congress literally in decades.
  Finally, Mr. President, I would be remiss if I did not express my 
personal pride in the new Members of the House of Represenatives from 
my own State. My own State has provided more new Members from my party, 
more freshmen Members than any other State in the United States of 
America, five men and one woman of great distinction in their previous 
careers, enthusiastically dedicated to the goals of the contract on 
which they ran, and major participants, even though they are freshmen 
Members, in the wonderful successes which the House of Representatives 
has shown. I am proud to be a part of that delegation and express my 
great gratitude to them for all they have accomplished in as yet short 
but highly distinguished congressional careers.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor

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