[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BAN GIFTS FROM LOBBYISTS

  (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, the American public strongly favors banning 
gifts from lobbyists to Members of Congress, yet, again and again, the 
Republican leadership has turned back Democratic efforts to pass gift 
ban legislation. Yesterday, yet another Democratic gift ban amendment 
ran up against yet another Republican stonewall.
  The Baldacci amendment to the legislative appropriations bill we will 
consider today would have prohibited legislative funds from going to 
any Member or employee who has accepted a gift from a paid lobbyist, a 
lobbying firm, or an agent of a foreign principal. Yet, the Republican 
leadership will not even allow this amendment to come to the floor for 
a vote.
  Perks and privileges demean this institution and everyone who serves 
here. We are here to do the people's business and we are well 
compensated for that. We do not need paid vacations, frequent flier 
miles, or free meals to sweeten the deal. It is high time Republicans 
live up to their rhetoric on reform and join Democrats to clean up 
Congress and ban gifts from lobbyists.


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