[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1347-E1348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

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                               speech of
                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1854) making 
     appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Mr. FAZIO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Christensen 
amendment. During the 13 years that I've managed the legislative 
appropriations bill, I can't count the number of times we have dealt 
with an amendment to cut elevator operators.
  As a newcomer to our body, the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. 
Christensen, lacks the perspective on this issue that many of his more 
senior colleagues enjoy. The fact is, over the last dozen years or so, 
the House has cut elevator operators from a level of 150 to just 22 
today. Twelve of these operators work in the Capitol, 10 work in House 
buildings. The average salary of these full-time employees is below 
$20,000.
  Over the years, the Architect regularly has requested funds to 
modernize elevators. Because the committee has worked to make these 
funds available, and because this modernization has been carried out in 
many areas, we have been able to reduce the number of elevator 
operators dramatically. The fact is, we employ a minimum number now, 
and we use them where Member traffic and traffic from our visitors is 
heaviest, essentially only where it is absolutely necessary to expedite 
Members getting to votes.
  I also think the gentleman forgets that these loyal employees are 
some of the best good-will ambassadors in the House, responding 
tirelessly to thousand of questions from our visiting constituents each 
year and helping our visitors through the Capitol's bewildering and 
sprawling complex. 

[[Page E1348]]

  The events of yesterday dramatically point out the difference that a 
few seconds can make in whether Members will get to the Chamber 
successfully to represent their constituents on the important bills and 
amendments we vote on daily. As the Republican leadership insists on a 
17-minute time frame for votes in order to expedite the business of the 
House, punctuality will remain very important.
  I strongly oppose the gentleman's amendment, and I urge my colleagues 
to let their common sense overcome this crude attempt to engage in the 
politics of sound-bites and political expediency.


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