[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                SPEAKER'S STATEMENT CALLED IRRESPONSIBLE

  (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this is the first time I have 
spoken on the floor this year about a statement of the Speaker, but I 
feel compelled to do so today.
  His comment yesterday that he is not convinced that Vincent Foster 
committed suicide was highly irresponsible.
  There is no evidence to support the notion that the death of Vincent 
Foster was not a suicide. It is not a subject to inquiry in the hearing 
now under way in this Congress.
  The Speaker has shot from the hip before, but when it comes to 
matters of life and death, there is no good excuse.
  No one, especially a Government official and surely the Speaker, can 
be too busy to think about the ramifications of what he says before he 
talks.
  I urge the Speaker to reflect further and withdraw his comment. We 
need to appeal to the better instincts of our citizenry and not to 
reinforce or encourage, inadvertently or not, those who try to spread 
paranoia or unfounded conspiracy theories for whatever purpose, 
political or otherwise.

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