[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 124 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10858-S10859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MEASURE INDEFINITELY POSTPONED--S. 1061

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair announces that S. 1061 is 
indefinitely postponed.
  The Chair recognizes the majority leader.
  Mr. DOLE. Madam President, the American people sent us a message last 
November. A lot of us might prefer to think that message was directed 
to the executive branch alone. But part of that message was directed to 
Congress. The American people want a Congress accountable to them, and 
them alone. The American people want us to rein in our appetites and to 
take the steps necessary to correct the perception that Congress 
suffers from an arrogance that shields it from the dramatic changes 
sweeping this country.
  I am pleased that we have responded, and I am pleased that we have 
done so in a bipartisan manner. The very first legislation passed in 
this Congress was a requirement that Congress would henceforth live 
under the same laws that apply to everyone else. We have begun the hard 
task of living under a balanced budget just like most Americans do 
every day. Several days ago, we passed the next installment on reform 
legislation, legislation which reformed the way lobbyists do business 
in our Nation's Capital.
  And, today, we have passed the next congressional reform package, one 
which directly confronts the concerns many Americans might have about 
how we conduct our business. Now, I think in most cases the problem of 
gifts to Members is one of perception. But I think respect for the 
institution of the Senate
 demands that we take the extra steps necessary to ensure that 
perceptions do not become reality. We have done that today.

  I have in the past made clear that if it was necessary I would be 
prepared to eliminate all gifts--I do not go out to dinner with 
lobbyists. But I do not think anyone around here has cornered the 
market on integrity and the bipartisan package before us is a good 
balance of the need for reform and the need for common sense.
  We certainly do not intend to place Members in the awkward position 
of refusing a gift of nominal value when addressing, say, the local 
Kiwanis Club, and situations like these are addressed in a reasonable 
way by this bipartisan package. If these reforms turn out to be 
insufficient, then we will tighten them up further.
  I want to pay tribute to those on both sides of the aisle who worked 
so hard to resolve very real differences--Senators McCain and Levin, in 
particular, who worked so hard to resolve these differences.
  I would like to thank Senator Lott for heading up a bipartisan task 
force that produced this gift reform package. He and his assistant, 
Alison Carroll, did a superb job. And, finally, I would like to thank 
Senator McConnell, who was ably assisted by Melissa Patack, 

[[Page S 10859]]
for his leadership on yet another tough issue.


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