[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 137 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H8547-H8548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SUPPORT LOBBY REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Ward] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in strong 
support of lobby reform measures which have already been adopted by the 
other body. I want to thank the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett] for 
calling this special order to address this very 

[[Page H 8548]]
serious matter which should be a legislative priority in this House, 
because as you have just heard from the gentlewoman from Connecticut, 
it strikes at the very heart of what reform is supposed to be all 
about.
  One of the first statements I made on this House floor last January 
was a support of House Resolution 40, which seeks to ban gifts to 
Members and staff from lobbyists and lobbying firms. This legislation 
would ban all meals, entertainment, travel, legal defense fund 
contributions and other gifts. It would get at the question of these 
weekend junkets to so-called charity tournaments.
  I have personally pledged to follow the provisions of this gift ban 
whether or not it passes, and I have been doing so. The gift ban that 
47 other Members and I have signed is far more stringent than the other 
body's proposal, and I still hope that other Members of this body will 
follow our lead by signing the gift ban. However, adopting the other 
body's proposal would be a strong first step, and it would tell the 
American people that we are serious about reforming the way the 
Congress operates, and that we are serious about restoring 
accountability to this House.
                              {time}  1300

  Our counterparts in the other body have taken appropriate action and 
have passed the much needed gift ban and lobbying reform measures which 
ban gifts to Members and staff. However, as of today, the House has not 
voted to limit the value of gifts that a Member or staff can receive to 
$100 a year. This House voted not to limit individual gifts, including 
meals, to $50. This House has voted not to prohibit Members from 
accepting free travel to charity events such as golf and ski trips.
  This House has not voted to narrowly define exactly what constitutes 
a lobbyist and require lobbyists to receive at least $5,000 from any 
one client to register with the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of 
the Senate. These are things that this House has not done but needs to 
do.
  In his State of the Union Message, President Clinton stated that what 
we do not need is a law for everything, and I agree with that, but, Mr. 
Speaker, today we have been given clear and convincing evidence that 
not all Members will take these actions voluntarily. I think, 
therefore, that we must enact proper legislation for those who are 
unwilling to do it on their own.
  The time is long overdue for the House to pass real lobbying reform 
and gift ban measures and restore the people's trust in this body. The 
legislation passed in the other body is a strong first step and we 
should follow that example. I hope that this afternoon, when the 
amendment is offered, it will be ruled in order. I hope that with the 
rule not including the opportunity to offer this amendment, that the 
rule will be defeated. Now is the time for meaningful lobbying reform 
and gift ban, and I hope that we can take this time to do it.

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