[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 158 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON S. 652 TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILL

  (Mr. CONYERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this motion to 
instruct the conferees.
  As ranking member of the Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction 
over the antitrust laws which lie at the heart of the M-F-J, I believe 
we in Congress should be doing everything we can to foster fair 
competition.
  I am, therefore, encouraged by the fact that my good friend and 
Michigan colleague and distinguished ranking member of the Commerce 
Committee, Mr. Dingell, agreed to specify in this motion that the 
conferees support those provisions which promote fair competition in 
telecommunications.
  That means that we should open telecommunications markets only to the 
extent that we can be sure that monopolies will not abuse the 
principles of fair and open competition in the marketplace. Such abuse 
of monopolistic power would surely lead to higher consumer prices.
  During the conference I will be doing everything within my power to 
ensure that the final bill provides for fair competition without the 
possibility of monopoly abuse. I fought for fair competition in the 
Judiciary Committee with Chairman Hyde, I fought for fair competition 
on the House floor, and I hope that as the House and Senate bills are 
reconciled we can achieve an accommodation providing fair competition 
for the American people.
  If the final legislative product does not achieve such an 
accommodation, but instead allows monopolies to abuse their market 
power, this would be a dramatic step backward from the M-F-J. In such 
an event, I believe it would be preferable for the President to veto 
the legislation so we can begin work again next Congress.
  Finally, I note that nothing in this motion preempts conferees from 
being very flexible. Nothing prevents the conferees from looking at a 
whole variety of alternatives that will promote fair competition.
  Nothing in this motion should prevent the conferees from engaging in 
serious discussions with the administration so that a consensus package 
can be arrived at, and so that we can have meaningful 
telecommunications reform this year.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on this motion and a vote for fair competition.

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