[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 200 (Friday, December 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ETHICS REFORM ACT OF 1995

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
establish an independent Commission on Congressional Ethics. It is 
obvious to me as I am sure it is to you and the American people that it 
is time to change the way ethics complaints are handled in this House. 
It is time to put an end to personal friendships such as has been 
displayed by the current chairman, and to put an end to associations 
with an organization that needs to be investigated as is the case with 
most majority members of the Ethics Committee. The committee has acted 
in the case of the Speaker, but quite frankly in my opinion is too 
little and way too late. The independent counsel's hands should not 
have been tied. We cannot remove this cloud that hangs over the Capitol 
until a complete, independent, unfettered investigation is completed. 
My bill will ensure that in the future friendships between the 
committee and the accused will not be a part of the process. My bill 
calls for a commission of five former or senior Federal judges. Two 
would be picked by the Speaker, two by the minority leader and the 
fifth by the four selected. This commission would take over all duties 
of the current Ethics Committee. I ask my colleagues to join with me 
and return fairness to the ethics process. Cosponsor the Ethics Reform 
Act of 1995.

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