[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E140-E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




LEGISLATION TO REIMBURSE WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL OFFICE EMPLOYEES FOR LEGAL 
                                EXPENSES

                                 ______


                      HON. WILLIAM F. CLINGER, JR.

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. CLINGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with several of my colleagues, 
including Majority Leader Armey, to introduce legislation to reimburse 
the seven White House Travel Office employees for legal expenses 
incurred as a result of their firings on May 19, 1993.
  It was nearly 3 years ago that seven men who had served in the Travel 
Office for anywhere from 9 to 32 years were fired summarily and placed 
under a cloud of suspicion when the White House announced they were the 
subjects of a criminal investigation. Only one of the seven men was 
indicted and, in the wake of a 30-month long investigation, a jury took 
only 2 hours to acquit Billy Dale of the two charges against him.
  The seven men fired from the White House Travel Office on May 19, 
1993, appeared before the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight 
last Wednesday. Individually and collectively, they spoke, with an 
eloquence which has touched the Nation, of the pride they took in 
serving the White House under Democrat and Republican Presidents. Mr. 
McSweeney put it best when he said, and I quote:

       I would hope that people would understand that, for me and 
     thousands of others, when Air Force One would arrive, the 
     markings on the side were not Democratic Party or Republican 
     Party--it read ``United States of America.'' The emblem on 
     its side was not a political poster, it was the seal of the 
     Executive Office of the President of the United States. When 
     the door opened, the man or woman chosen by the people of 
     this country to fill that office had my complete loyalty and 
     support. I did that for 13 of the proudest years of my life.

  I know that Mr. McSweeney spoke for all six of his colleagues when he 
said those words and he spoke for the pride of a nation in the Office 
of the President.
  It pains me to say that I now believe that the charges made against 
those seven men by this administration appear to have been baseless, 
unwarranted, and intended to provide cover for an act of political 
cronyism. The fact that these men were, and are, innocent, however, 
does not mitigate their suffering as FBI and IRS agents trooped through 
their neighborhoods inquiring into their character, their conduct, and 
their families. Nor does it make up for nearly three-quarters of $1 
million in legal expenses they incurred in the course of mounting their 
own defense.
  Billy Dale's legal defense has cost him nearly $500,000. His six 
colleagues spent more than $200,000 in their own defense, some $150,000 
of which was reimbursed in a Transportation appropriations bill in 
1994.
  While this bill will make financially whole the seven fired Travel 
Office workers for their legal expenses, I regret that nothing I can do 
will ever erase the needless, baseless suffering inflicted upon them 
and their families as their reputations were trashed before the world 
to make way for friends of the First Family and Harry Thomason. For 
that, I am deeply sorry. 

[[Page E141]]


  I want to commend the White House spokesman for publicly admonishing 
Mr. Robert Bennett, the attorney representing President Clinton and 
Harry Thomason for continuing the administration's attack on Mr. Dale 
and his colleagues. I wrote the President asking him to call off his 
attack squad and that now seems to be happening.
  The White House spokesman also indicated that the President will sign 
this legislation. I anticipate these bills will pass both Chambers 
relatively quickly.
  I am pleased to introduce this bill on behalf of the seven Travel 
Office employees. They served their country for many years with pride, 
integrity, and ethics. All of these characteristics are essential if we 
ever hope to restore people's faith in their Government.

                                H.R. --

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTAIN LEGAL EXPENSES AND 
                   RELATED FEES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay, 
     from amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such 
     sums as are necessary to reimburse former employees of the 
     White House Travel Office whose employment in that Office was 
     terminated on May 19, 1993, for any legal expenses and 
     related fees they incurred with respect to that termination.
       (b) Verification Required.--The Secretary shall pay an 
     individual in full under subsection (a) upon submission by 
     the individual of documentation verifying the legal expenses 
     and related fees.
       (c) No Inference of Liability.--Liability of the United 
     States shall not be inferred from enactment of or payment 
     under this section.

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