[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 26 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1441-S1442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EXTENDING WHITEWATER INVESTIGATION

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, yesterday we returned for the last 
session of the 104th Congress to complete the Nation's business. We 
returned so that we could attempt to reach a bipartisan agreement on 
welfare reform. We returned to continue debating the future of 
Medicare. We returned so we could end the budget impasse. We returned 
so that we could face the legislative challenges before us and not let 
the American people down.
  I'm sad to say, we are not doing these important things. We are not 
serving the American people by working on the things that affect their 
day to day lives. Instead, we are debating whether 

[[Page S1442]]
to extend the Senate Committee's investigation into Whitewater 
indefinitely and if an additional $600,000 for the investigation should 
be provided.
  I oppose this attempt to extend the hearings indefinitely. The Senate 
has already spent $950,000 on 277 days of Whitewater investigation, 
heard from more than 100 witnesses, and collected more than 45,000 
pages of documents. Enough is enough.
  Let me tell you what I support. I support Senator Daschle's proposal 
to complete the task at hand by extending the hearing until April 3, 
1996, with a final report due on May 10, 1996. I also support letting 
the Independent Counsel do his work. Three federal judges have given 
him the job of investigating Whitewater and all related matters. He has 
more than 130 staff members helping him. There is no time limit or 
spending cap on his investigation, so he will be able to gather facts 
in a systematic and unencumbered way and to investigate Whitewater 
thoroughly. The results of his investigation will be made public. If 
the Independent Counsel finds wrongdoing, he has the authority to bring 
any lawbreakers to justice. By permitting him to do what none of us can 
do and what none of us should be doing, we will get a complete 
rendering of the facts. That's the right thing to do. That's what I 
support.
  What I don't support is using Senate committees to play Presidential 
politics. The goal of this proposed extension is very clear. It's about 
Presidential politics. And, it's about vilifying Mrs. Clinton in the 
name of Presidential politics. This attack on her is unprecedented. She 
has voluntarily answered questions on four occasions from the Grand 
jury and on three occasions in interviews for the Grand jury, numerous 
written questions, and she has been cooperative with the committee. I 
know her personally. Like many others across the Nation, I have deep 
admiration and respect for her.
  Like so many other American women she has struggled to meet the 
demands of both a career and a family. She is dedicated to her family 
and she is a dedicated advocate for children. For more than 25 years 
she worked on behalf of children and families which she discusses in 
her book ``It Takes a Village''. In ``Village'', Mrs. Clinton shares 
with the public her passion, conviction, and insight, gleaned from her 
experience as a mother, daughter, advocate, attorney, and First Lady.
  Mrs. Clinton has truly inspired a generation of men, women and 
children. She has worked to raise her own family and she has worked to 
protect a generation of children. So I don't support extending the 
Senate committee's investigation into Whitewater.
  We should not ask taxpayers to continue subsidizing this round of 
Presidential politics and this attack on Mrs. Clinton. Instead, I say, 
let's get on with the business of this country and its citizens. The 
Senate committee should finish its investigation immediately, write its 
report, and let the American people hear what the committee has to say. 
I believe the Senate should get back to the job we were elected to do. 
Get back to meeting the day to day needs of the American people. The 
American public deserves our full attention.

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