[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 41 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H2704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT MUST ITSELF BE ABOVE 
                                REPROACH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Slaughter] is recognized for 1 minute.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned today. I am very 
concerned about the ability of the House Committee on Standards of 
Official Conduct to conduct its business in a fair and impartial 
manner, because of press reports that we have seen throughout this 
Congress expressing doubts about the committee's failure to uphold the 
bipartisan standard of fairness for which it is well-know.
  Just yesterday I read a press report about a new breach or possible 
breach of impartiality, where the committee was accused of 
communicating with a Member who was under review. Surely, Mr. Speaker, 
this must not happen. It is totally unacceptable.
  The group in this House that is charged and given the privilege of 
maintaining the ethics and the decorum of this House must not itself 
come under reproach.

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