[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     WE MUST NOT TAKE YESTERDAY'S HEADLINES AND MAKE THEM TODAY'S 
                              CONCLUSIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was compelled, in listening 
to my good friend on the other side of the aisle, to simply rise and 
ask for truth in speaking, only because I think that we do a disservice 
to make yesterday's headlines today's congressional debate.
  A jury rendered a verdict yesterday. Some of those individuals are 
friends of those who are in government here in Washington, DC. The 
comment that I heard at this point is that the he wished his friends 
well. The comments that I heard of their lawyers is that the process is 
not over, and, in fact, they have the right to appeal. The real 
question becomes, now, for us in this Congress, to allow the process to 
move forward.
  There is a Whitewater investigator committee in the Senate that has a 
June 14 deadline. To date, they have found nothing and determined 
nothing. There was a report secured by the RTC just about 2 years ago 
from a law firm in California, an independent assessment that found no 
wrongdoing on the part of the President and First Lady. But we are here 
only to encourage the fairness and openness to this process.

  I hope we do not take to the House floor to cause statements to be 
made that would suggest that we have concluded and we have all the 
answers. It is appropriate, as I have said, for this process to be 
followed through. We might listen mindfully to the foreman of the jury, 
who spoke very eloquently yesterday evening and indicated that it was 
not a question of the integrity or credibility of the President of the 
United States. They made independent judgments on the data and 
documentation submitted.
  But I do believe that we have the responsibility to the American 
public to be forthright. There is no reason to hide the ball, but we 
also have the responsibility to be responsible; to allow those 
authorities that have the jurisdiction, the courts of law, the 
investigative committee in the Senate, to do their job. We add nothing 
to bring to the floor accusations on the President and First Lady when 
there are processes going forward to ensure that the job is done.
  I believe that American people would like us to proceed accordingly, 
and I hope we give respect to all of those involved in this process, 
including those who have been now judged, who have the right as 
Americans to appeal their case to the highest court of the land.

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