[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to speak 
on a very serious issue, and I truly believe that this should not be an 
issue, a cause of partisan stridency. But a friend of mine, Speaker Jim 
Wright, some years ago faced this House in a dignified manner. 
Interestingly enough, the report on Speaker Wright, an outstanding man, 
dealing with an ethics allegation, was issued and reported to this body 
in 14 days. Speaker Wright was a Democrat and a great American.
  It seems to me quite contradictory and hypocritical that we now have 
a preliminary ethics report on the Speaker of the House and the 
American people cannot hear it. I do not need to rise to the floor of 
the House shouting at the top of my lungs. I only need to ask the 
question.
  If there is a report of ethics violations on the Speaker of the House 
of the United States of America, let the people be heard and let the 
people hear the report. This report should be issued so that all of us 
can discuss it, understand it and respond to it. Release the special 
counsel's report now on behalf of the American people.

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