[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2000
                         THE BIPARTISAN RETREAT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton] is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, our goal is a simple one: to fan the 
flames of cordiality and congeniality, with the hope of producing 
harmony. Does that mean that everyone in this House will be identical, 
the same, or will agree with each other? Harmony does not mean we must 
all speak the same language or sing the same tune. Indeed, an orchestra 
achieves harmony with many different instruments and a range of sounds. 
One does not have to surrender one's philosophy or one's independence 
to appreciate that, in the end, we are all dependent on each other. We 
are, in fact, interdependent. We can disagree, however, without being 
disagreeable.
  We propose to gather over several days, early next year, Democrats 
and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, women and men. With our 
families and staff we will take a short train ride to a place of 
assembly. Once there we will talk, talk to each other, and we will 
listen and, I hope, be heard. We will learn from each other and teach; 
hopefully, we will communicate with each other.
  But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, we will have fun; fun getting to 
know each other as human beings first before we learn what the 
philosophical differences are. We will learn our commonality as human 
beings.
  We expect to discuss such terms as conflict management, coalition 
building, sources of information and, most of all, courtesy, respect 
and civility.
  There will be lots of time for social interaction. Plans are being 
made for quality entertainment. Most importantly, this will not come at 
the expense of the taxpayers. This retreat is a chance to give us in 
the Congress a chance to act in a more deliberate and civil way.
  Now, there are doubters and naysayers and detractors. There always 
are. There are always those who say this will be of no value and no one 
will come. But since we have begun meeting to plan this retreat, I have 
been encouraged by the firm determination of those who conceived this 
idea and those who are organizing it, despite the resistance. Some of 
them have spoken tonight, those who are planning.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe the House owes a great debt of gratitude to 
our colleagues, the gentleman from Colorado, Democrat David Skaggs, and 
the gentleman from Illinois, Republican Ray LaHood. They have dared to 
be different, to make a difference in a community of hostility.
  We, therefore, must ask each of us as Members tonight to make a 
commitment to civility. We ask that each Member promise to be faithful 
to true standards of statesmanship, dignity, decorum, geniality and 
protocol. That commitment and promise can begin by each Member 
completing the survey that has been circulated by the task force. If 
there are Members who have not completed that survey, we ask that you 
indeed do that.
  We want to make sure our colleagues are involved every step of the 
way, and they can certainly have an involvement in that. Complete the 
survey and join the harmony, not necessarily rendering your thoughts or 
position, but rendering your rancor, your incivility and your indecency 
to the hope of making this place more decent.
  Come plan to have fun and to make sure we start off on the right foot 
for next season.

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