[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11494-S11495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SENATE ETHICS RULES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as everyone knows, we have, over the 
last year, year and a half, made some adjustments in the ethics rules 
for the Senate. The Select Committee on Ethics is principally in 
business to do investigative and disciplinary work, but its work in the 
area of Member and public education is also a major part of what the 
committee does, and that is less familiar to most Americans.
  The committee's advice and counsel, typically provided to Members, 
staff and the public affected by the Senate code of conduct, in fact, 
constitutes a substantial amount of the work that the committee does in 
giving advice to people who are seeking not to run afoul of the rules 
of the Senate. On a regular basis, the committee answers questions and 
provides guidance on a wide array of subjects, from financial 
disclosure to the application of gift and travel rules, to conflicts of 
interest. Much of the advice takes the form of just responses to 
telephone calls, which are typically received by the committee staff. 
But, frequently, the committee responds in writing to a specific 
question raised by a Senator or, for that matter, somebody out in the 
public who is trying to get advice about how to structure an event. All 
inquiries, frankly, are welcome and are treated as confidential, in 
accordance with the committee's rules.
  On occasion, a specific question raised with the committee is 
determined to have general relevance to the entire Senate. Over the 
years, the committee has published the answers to such questions as 
interpretative rulings. Between 1977 and 1992, the committee issued 
more than 440 interpretative rulings, all of which are publicly 
available.
  The committee has also, from time to time, communicated with all 
Senators in the form of ``Dear Colleague'' letters on a particular 
point of the Code of Conduct. The committee did that earlier this year 
regarding the application of the new gifts rule. The committee has 
compiled various other documents explaining rules governing proper and 
appropriate Senate conduct.
  The committee staff also conducts regular briefings for staff and 
orientation sessions when we have new Members coming in at the 
beginning of each Congress.
  The sum and substance of this means that information and education 
are an important part of the work of the Ethics Committee. In order to 
facilitate and improve the committee's educational role, we have, 
today, published the first-ever Senate Ethics Manual. I regret that it 
is as thick as it is, but the Senate, over the last 10, 15 years has 
been increasingly made more complex in the rules by which we must live 
our lives, so we have had the staff work, over the last year, trying to 
develop a manual which, candidly, Mr. President, is not going to answer 
every question, but may help in providing a sort of quick, ready 
reference for Members of the Senate in trying to determine how to 
handle a matter that might raise some ethical question. Again, I 
apologize for the thickness of it, but I think it illustrates how many 
new rules we have adopted for ourselves and how much interpretation is 
needed in order to discover what to do under the new rules. So this 
will be made available to every Member of the Senate. I suggest that, 
for whoever in the office becomes sort of the office expert on matters 
of this sort, this be on their desk and, hopefully, that person will be 
able to be of some assistance to the Senator in the coming years in 
answering questions.
  The manual is comprehensive. It covers gifts, conflicts of interest, 
outside income, office account, financial disclosure, political 
activity, the frank, Senate facilities, constituent service, and 
employment practices. It explains the rules and incorporates the 
interpretations that we have developed over the years. In addition, it 
contains many illustrations of situations that have occurred, or could 
occur, and sets forth the standard for appropriate conduct.

[[Page S11495]]

  I am confident that every Senator will incorporate this manual in his 
or her important office documents. As I have suggested earlier, it will 
probably end up occupying a significant spot in the office of every 
Senator. I think it is not likely to eliminate the need to call the 
Ethics Committee for advice, although it may make those phone calls 
less frequent.
  The committee staff worked long and hard on this manual, and they 
deserve the appreciation of the Senate and the American people. In 
particular, Victor Baird, Linda Chapman, Elizabeth Ryan, Adam Bramwell, 
Marie Mullis, and Annette Gillis toiled long hours over the last 
several months to bring this project to fruition. They have turned out, 
in my view, a very fine product.
  As I indicated earlier, one copy of this manual will be made 
available to each Senator. In fact, this afternoon, one copy will be 
delivered to each office. I am not going to ask that it be printed in 
the Congressional Record, as it is quite thick, but I ask unanimous 
consent that the manual be printed as a Senate document.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Then there will be sufficient copies available to 
committees and subcommittees as well as the general public.
  So, Mr. President, I hope that this ethics manual will be useful to 
Members of the Senate and to others who will need to become at least 
generally familiar with the rules of the Senate.
  Again, I thank the staff of the Ethics Committee for an outstanding 
piece of work. It was really quite a difficult project. I thank them on 
behalf of all Members of the Senate.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thomas). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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