[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MORE ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from California [Mr. Farr] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, last week the President of the 
United States came to this Chamber, and he challenged us to give him a 
comprehensive campaign reform bill by July 4 of this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I responded the next day by introducing the campaign 
finance reform bill, H.R. 600. Now, Mr. Speaker, if you are committed 
to campaign finance reform, as your handshake with the President a year 
ago would lead us to believe, then I would urge you to take up this 
call and this bill and bring it to the House floor.
  Daily we are greeted with headlines in newspapers with stories about 
questionable campaign practices. Regularly we are confronted by our 
constituents asking for sanity in the election process.
  Always we are faced with the burden of our own campaign needs and how 
to meet them in a way that does not destroy the faith in the political 
process. We need campaign finance reform, and we need it now.
  H.R. 600 is one of the bills introduced in this House. It embodies 
comprehensive reform, and it meets the principles of reform that we can 
all embrace. First it is fair. Real reform does not favor one party 
over another or one candidate over another.
  Second, it reduces the influence of special interests. Political 
action limits, limits on large donors and the elimination of soft money 
can accomplish this.
  Third, it must be a level playing field. That is, campaigns are made 
to be competitive by enhancing spending limits.
  Fourth, there must be access to this body and to this system by 
nontraditional candidates. Women and minority candidates should be able 
to run as easily as anyone else.
  Mr. Speaker, many of us wrote you a letter requesting action on 
campaign finance reform within the first 100 days of this session. The 
President would like to sign the bill on July 4.
  You can make it happen if you are committed to reform. I am. The 
question is, are you? What day will we vote on campaign reform? The 
Nation is waiting for your answer.

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