[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MORNING 1-MINUTE SPEECHES SERVE IMPORTANT FUNCTION

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, a time-honored tradition in this body is now 
under attack. I am speaking of that period, this time right now, set 
aside each day for one-minute speeches.
  It has been a long practice for Members to come to the well of the 
Chamber each morning to speak briefly about pending legislation, a 
tribute to a group or individual back in their district, or a soon-to-
be introduced bill. Sadly, some would like to move those speeches to 
the end of the legislative day, I believe to stifle debate. I, like 
many of my colleagues, strenuously oppose that idea.
  One-minute speeches often give Members, particularly junior Members, 
a chance to speak when they otherwise might not have the opportunity to 
do so. As my colleagues know, a freshman or a sophomore Member might 
sit at a committee meeting for 2 hours before being able to pose one 
question to a witness. He or she, if lucky, might get 30 seconds to 
debate a pending bill on the floor. One-minute speeches give these 
Members and the people they represent back home a chance to be heard.
  Mr. Speaker, let us not silence Members of this body. Let us not 
stifle debate. Let us not kill the one-minute speeches.

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