[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E467-E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REGARDING THE NEED TO SCHEDULE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM LEGISLATION IN 
                               THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 1997

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the 
Record a letter signed by 112 Members of Congress to Speaker Newt 
Gingrich and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt calling for a commitment 
to bring campaign finance reform legislation to the House floor by the 
100th of this Congress.
  In the previous Congress we saw how much could be accomplished in 100 
days with the political will to do so.
  In this Congress, under Republican leadership, we have accomplished 
precious little to date this year. Worst of all, there has been nothing 
but silence from the Republican leadership on the need for reform of 
our campaign finance laws.
  Speaker Gingrich has not responded to our letter. However, others 
have called for fast action.
  The President has called for action by July 4. The Senate Democratic 
leader, Tom Daschle, called for action early in the year. Democratic 
Leader Gephardt has called for action within 100 days, as have over 100 
other House Members.
  We must bring this issue to a vote early or it will be delayed until 
it cannot be brought forward at all.
  I urge my colleagues to pressure the Republican leadership to commit 
to bringing a reform bill to the floor.


                                     House of Representatives,

                                  Washington, DC, January 6, 1997.
     Hon. Newt Gingrich,
     Speaker,
     Hon. Richard Gephardt,
     Democratic Leader.
       Dear Sirs: I am respectfully submitting to you additional 
     signatures gathered during the Holidays from our colleagues 
     urging you to schedule substantive campaign finance reform 
     during the first 100 days of this Congress. We must not let 
     the congressional schedule kill reform as it has in the past. 
     For your information, I am also enclosing the original letter 
     we submitted to you on November 20.
       With this second letter, 112 Members from both parties are 
     calling for fast action on this urgent issue. I hope that we 
     will be able to accommodate this public priority.
           Sincerely,
     George Miller, M.C.
                                                                    ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                  Washington, DC, January 6, 1997.
     Re Letter also sent to Representative Gephardt.
     Hon. Newt Gingrich,
     Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: In a November 20 letter, 93 Members of 
     Congress and Members-Elect urged you to commit to passing 
     comprehensive campaign finance reform within the first 100 
     days of the new Congress. We are writing today to make the 
     same urgent request. No other legislation could do more to 
     end gridlock and begin to restore public confidence in 
     Congress' ability to act on behalf of the American people.
       Several times in the past you and Mr. Gephardt have stated 
     your support for campaign finance reform. We believe that for 
     reform to become a reality you must commit to passing it 
     early in the new Congress. Any further delay in passing tough 
     reforms that impose reasonable limitations on campaign 
     financing and shut the loopholes once and for all is 
     inexcusable. The need for reform has been dramatically 
     apparent to us and to the public for many years. But each 
     Congress, campaign finance reform legislation fails to be 
     enacted. And lack of time is often used as an excuse.
       We do not pretend that it will be easy to craft legislation 
     with which all Members and the public will be pleased. But 
     that is our challenge and we believe enough information and 
     expertise exists to write an effective and fair bill.
       All reform options should be on the table, including a 
     constitutional amendment limiting campaign expenditures, 
     restrictions on contributions from foreign-controlled 
     interests, and limits on ``soft money'' spending that 
     indirectly benefits or attacks candidates.
       As the last Congress showed, a determined House of 
     Representatives can pass complex and sweeping legislation 
     within 100 days. There is no reason we cannot make--and 
     keep--a promise that campaign finance reform be our highest 
     priority and approved within the first 100 days of the 105th 
     Congress.
       Again, as our colleagues previously wrote, we respectfully 
     urge you to commit now to campaign finance reform passing in 
     the first 100 days of the new Congress.
           Sincerely,
         Tom Davis, Lloyd Doggett, James Walsh, Tom Campbell, 
           Robert Underwood, Eni Faleomavaega, John Lewis, Lee 
           Hamilton, Frank Tejeda, Phil English, Joe Kennedy, 
           Bernie Sanders, Henry Waxman, Ed Markey.
                                                                    ____


Representative George Miller, Campaign Finance Reform Letter, Cosigner 
                         List November 20, 1996

       Tom Allen.
       Neil Abercrombie.
       John Baldacci.
       Tom Barrett.
       Xavier Becerra.
       Earl Blumenauer.
       Leonard Boswell.
       Walter Capps.
       Bob Clement.
       Gary Condit.
       Merrill Cook.
       Jerry Costello.
       Danny Davis.
       Jim Davis.
       Peter DeFazio.
       Peter Deutsch.
       Diana DeGette.
       William Delahunt.
       Rosa De Lauro.
       Ron Dellums.
       Julian Dixon.
       Chet Edwards.
       Eliot Engel.
       Anna Eshoo.
       Bob Etheridge.
       Lane Evans.
       Sam Farr.
       Bob Filner.
       Thomas Foglietta.
       Harold Ford, Jr.
       Sam Gejdenson.
       Gene Green.
       Luis Gutierrez.
       Tony Hall.
       Jane Harman.
       Bill Hefner.
       Maurice Hinchey.
       Tim Holden.
       Marcy Kaptur.
       Barbara Kennelly.
       Ron Kind.
       John LaFalce.
       Tom Lantos.
       Sander Levin.
       Blanche Lambert Lincoln.
       Zoe Lofgren.
       Nita Lowey.
       Carolyn McCarthy.
       Jim McGovern.
       Jim McDermott.
       Paul McHale.
       Cynthia McKinney.
       Carolyn B. Maloney.
       Jim Maloney.
       Frank Mascara.
       Martin Meehan.
       Juanita Millender-McDonald.
       David Minge.
       Patsy Mink.
       Alan Mollohan.
       Jim Moran.
       Connie Morella (signed her own letter of support on 
     November 22, 1996).
       Jim Oberstar.
       Bill Pascrell.
       Ed Pastor.
       Nancy Pelosi.
       Collin C. Peterson.
       Earl Pomeroy.
       Glenn Poshard.
       David Price.
       Bill Richardson.
       Carlos Romero-Barcelo.
       Lucille Roybal-Allard.
       Tom Sawyer.
       Chuck Schumer.
       Christopher Shays.
       Louise McIntosh Slaughter.
       David Skaggs.
       Adam Smith.
       Debbie Stabenow.
       Pete Stark.
       Bart Stupak.
       Ellen Tauscher.
       Karen Thurman.
       John Tierney.
       Bruce Vento.
       Melvin Watt.
       Robert Weygand.
       Robert Wise.
       Lynn Woolsey.
       Sidney Yates.
                                                                    ____


  George Miller Campaign Finance Reform Cosigners to January 6, 1997 
                                 Letter

       Tom Campbell.
       Tom Davis.
       Lloyd Doggett.
       Phil English.
       Lee Hamilton.
       Joe Kennedy.
       Frank Tejeda.

[[Page E468]]

       James Walsh.
       Robert Underwood.
       Bernie Sanders.
       Eni Faleomavaega.
       Henry Waxman.
       John Lewis.
       Ed Markey.
       Ken Bentsen.
       Jim Turner.
       Karen McCarthy.
       Doug Bereuter.
       F. Allen Boyd.

                          ____________________