[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3567-S3568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONFIDENTIALITY OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to call the attention of all 
Senators and staff to rule XXIX of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
which addresses the confidentiality of executive sessions. Paragraph 5 
of standing rule XXIX reads as follows:

       Any Senator, officer, or employee of the Senate who shall 
     disclose the secret or confidential business or proceedings 
     of the Senate shall be liable, if a Senator, to suffer 
     expulsion from the body; and if an officer or employee, to 
     dismissal from the service of the Senate, and to punishment 
     for contempt.

  I urge my colleagues to keep this in mind when approached by the 
media for comments on these proceedings.


                           [order for recess]

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
stand in recess until the hour of 10:30 a.m. following brief remarks by 
Senator Hagel

[[Page S3568]]

and Senator Bingaman, at which time the Senate will then reconvene in 
the Old Senate Chamber for a closed executive session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Does the Senator seek recognition?
  Mr. BIDEN. Only to recognize Mr. Hagel.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor, Mr. President.

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