[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM BLILEY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 1997

  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, today I, along with Congressmen Virgil 
Goode, Jim Kolbe, Nathan Deal, Paul Gillmor, and Floyd Spence, am 
introducing a constitutional amendment that will implement a more 
effective method by which States could take the initiative in the 
process by which the Constitution is amended. This legislation already 
has the support of Gov. George Allen and Gov. Mike Leavitt.
  At present, article V provides for two ways to amend the 
Constitution. The first involves the presentation of an amendment by 
Congress to the States for ratification. The second is by 
Constitutional Convention, convened at the request of the State 
legislatures. Even with both methods available, to date, all amendments 
to the Constitution have been enacted following passage by the Congress 
and ratification by three-fourths of the States. Some have asserted 
that the second method has not been as effective as intended by the 
Framers. Persuasive arguments have been made that a Constitutional 
Convention might alter the Constitution more expansively than intended 
by proponents of a specific proposed amendment.
  The Framers did intend that the States have an effective manner by 
which to modify the Constitution. We are proposing a process that 
allows the States to initiate the amending process that is devoid of 
the perils of a Constitutional Convention. Under our proposal, an 
amendment would be presented to Congress after two-thirds of the States 
indicated approval via their State legislatures. If two-thirds of each 
House of Congress does not agree to disapprove of the proposed 
amendment, it would be submitted to the States for ratification. Upon 
ratification by three-fourths of the States' legislatures, the 
amendment would become part of the Constitution.
  I urge your support for this commonsense legislation that returns as 
an option, the power to amend the Constitution to the States, as the 
Framers intended.

                          ____________________