[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             REVOKE PAY ADJUSTMENT FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

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                            HON. MAX SANDLIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 1997

  Mr. SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
revoke the COLA for Members of Congress should it become law. The 
manner in which the COLA was approved by this body yesterday is 
appalling. Americans deserve to know if their Representative is voting 
to increase his or her pay. It should not be hidden in the 
parliamentary process. We must be honest enough with ourselves and with 
the American people to support openly or oppose openly this increase. 
My legislation will require us to make an honest, forthright statement 
about our pay.
  I hope events of the next few days will render my legislation 
unnecessary. I hope that once Members have had an opportunity to 
discuss with their constituents yesterday's attempt to sneak in a pay 
raise they will join the efforts of Congresswoman Linda Smith, myself, 
and others and support an amendment to prevent Members of Congress from 
receiving a COLA. If such an amendment is ruled out of order, Members 
should support a motion to appeal the ruling of the chair. If our 
amendment prevails, and I sincerely hope it does, my legislation will 
not be necessary. However, I believe we must make every effort to 
overturn yesterday's action and for that reason, I am introducing this 
bill today.
  As Members of Congress, I strongly believe that we should not talk 
about cutting important programs like Medicare and Social Security and 
then turn around and give ourselves a pay raise. During the 
appropriations process, we have forced many worthy programs to tighten 
their belts ``for the good of the country'' so we can meet our goal of 
a balanced budget by the year 2002. Why, then, not tighten our own 
belts?
  As I have said on many other occasions, it is irresponsible for us to 
increase our own pay at a time when we have not met our obligation to 
the American people to balance the Federal budget. We cannot continue 
to tell our constituents to tighten their belts while we loosen our 
own. We must first make Medicare solvent. We must first fully fund our 
veterans' benefits. We must first ensure that every student has an 
opportunity for a college education. We must first rebuild our 
crumbling infrastructure. We must first eliminate the estate tax. We 
must first take care of the people.
  I hope the leadership will see to it that this legislation receives a 
fair hearing and is brought to the floor with all due speed.

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