[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE TO OUR CHILDREN

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, one of the joys of serving in the House 
is being able to bring young visitors here to the floor, but when I 
bring children on the House floor, they are often surprised to see 
Members of Congress smoking here in the Chamber.
  My young guests ask if it is against the rules to smoke in the House, 
and I tell them there are some areas one can and some areas one cannot. 
I have no good answer as to why the rules are not enforced or why 
smoking is permitted here at all.
  I am concerned about this message we are sending to our children. We 
tell them not to smoke, and they watch smoking here in the House, the 
people's Chamber.
  A bipartisan group of Members and I have proposed House Resolution 
247 which protects our guests from tobacco smoke. This prohibition 
would include the House floor, passageways and rooms leading to the 
floor, and the Rayburn Room.
  We need to lift the cloud hanging over the House and send a clear 
message to our children. It is time to have Congress join the rest of 
America and provide a smoke-free environment, especially for our young 
visitors.

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