[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3297-H3298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DISTRACTIONS AND OBSTRUCTIONS IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I come before the House this afternoon after 
the proceedings that took place today. I am really concerned about the 
process of the House of Representatives and its investigative ability.
  Today we saw an attempt to besmirch the reputation and interfere with 
the congressional investigation of campaign financing abuses in the 
1996 election. Personally, I am quite disturbed by what we saw take 
place. I think it backfired on the other side of the aisle, and I think 
that they were surprised that some of their colleagues from the other 
side of the aisle joined with this side in voting down this 
unprecedented interference in the congressional investigative process.
  The issue is not the Chairman of the House Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight; the issue is, in fact, the delay, the diversion, 
the distraction, and the very obstruction of the congressional 
investigation process. I am really concerned about what again has taken 
place. We saw action on the floor today.
  This is a situation that is very serious. For the first time in the 
history of our Federal elections process, we have seen an attempt to 
influence congressional and presidential elections by foreign money, 
foreign resources in our campaign process. Now we see an attempt to 
close down that investigation.
  I have served on the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and 
its predecessor since I came to Congress in 1993. That is one of the 
most important committees and responsibilities in this Congress.
  It was founded and established by our Founding Fathers for a purpose, 
because they did not trust the appropriators, they did not trust the 
legislators, the authorizers; they wanted a third check and balance on 
the conduct and operation of our governmental system.
  That is where the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight got 
its very roots and bearing. That is the difference between our system 
of governments and other democratic system of governments is that check 
and balance.
  To close down that investigation, to divert the attention on the 
chairman is a misuse of power and responsibility in this House of 
Representatives, and I take great offense to it.
  We have seen, again, unprecedented amounts of money, and our 
committee has been investigating. It may be too bad that it comes to 
the door of the White House, but it should be disclosed. It should be 
investigated. It cannot be shut down.
  When the other side says that they will close down the proceedings of 
the House as far as investigation, when the Department of Justice says 
we agree that we will grant immunity and allow you to grant immunity 
for cooperation of these witnesses, and they try to divert attention 
from that and block us from investigating, they have shut down this 
process. It is an affront to every Member of Congress. It should be an 
affront to every citizen. It should be affront to the media that they 
are trying to divert, to stall, and obstruct this process. The process 
will go forward.
  I happen to be the only Member of the House that serves on both the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and also on the Committee 
on House Oversight. It will come to one of those committees, or it will 
come to the floor. This matter will be thoroughly investigated as the 
Founding Fathers intended and as our congressional process and 
constitutional process require.
  We have seen, now, the influx of Indonesian money, Chinese money, 
Thai money, Venezuelan money, Russian money, and convicted drug 
dealers' money into this process. In this process, the American people 
want to know the answers. Is this affecting our policy if our ports are 
given away? If we have

[[Page H3298]]

imported Chinese weapons into this country, killing Americans, who is 
responsible? If we have a major Chinese cigarette manufacturer 
influencing our policy and contributing to our campaigns and 
influencing our elections? Let it all hang out.
  I am personally offended by what they have tried to do here today to 
our Chairman who has on every occasion acted in an honorable fashion. I 
think a disruption of this process is a shame on this House of 
Representatives.

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