[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4825-H4826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CALLING FOR REAL REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I think, as we were engaged in 
this very important and maybe life-changing debate on the question of 
campaign finance reform, returning the government back to the people, 
it might have been some confusion on a group that I wish to pay tribute 
tonight and that is, of course, the lawyers' committee for civil rights 
under law. That is not a political advocacy group, nor is it a PAC that 
secures and solicits money to fund candidates for any kind of election. 
This is a 35th year, an anniversary of this great and historic body. 
Its theme is answering the call for equal justice.
  On June 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy summoned 250 of America's 
most prominent lawyers to the White House to enlist their leadership in 
helping to resolve the civil rights crisis which gripped the Nation. In 
the preceding weeks Americans had witnessed the bombing of black 
churches, the number of civil rights, the murder of civil rights 
activist Medgar Evers and the defiance of Alabama governor George 
Wallace who sought to block the admission of black students to the 
State university. Establishment of the lawyers' committee sought to 
fulfill the expectation of America's leaders that the private bar 
become an active force in the continuing struggle for equal opportunity 
and racial equality.
  In saying that, Mr. Speaker, let me also acknowledge that we are not 
talking about taking the opportunities away from various advocacy 
groups to participate in the political process, and to raise money, and 
to speak and to utilize the first amendment. My colleagues know on the 
other side of the aisle in debate of this issue that you can organize a 
PAC and be actively involved in both fund-raising and speaking your 
views. So I would not want the great work of the lawyers' committee on 
civil rights to be associated with a PAC or an advocacy group. They are 
a justice group.
  In keeping that in mind, Mr. Speaker, let me also say that we can see 
in our campaign process the influence of big money. Just this week the 
other body, of course, has not spoken to the issue that the American 
people want them to speak to, and that is the issue of reforming and 
changing the laws as it relates to the sale of tobacco. Four thousand 
youngsters every day start smoking, and 1,000 of them will die. Now 
that is why the Congressional Children's Caucus on Wednesday, June 24 
will convene a hearing so that the world can hear our children speak 
out against the violence of tobacco use, how they are besieged with 
advertisement and encouragement to use it. We will listen to their 
voices. We will listen to physicians tell us how cigarette smoke, 
secondhand smoke, impacts children every day.
  It is important that we relieve ourselves of the whole influence of 
negative influences on this concept of government and democracy. I 
certainly think that actions this week speak of negative influences. 
For most of the American public, when told the truth, want a reform of 
the way tobacco is utilized in this country and how it is projected 
toward our youth.
  We could have had a strong tobacco reform bill. We could have had a 
bill that provides for the health care of Americans at the same time 
that we are protecting our children against advertisement that would 
encourage them to smoke. But yet influence has brought that bill to a 
halt.
  I am here to call on this House to move forward and to bring about 
real reform as it relates to tobacco. I am here to ask this House to 
listen to these children as they come to the United States capital to 
present their case. And lastly, Mr. Speaker, I am here to make sure 
that we give attention and respect to an organization that deserves 
such; that is, the lawyers' committee for civil rights under the law, 
and maybe in its 35th year, as

[[Page H4826]]

it fought for civil rights and justice, maybe we will stand in this 
body and also answer the call for equal justice. We will pass real 
campaign finance reform, and we will have a tobacco bill that will 
protect our children. I hope that their call is not in vain and that it 
will not be silenced by the pondering of our voices and by the 
overwhelming special interests that try to strangle democracy in this 
House.

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