[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO CHINA

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, yes, President Clinton is back from his 9-
day, $50 million, taxpayer-financed road trip to China. I have to give 
it to him, however; most Americans never get a chance to have an 
overseas vacation, let alone one where they take 1,200 of their closest 
friends.
  While they did not accomplish much on the road, I think they probably 
set a record for the cost and size of a presidential delegation 
traveling abroad. The President's press secretary explained that ``this 
wasn't just the President going to China, but this was the United 
States Government, and we brought a lot of government with us.''
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of anyone they did not take. But, when 
questioned, McCurry spilled the beans; ``there might be people we 
shouldn't have included.'' Well, no kidding.
  Now, I do not want to sound too critical. After all, they did cut 
corners where they could. I am told with only 600 rooms available at 
the Shanghai Ritz Carlton, our intrepid travelers bit the bullet and 
doubled up. Thank you, Mr. President, for that, saving what you could 
where you could.
  I yield back the remainder of any pocket change this country may 
have.

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