[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2015
                    PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP IN AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gibbons). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a few minutes tonight to 
offer my perspective on the importance of principled leadership in 
America today.
  It is always helpful to reflect on lessons learned from the rich 
history of our country. We have thrived as Americans because of the 
principles upon which our Nation was founded: truth and justice, 
freedom and responsibility. These principles are sacred. They are 
inspired and they represent eternal significance.
  Truth has always been the cornerstone of a civilized Nation. Justice 
and the rule of law are essential for those who want to live together 
in peace. And freedom, of course, depends upon personal responsibility. 
If we really think about it, this is what America is all about and we 
are nothing without it.
  If we do not stand for truth, then by our silence we condone lies. If 
we do not stand for justice, then by our silence we condone injustice.
  The struggle to preserve these American ideals has taken place on 
battlefields around the world and it is a struggle that takes place 
each and every day in America in our homes, in our workplaces, and in 
our courts.
  Parents do their best to teach their children to be honest and 
trustworthy. Moral behavior is important to parents across America. 
This does not mean that we are perfect. It does mean we want our 
children to grow up with a sense of how important the truth is and how 
damaging immoral behavior can be, how damaging it can be to our 
children and to others.
  Truth and justice are also very important in the American workplace. 
Relationships between men and women in the workplace have become more 
and more complicated. Sexual relations between employees, particularly 
between supervisors and employees, which in times past might have 
remained secret, today have become more public. Why? Because there are 
times when these relationships impact justice and fairness in the 
workplace.
  If a workplace sexual relationship results in a promotion or a 
demotion, or involves using peers or subordinates to facilitate, 
conceal, or lie about a relationship, it is no longer a private matter. 
It involves basic justice and fairness in the workplace. Which leads me 
to one of the key battlefields for truth and justice in America: That 
is the courts.
  Lying under oath is a serious crime, so serious that it is a felony 
under Federal law. Since Bill Clinton became President in 1993, 323 
Americans have been sentenced to prison in United States District Court 
for committing perjury. These 323 Americans have been sentenced to an 
average of 2\1/2\ years in Federal prison.
  Why is lying treated so severely under Federal law? Because justice 
is at stake. We want our citizens to respect the law and not trivialize 
it. Honesty is so important, it simply cannot be brushed aside. Without 
honesty and trust, the whole system begins to break down.
  Mr. Speaker, in the past several weeks I have heard over and over 
again from some people that we should simply forgive bad behavior and 
get on with the business of the country. The truth is, when some people 
say we should forgive bad behavior, they are really asking us to 
tolerate bad behavior. There is a world of difference between the two. 
Forgive? Yes. Tolerate? No.
  There are those who are hoping that the things we are going through 
today will make us stronger. But to claim that somehow this is good for 
America is just plain wrong. Can we learn from this situation? Yes. But 
the cause of the damage cannot be relied upon to lead us through the 
healing process.
  The time has come for President Clinton to resign. If he is unwilling 
to do so, there is a constitutional process to address the matter at 
hand. I have every confidence that my colleagues and I can and will 
work to ensure that respect for truth and justice will ultimately 
prevail.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  (Mr. SOUDER addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter in 
the Extensions of Remarks.)

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