[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

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                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 1998

  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, based on the evidence, I believe 
that we should proceed with an impeachment inquiry that has a clear 
time line, not an open ended inquiry that could drag on and on for the 
next two years.
  The Republican proposal does not set any deadlines at all. If it were 
to pass, we could be debating this issue into the next millennium. One 
way or another I feel that we have to move forward with the impeachment 
process in a timely manner. In order to do that, I believe that it is 
crucial that we insist this inquiry be deliberate and focused.
  The inquiry should also be limited to what the Starr report focuses 
on. Unfortunately, the Republican proposal is not limited in any 
fashion. According to the structure of the inquiry as outlined by the 
Republicans in the Judiciary Committee, it may include a re-
investigation of Travelgate, Filegate, and campaign finance even though 
we have already spent four years and $40 million investigating these 
matters.
  I voted for a motion that was forwarded by Rick Boucher to modify the 
Republican proposal. Mr. Boucher's motion would allow the House to 
proceed with an impeachment inquiry that focuses on the material that 
Mr. Starr referred to the Congress and his proposal would require 
Congress to complete this inquiry by the end of the year unless there 
were compelling reasons to continue it. This is the sort of common-
sense, fair-minded inquiry that I believe will bring this issue to a 
timely and appropriate conclusion.
  The sooner we resolve this issue the sooner we can begin to deal with 
issues that make a difference in America's everyday lives. I hope that 
soon we will move toward bringing the Lewinsky matter to an appropriate 
close so that we can begin to re-focus our energies on issues like 
saving Social Security, cracking down on gang violence, and providing 
tax relief for middle class families.

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