[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 2 (Thursday, January 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          12-YEAR TERM LIMITS

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                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 6, 1999

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a proposed 
amendment to the Constitution that will limit the number of terms a 
Member of Congress may serve to a uniform, lifetime term limit of 12 
years in the House and 12 years in the Senate. This is a proposal I 
have enthusiastically pushed for over the years and one I continue to 
support. I am firmly convinced that this is the single biggest obstacle 
to making some of the tough decisions that have to be made as we move 
into the 21st century. Term limits is not a partisan issue. It is a 
sound proposal with broad popular support.
  The arguments for term limits are numerous and persuasive. Volumes 
could be written on the issue but I would like to stress one point. 
Term limits are not simply to create turnover for the sake of turnover. 
It is important to get fresh blood in Congress, but it is more 
important to change the institution as a whole in a manner that only 
term limits can achieve. Term limits would end the pervasive careerism 
in Congress.
  The status quo in Congress encourages longevity in service. One's 
impact in Congress is almost directly related to the length of time the 
Member has served. This is due to the fact that the House and Senate 
are directed primarily by the elected leadership and the full and 
subcommittee chairmen. Few rise to these levels without significant 
time served. Therefore, many Members will do their best to stay in 
Congress as long as possible, making it a career. Consequently the 
tendency of most will be to try to please every interest group in order 
to get reelected. While term limits would not completely end this 
attitude, it would mitigate it considerably because term limits would 
mean that when somebody is elected to Congress they would know that 
they were only coming here to serve a short period of time, not to make 
a career of it. I favor term limits not because of a hostility toward 
Congress but as an affectionate measure to restore Congress to its 
rightful role as a deliberative branch of government which governs with 
the next generation, not just the next election, in mind.
  Term limits will give us the citizen legislature the Founding Fathers 
envisioned and effect fundamental reform in the attitude of those 
serving in Congress as well as in the attitude about service in 
Congress. Term limits will inject fresh ideas in Congress, ensure a 
rotation of influence and give people more choices with more open seat 
elections.
  Congress has both an opportunity and an obligation to make 
fundamental changes which improve the way in which Congress works for 
the American people. Fighting for term limits is central to that effort 
and I urge my colleagues to support this proposal.

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