[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 20 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E142-E143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO STOP FRANKING ABUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RAY LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 1999

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, last year I introduced H.R. 642, a bill that 
ends the most pervasive abuse of the frank--sending out unsolicited, 
self-promotional mass mailings. Today, I am reintroducing this bill. My 
bill specifically targets franking abuse by cracking down on the use of 
mass mailings.

[[Page E143]]

  Title 39 of the U.S. Code defines the types of mailings that are 
frankable. Included in this definition are the ``usual and customary'' 
congressional newsletter, press release or questionnaire. The 
legislation I am reintroducing would simply strike mailings of this 
type from the code, thereby disallowing future use of the frank for 
these purposes.
  Other franking reform proposals have centered around dangerous 
numbers games that leave open the possibility of abuse. Rather than try 
to settle on some arbitrary formula, my legislation will get to the 
heart of the problem. Reducing the definition of ``mass'' from 500 to 
100, or debating whether the franking allowance should be reduced by 
50% or 33% misses the mark. The problem that needs to be addressed is 
the use of the frank as a campaign tool whose real ``informational'' 
purpose is to make constituents aware of how deserving we are of 
reelection.
  I urge all members who are interested in real campaign finance reform 
to carefully consider cosponsoring this bill.

                          ____________________