[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 16, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IT IS TIME TO STOP SCHEMING

  (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Republicans have time for 
the NRA. The Republican leadership gave the gun lobby nearly a month to 
twist arms and try to derail a gun safety bill. In fact, the New York 
Times said this morning, and I quote, Republican leaders have worked 
out a scheme to make it easier for lawmakers who take their cue from 
the National Rifle Association to vote against meaningful reform.
  First, Republicans say they need time to consider a bill in 
committee, and then they bring a bill to the floor that skips the 
committee process. Then Republicans say they want to work out a 
bipartisan solution. Instead, they split the bill in two parts so the 
NRA can try to kill the gun safety provisions.
  Mr. Speaker, scheming with the NRA while our children's lives are at 
stake is a disgrace. It is time Republicans stop scheming and plotting 
political strategy with the gun lobby and start working on solutions to 
save our children from the epidemic of gun violence. It is time to have 
the Republican leadership stop pandering to the radical right in their 
party and start fighting for American parents who want to send their 
kids to school safely each day.

                          ____________________