[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CASS BALLENGER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2001

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, I regret that I missed 
rollcall votes 43, 44, and 45 on the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act 
of 2001 (H.R. 3). Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' to 
Table the Motion to Reconsider; ``No'' on the Motion to Recommit with 
Instructions; and ``Yea'' on Final Passage of H.R. 3. As Co-Chairman of 
the Interparliamentary Forum of the Americas, which met in Ottawa, 
Canada, last week, I had to leave the House chamber following my vote 
against the Rangel Substitute Amendment to H.R. 3 in order to make my 
flight to Canada. My attendance at this forum is in furtherance of my 
official duties as Chairman of the International Relations Subcommittee 
on the Western Hemisphere. The Forum included representatives from 27 
nations, and I was the sole representative of the U.S. Congress in 
attendance.

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