[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SILVIO BERLUSCONI'S APPEARANCE BEFORE CONGRESS

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2006

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Record a 
letter that I delivered to your office today regarding an event that 
took place on the House floor yesterday.

                                                    March 2, 2006.
     Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker of the House, Office of the Speaker,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Hastert, I am writing to express my dismay about 
     yesterday's appearance of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of 
     the Republic of Italy on the floor of the House of 
     Representatives. I believe that Mr. Berlusconi's mode of 
     address was unprecedented.
       I came to the House floor expecting to hear significant 
     words from the head of state of a major ally of our country. 
     Instead, I had the feeling that perhaps I and the other 
     Members in attendance were being used as extras in a campaign 
     appearance for Mr. Berlusconi's difficult upcoming election. 
     I can draw no other conclusion considering he addressed 
     Congress in Italian without an interpreter, a language that I 
     and most other Members do not speak. Though we were given the 
     text to read, who in the Chamber was able to correlate the 
     words delivered and lead the applause that burst forth from 
     the audience? The address was not even broadcast by C-SPAN, 
     presumably because it took place in a language in which most 
     C-SPAN viewers are not fluent. My discomfort increased this 
     morning when I read in the Financial Times that the 
     appearance was broadcasted by stations owned by Mr. 
     Berlusconi in Italy. This has raised concerns that the Prime 
     Minister was improperly bending Italian equal-airtime 
     regulations during election campaigns.
       I would appreciate to hear your thoughts on this unusual 
     use of the House Chamber, and whether it is expected to 
     recur.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Jim McDermott,
     Member of Congress.

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