[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PASS LOBBYING REFORM

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, after months of scandal and years of 
deficit spending, millions of Americans fear that this Congress is 
fiscally and ethically bankrupt.
  This week, thanks to the bold leadership of Speaker Dennis Hastert, 
Congress will consider historic lobbying reform legislation that will 
bring new transparency to the relationship between lobbyists and 
lawmakers, and I applaud it.
  But as important as these changes are, we must also change the way we 
spend the people's money here on the floor of this Chamber. And this 
legislation also includes commonsense reforms in earmark spending that 
will end an era of unaccountable pork-barrel spending in Congress.
  It is said that righteousness exalts a nation, and meaningful 
lobbying reform and earmark reform will lift the spirits of the 
American people demoralized by years of disappointment from Washington, 
D.C.
  I urge my colleagues to come together in the spirit of that high 
standard and this privileged service and support lobbying reform 
legislation.

                          ____________________