[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RULES OF THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 2007

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 6, and 
commend Speaker Pelosi, the majority leader, the chairman of the 
Democratic Caucus, and the Rules Committee for bringing this 
comprehensive reform package to the floor. Indeed, with this 
resolution, the new Democratic majority says with one, clear voice that 
we are prepared to change the way Congress does business--to make good 
on our pledge--and restore open, honest government to Congress.
  With this legislation, we take the critical steps necessary to 
preserving the integrity of this institution, its Members and, indeed, 
the democratic process in this country. This November, the American 
people, weary from scandal after scandal, said ``enough.'' They said it 
was time to clean up Washington--to sever ties between lawmakers and 
lobbyists and elect a Congress engaged in the people's business--in 
improving people's lives, not 1 in securing perks and privileges for 
themselves. They want Members of Congress who are accountable for their 
actions.
  With this Congress--and this rules package--that is exactly what they 
will get. This resolution closes the curtain on an era in which 
legislation in this body was written not by lawmakers representing 
their constituents, but lobbyists paid for by special interests. It 
puts an end to the gifts from those lobbyists--to the free meals, 
tickets, and the trips and vacations they paid for. It requires 
complete transparency for any travel paid for by outside groups. And it 
tells Members of Congress that when they have to fly somewhere, they 
can do so not on corporate Jets, but on a commercial airline, just like 
other Americans.
  In so doing, this legislation says clearly to the American people, 
``We are here to do work on your behalf, not ours.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is a new day in Washington, DC. And with war, budget 
deficits, and the skyrocketing cost of health care and energy, there is 
so much we need to do to get this country back on track. But it starts 
with restoring the public trust in this institution, so that the 
American people understand that when we cast our votes, we do so with 
the utmost integrity. That is what this new House rules package 
ensures, and I am proud to support it.

                          ____________________