[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              PMA SCANDAL

  (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, later today or tomorrow, the House will be 
voting again on a privileged resolution to look into the matter of the 
PMA scandal. There is an outside investigation by the Department of 
Justice into PMA, a powerhouse lobbying firm that will close its doors 
at the end of the month because of suspect contributions to Members of 
Congress, Members of Congress who secured no-bid contracts on behalf of 
that firm.
  Mr. Speaker, several years ago we had the Jack Abramoff scandal. The 
leadership at that time was slow to recognize that scandal, and it kept 
spreading until it got worse and did damage to the reputation of this 
body. Let's not make that same mistake today. This scandal promises to 
be far larger if we let it go. So let's have the investigation go on by 
the Ethics Committee. We have an obligation to uphold the dignity and 
decorum of this body and we are not exercising it yet.
  I urge a vote not to table the resolution, and let the Ethics 
Committee investigate this scandal.

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