[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21420]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

  (Ms. BERKLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of meaningful 
campaign finance reform and passage of the Shays-Meehan campaign 
finance reform bill. This Congress must act to restore public 
confidence and participation in our electoral system.
  Today the House finally takes up this important debate. I urge my 
colleagues to support Shays-Meehan in its current form. The American 
public deserves a debate on meaningful reform, not a weak substitute 
disguised as reform. If we are to maintain public trust in our 
political process, we have a duty and an obligation to address this 
issue.
  Let us ban soft money and stop the attack ads disguised as issue 
advocacy soft money pays for. Let us strengthen the Federal Election 
Commission and give it the teeth it needs to enforce campaign finance 
laws.
  The American people are tired of politicians who talk about reform 
but do nothing to enact it. Let us show our constituents that this time 
we mean it. Let us pass this important piece of legislation.

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