[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13429]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2000

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, On June 19, 2000, and on June 23, 2000, 
because I was attending personal family events, I was not present to 
record my votes on rollcall votes No. 293 and No. 319. These votes 
pertained to striking language in the Fiscal Year 2001 VA-HUD and 
Commerce-Justice-State Judiciary Appropriations bills which prohibited 
agencies of the Federal Government from using funds to pursue lawsuits 
against tobacco companies.
  Because I strongly believe that the tobacco companies must be held 
responsible for the millions of dollars in health care expenses that 
the Federal Government has paid for tobacco related illnesses through 
federally funded health care programs, had I been present for these 
votes, I would have voted as follows:
  On rollcall vote No. 293, 1 would have voted ``aye.''.
  On rollcall vote No. 319, 1 would have voted ``aye''.

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