[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14653]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THE ELEVATORS ARE WORKING SO MEMBERS CAN 
                                  VOTE

  (Mr. ABERCROMBIE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I and other Members are as anxious as 
everyone else in here and leadership on both sides to vote in an 
expeditious manner; but if that is going to take place, then the 
leadership has to see to it that we are able to get into these 
elevators and get downstairs and get over here.
  If it says ``Members Only'' during the time that the bells are 
ringing, then you have got to either put some signage up or get some 
people into the elevators that see to it that happens. I cannot see 
trying to kick people off the elevators who are citizens, trying to 
come see us, who operate in good faith, and we cannot get here to vote.
  Now if you are so anxious to get this thing done in 15 minutes or 17 
or whatever it is, that is fine. I will do my best, as I am sure 
everybody else will; but, Mr. Speaker, you have got to see to it then 
that we are able to get to do this in the manner in which we are 
supposedly designated to do it.
  If you have elevators that are supposed to be for us during this 
time, then you are going to have to do things to see we can use them. I 
am not the only one who was disenabled from voting because I simply 
could not get down here. I could not get here fast enough because these 
elevators are stuck, and there are all kinds of people on them asking 
directions and you cannot get down here. If they are on the seventh 
floor in Longworth or end of the Cannon building, it is just not easy 
to do that in the 15 minutes, particularly when you are trying to kick 
people out of your office or get finished with what you have to get 
done in order to get over here to vote.
  I am just asking on behalf of not just myself but any Member that 
finds himself or herself in these circumstances. Had I been over here, 
I am sure I would have voted aye, depending on what the wisdom of my 
colleagues would have directed me to do in the interest of the national 
purpose.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's request is respectfully 
noted.

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