[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25180]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 17, 2003

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an explanation for 
the votes I missed on October 15 and 16, 2003. Due to a Congressional 
fact-finding trip to Iraq and other parts of the Middle East, I 
unfortunately missed several votes on the floor of the House on the 
evening of October 15. Additionally, I missed votes on October 16 
because I had to attend a conference regarding information technology 
at the Department of Defense, an issue over which my Subcommittee on 
Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities has sole 
jurisdiction.
  Had I been present, I would have voted in the following fashion:
  Rollcall vote 540: ``Aye'' (H.R. 6, On motion to instruct Conferees 
on the Energy Conservation, Research, and Development).
  Rollcall vote 541: ``No'' (H.R. 1308, On motion to instruct Conferees 
on the Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act).
  Rollcall vote 542: ``No'' (H.R. 1, On motion to instruct Conferees on 
the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act).
  Rollcall vote 543: ``Aye'' (H.R. 1828, On motion to suspend the rules 
and pass the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Restoration Act of 
2003).
  Rollcall vote 544: ``Aye'' (H. Res. 396, On ordering the previous 
question for providing for the Consideration of H.R. 3289: Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations for Defense and for the Reconstruction of 
Iraq and Afghanistan for Fiscal Year 2004).
  Rollcall vote 545: ``Aye'' (H. Res. 198, On agreeing to the 
resolution as amended which expressed the sense of the House of 
Representatives that France, Germany, and Russia, can initially best 
contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq by forgiveness of outstanding 
debt).
  I would like to also note, that I am a cosponsor and strong supporter 
of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Restoration Act of 2003 (H.R. 
1828) because it holds Syria accountable for the serious international 
security problems it has caused in the Middle East. Specifically, H.R. 
1828 calls on Syria to halt its support for terrorism, end its 
occupation of Lebanon, stop its development of weapons of mass 
destruction, and cease its illegal importation of Iraqi oil and illegal 
shipments of weapons and other military items to Iraq.
  Knowing the importance of this bill, I have been a long-time 
supporter of H.R. 1828. As such, I would have voted in favor of its 
passage and will continue to work to ensure it is signed into law as 
soon as possible.

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