[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12440]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              DAMAGING THE AMERICAN INSTITUTION OF JUSTICE

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this is a time that we desire 
to honor those who have served us by committing the ultimate sacrifice, 
and I look forward to joining my communities on Monday and being 
reminded of the great service of our valiant troops throughout the 
years and months and days, weeks and minutes, for they are ever with 
us.
  I rise this morning because sadly I believe that all we stand for in 
this House and in this Congress and in this Nation, democracy, freedom 
and respect for law, has certainly been damaged by the reckless, 
foolish and irresponsible destruction of documents that the Department 
of Public Safety in Texas has engaged in after tracking innocent 
civilian Texas legislators who happen to be Democratic and who happen 
to be respecting their democratic process.

                              {time}  1030

  It is interesting that the order said, ``Any notes, correspondence, 
photos, et cetera, that were obtained pursuant to the absconded House 
of Representatives members shall be destroyed immediately. No copies 
are to be kept. Any questions, please contact me,'' the message said. 
It is unusual for these matters to be destroyed. They cannot track down 
who gave the order. I would say track it to the Governor's house.
  It is imperative the Congress begin an investigation immediately; 
that the Department of Justice investigate this and the U.S. Homeland 
Security Department. Our responsibilities are to the American people, 
to keep them safe, to provide them with a standard of law and order; 
and we are not to abuse our power. We must investigate now.

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