[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24861-24862]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to explain my absence during 
yesterday's recorded votes. As a proud grandfather, it is with 
exceeding pride that I announce the birth yesterday of my first 
granddaughter to my son Brian and my daughter-in-law Meredith. My wife, 
Faye, and I joyfully welcome this new baby girl who joins her cousin 
William Otto, who was born to our daughter Catherine and our son-in-law 
Tim Otto in January. This is a special time for the Etheridge family, 
and we are truly blessed.
  Had I been present in the Chamber yesterday, I would have voted 
``No'' on rollcall 559 and ``Yes'' on rollcalls 560 and 561. Rollcall 
560 was passage of H.R. 4061, Department of Veterans Affairs 
Information Technology Improvement Act, a bipartisan and 
noncontroversial measure. Likewise, rollcall 561 was passage of H.R. 
1691, the John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient 
Clinic Designation Act, a routine matter.
  However, rollcall 559 was passage of H.R. 1606, the so-called Online 
Freedom of Speech Act. This substantive legislation would undo Federal 
regulation of soft money for political communication on the Internet. 
Consideration of such substantive legislation on the Suspension 
Calendar, which affords no opportunity for

[[Page 24862]]

amendment and severely restricts debate, is an improper and ill-advised 
method to craft sound public policy. I would have voted ``No'' on 
rollcall 559 in favor of its consideration under regular order.

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