[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9723]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                        HONORING SPEAKER HASTERT

  (Mrs. BIGGERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to add my voice to the many 
here this morning in support of our Speaker and my neighbor from 
Illinois, Dennis Hastert.
  In so doing, I would ask three questions: Is the price of leadership 
defamation of character? Is the punishment for defending this body and 
its Members rumor, innuendo and false leaks? Is the cost of speaking 
the truth and upholding the Constitution greater than the need for 
flashy headlines?
  The answer to all three must be no. Speaker Hastert is one of the 
finest men I have ever known. His integrity is unquestioned. Let's stop 
the witch hunt, let's shake the gotcha mentality, and let's put an end 
to the unjust attacks on those who bear the heavy responsibility of 
leadership.

                          ____________________