[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13650]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESS NEEDS A FRESH, BIPARTISAN START

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                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2011

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record, a thoughtful, clear 
and eloquent opinion piece written for The Washington Post by my friend 
Congressman John Dingell. As the Dean of the House and one of the 
hardest working members of this body, Congressman Dingell has seen many 
Congresses come and go and has witnessed countless successes and 
failures. His wisdom and experience is unmatched. Every member of 
Congress, and those who aspire to be, will benefit from reading this 
and historians will find this article valuable in understanding the 
changes that have take place in Congress throughout the 20th century. 
It certainly is an important document that will continue to be a source 
of information about Congress for years to come.

               [From the Washington Post, Sept. 9, 2011]

                Congress Needs a Fresh, Bipartisan Start

                          (By John D. Dingell)

       I am saddened by what I heard when I was home for the 
     August congressional recess. The American people are fed up 
     with finger-pointing, blame games and infighting by all of us 
     in Washington--the president, Congress and the media.
       They are angry and frustrated, and they want Congress to do 
     its constitutional duty. Only 12 percent think we are doing a 
     proper job. It is easy to see why the public is losing 
     confidence in the federal government.
       In our debates over the fiscal 2011 spending bill and the 
     debt limit, Congress put off its duties until the eleventh 
     hour in favor of partisan squabbling and stubborn political 
     games. I am ashamed of our performance--of us all, on both 
     sides of the aisle. As a member of Congress who takes pride 
     in this institution and holds its history and procedures in 
     high regard, I am deeply disappointed by the unwillingness of 
     members of all parties to come together for the common good.
       Our Founding Fathers intended no parties when they created 
     this institution. And until recently, members took the time 
     to stay in Washington and learn the substance of issues, as 
     well as the rules laid out by our forefathers in the 
     Constitution and by previous generations in Congress. We 
     learned how to draft good, bipartisan bills. Most members of 
     Congress wouldn't remember, and for many Americans this may 
     seem hard to believe, but there was a time not so very long 
     ago when Republicans and Democrats worked well together. We 
     worked long hours, typically five days a week or more for 
     months at a time. Members of both parties came to the table 
     ready to work, debate and negotiate.
       For many years, legislation was drafted from the middle, 
     and we passed bipartisan bills frequently. It wasn't uncommon 
     for an important bill to get 400-plus votes; we didn't stop 
     just because we had 218. Members didn't engage in partisan 
     misbehavior for the sake of a good Twitter hit or the 
     opportunity to call out the other side on cable news. Rather, 
     members had respect for one another and for the political 
     spectrum. They managed to limit outside parties from 
     disrupting the legislative process for political gain.
       We in Congress are tearing our country apart and weakening 
     the foundation established by great leaders before us. Is 
     anyone in Congress truly proud that we have not produced a 
     budget? That we caused the downgrading of U.S. government 
     securities, as well as appalling disorder and confusion in 
     financial markets? Or that this situation caused the lack of 
     job creation and economic growth that has contributed to the 
     hopelessness and misfortune of millions of Americans?
       Wrangling by all parties, from the top down, cripples our 
     work, and media that encourage confrontation instead of 
     negotiation fuel the fire. Being locked into this system of 
     starting from the far left or the far right and then doing 
     just enough for passage may get a single bill done, but it's 
     not a system that produces the best law that does the most 
     good for all Americans.
       This partisan viciousness needs to stop.
       I am ashamed of our recent record. I am disgusted with our 
     performance, Republican and Democratic alike. There has been 
     failed leadership and, worse, failed following within the 
     ranks--and we owe the country far better. My daddy taught me 
     that if God had wanted us to talk more and listen less, he 
     would have given us two mouths and one ear. In our most 
     combative moments, we must remember that no cause is greater 
     than this institution and the ideals on which it was founded; 
     no single man or woman is greater than this body and the 
     collective wisdom we are capable of exhibiting. If we hold on 
     to that core principle, we can make changes that will be 
     better for Congress as an institution and for the American 
     people.
       We must all help this body improve and call upon our 
     colleagues to join in doing better. It is our duty. If we do 
     not, the people, in their righteous and justified outrage, 
     will get rid of us all--as well they should. I beg my friends 
     in Congress and the administration to put the interests of 
     this great nation before partisan political interests and not 
     let the rivalries of the past prevent us from acting in ways 
     that will better the future of our nation.

  The writer, a Democrat from Michigan, is dean of the U.S. House of 
Representatives and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee.

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