Louise Slaughter

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Obey].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question. If the previous question is defeated, I shall offer an amendment which will require that comprehensive campaign finance reform legislation be considered by this House by the end of the month. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include the text of the proposed amendment at this point in the Record along with a brief explanation of what the vote on the previous question really means and to include extraneous material.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to just comment on the majority whip's remarks about campaign finance reform and lack of action on the Democrat majority's part when we were in charge, and remind him that we passed it twice out of the House. The first time, it was passed again through the Senate, vetoed by a Republican President; the second time, it was filibustered to death in the Senate. And, by the way, I think I did mention, I do have a campaign finance reform bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller]. (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller]. (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 20 seconds to the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Schumer].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Schumer].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine [Mr. Allen]. (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to defeat this rule and the previous question. The rule under consideration serves no purpose, other than to allow the majority to require the Members of the body to return to the floor of this House day after day, all week long, to vote on measures which are noncontroversial and undeserving of an entire week's debate, particularly when so many more valuable and worthwhile bills languish unattended. I can understand why the majority needs this rule, because it is a fig leaf. They are hoping if it passes they will have coverage they need to conceal the utter lack of any legislative agenda so they can drag out the consideration of a few minor bills and make this look like a work week. This rule is downright disrespectful, not just to the time of the honorable Members of the body, but to the voters we represent and their tax dollars. It costs the taxpayers of this country $288,000 to bring all of us back to Washington this week, and for what? In the 105th Congress, we have worked less than 4 weeks' work, that is about a week a month, we are 4 months into this session, and that, considering the work week of the average American, is pretty disrespectful to them. I am only one Member of this body, and a member of the minority at that, but I have a better agenda myself than the leadership of the House does. For example, one of the top priorities of the American people is campaign finance reform. Where is the leadership on this issue? They do not have a bill, but I do. Last week the Federal Communications Commission voted out a rule that gives the new digital spectrum licenses available to broadcast stations. It has been widely suggested by such leaders as Senators McCain and Feingold, journalists like Walter Cronkite and David Broder, industry leaders like Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller, and none other than President Clinton, that in exchange for the new spectrum rights the broadcasters should be required to provide free television time to political candidates. Coincidentally, I have a bill, the Fairness in Political Advertising Act, that would condition station licensing on making available free broadcast time for political advertising. My bill also includes a requirement that candidates who accept free time must use that time themselves speaking directly into the camera, and I believe it makes them directly accountable for the statements that are made in their campaigns. I hope it will cut down on the negative campaigning that has become the norm. I challenge any of my colleagues to tell me why my bill continues to languish in the committee while we have no business on the floor and we could be considering legislation. The fund-raising scandals currently splashed across the Nation's newspapers have forced campaign finance reform to the top of the political agenda, but we have no action here. It is a shame that we are missing this opportunity to enact worthwhile and viable reform, particularly on such an important and timely issue. On another front, we are fast approaching the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, but 2 years later domestic terrorism thrives. Criminal bombings have doubled since 1988. We have a duty in Congress to keep explosive materials out of the wrong hands. I have a bill that would do just that. It would require Federal permits for all explosive purchases, mandate a nationwide background check for these permits. It would increase penalties for those who violate the Federal explosive law. We cannot afford not to pass this legislation as we approach this tragic anniversary, but it languishes out there somewhere while we do nothing. Another pressing issue that Congress should be considering is making sure our laws keep pace with the astounding pace of scientific discovery in genetics. Time and again my constituents tell me they are worried about losing their health insurance. They are particularly worried that new technologies, like genetic testing, will open up new avenues for discrimination in health insurance and enable insurers to determine who is predisposed to a particular disorder and use that information to deny or raise the rates on their health insurance. I have sponsored legislation that would prevent that being used against the person. It simply prevents the companies from using the information to cancel, deny, refuse to renew, change the premiums, terms or conditions of health insurance. This is so important to people in America now. We are concerned that people do not want to know the information vital to their lives because of the fear they have of losing their health insurance. Indeed, it might even bring a stop to research. If we do not pass legislation to protect Americans against this kind of discrimination, there will be dire consequences. There are other considerations as well. Our constituents are asking what has gone wrong with our judicial system that allows repeat sexual offenders to revolve in and out of prison. Sexual predators and serial rapists continue to drift through our communities, circumventing local penal codes that vary widely by State. Congress has a responsibility to address the issue by passing a bill that would put an end to the cycle of violence. The Sexual Predators Act is a measure I wrote that would do just that. It allows for the Federal prosecution of rapes and serial sexual assaults committed by repeat offenders, requires that repeat offenders automatically be sentenced to life in prison without parole. I authored this bill to give local law enforcement the option of pursuing Federal prosecution to ensure that these predators, who often cross State lines, remain in jail, since many States have far less punishment available under their own laws. Instead of letting sexual predators out on the street to prey again, tough and certain punishment is required at the national level. No man, woman, or child in America should have to live in fear of a serial rapist or habitual child molester. Enacting legislation is our business here. I know one of the previous speakers this morning had said better we should all be home having town meetings. But my people in my district, the 28th District of New York, expect me to be down here working for my paycheck. They are aware of the fact that it costs $288,000 to bring us back to Congress every week because I have told them that. They wonder where in the world the legislation is. The things that are on their mind are what are we going to do, how are we going to keep our health insurance? What is happening to health care? What about my child? Is it going to have the child care it needs? What are you doing down there to make sure education stays strong? Mr. Speaker, if the previous question is defeated today, and I hope it is, and I certainly urge my colleagues to vote for its defeat, if it is defeated, I will offer an amendment that would require the House to consider campaign finance reform before Memorial Day recess, May 31, so a final campaign finance reform bill can be sent to President Clinton before July 4. I think that is the least we can do. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett].

Ms. SLAUGHTER

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Wise]. (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan [Ms. Kilpatrick]. (Ms. KILPATRICK asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes and 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Edwards].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Lowey]. (Mrs. LOWEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Frank].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes and 15 seconds to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler]. (Mr. NADLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Barrett].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall].

Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that on March 7, the President said that he was not persuaded at all by Mr. Fitzsimmons but had made his decision on other matters. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee]. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)