The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WE MUST NOT WASTE MONEY ON WHITEWATER” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H1621-H1622 on Feb. 29, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WE MUST NOT WASTE MONEY ON WHITEWATER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the first thing that I would like to acknowledge is my full and complete appreciation for the oversight responsibilities of this body. Likewise, I think those of us in public life, those who have offered themselves for elected office and for appointed office, do owe a special obligation of responsibility to the American public, to this Nation.
Might I also add, however, that those who offer themselves, particularly Presidential appointees and Governmental officials, have always exhibited to the best of their ability, I believe, the highest degree of integrity. We realize that there may be exceptions and that we should not falter from the responsibility to ensure that the American people have the truth. But might I just for a moment reflect upon the ongoing proceedings in the other body, the Whitewater hearings.
The hearings have to date in the Congress cost $900,000. This is separate and apart from the moneys being spent by the Independent Counsel. I might ask the American people this question: Oversight is one thing; but abuse is something else. We have determined today that the FDIC has decided not to sue the Rose law firm on issues dealing with Whitewater. We have already had previous reports by law firms that have not been dominated by any particular politics that have found no fault on behalf of the Clintons. Yet we now know there is an ongoing discussion about extending the debate and the proceedings of Whitewater, extending it and spending more money.
What the American people should be asking is what are the ultimate results? Will there be a criminal indictment? Is there a need to get more facts, or have we totally exhausted all facts that we could possibly find?
What we now see is a sense of redundancy, calling the same witnesses over again and, in actuality, trying to create perjury where none exists.
The reason why I say this, Mr. Speaker, is that we have some troubling times. First of all, we have no budget. We are funding education for our children at 75 percent of the need. In my State in Texas, Harris county, the area that I represent, stands to lose some
$13.8 million in education funds because this body, this entire Congress, has no budget.
We are losing on Goals 2000 moneys. We are losing on title I moneys for disadvantaged children. We have already determined that public education does work. It has educated many in this body. I have had the privilege of being educated by the public schools, and I would say there are many teachers whose shoulders I stand upon that have allowed me to enter into the door of opportunity.
Yet we spend $900,000 on Whitewater, and they are asking that we spend some more, with no resolution, with no conclusion, and no solutions.
So, Mr. Speaker, I would say it is time for this body to get down to business. We must deal with education. We must deal with the Justice Department funding that has the Cops on the Beat Program, another program that has helped citizens in Harris County, the sheriff's department, the police department, cops on the beat. That program is not funded and is threatened. The DARE Program, the Drug and School Safety Program, all of these are trying to meet the test of legitimacy in serving the American public. Yet, may I say it again, we want to spend another $900,000 on Whitewater.
We now face, I think, a very interesting question; many of us have been discussing it for a long time. That is the issue of job creation in this Nation. We hear it in the very disjangled chords of the political process. In fact, many have said to me we are frustrated by this ongoing debate that we see in the Republican primary.
I think it is good that these issues are on the table. But let me say to the American public, we have been discussing, those of us who have been concerned about job development, for a long time, the issue of raising the standard of living for citizens in America. I do not think we can do that without raising the minimum wage. I know that is a difficult question for small- and medium-sized companies. But I do believe if we look at the small fraction of the amount of raising the minimum wage and the number of years where we have not raised it, we will find that Americans will be fair and will realize that giving Americans a fair standard of living is in reality helping America move forward.
Then the job creation, does it come from total protectionist policies? No, it does not. Does it come from a fair assessment of the fair trade? Yes, it does. Does it come from an internal analysis of corporate America in dealing with the investment process, that it is not just the dividend, but it is in fact job creation. We must work with corporate America to develop jobs with America, we must not waste money on Whitewater.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair must caution all Members that although factual descriptions of Senate action is permitted, debate may not include characterization of Senate actions or suggest courses of Senate action.
____________________
