eral years have seriously undermined public confidence in the integrity of the Congress and those who serve in it. We in Congress apply a very strict standard of conduct to the executive branch in an effort to avoid possible conflicts of interest. We certainly should do no less to avoid conflicts of interest within the Congress. I would hope that one of the first tasks of a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct would be to recommend to the House of Representatives a code of ethics with enforcement provisions that would ensure compliance. I urge the Committee on Rules to give prompt and favorable consideration to the resolutions to establish a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct. Sincerely, RICHARD L. OTTINGER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C., February 16, 1967. Hon. WILLIAM M. COLMER, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: On January 10, 1967, which has been referred to your Committee. Select Committee on Standards and Conduct. introduced House Resolution 55, This Resolution would create a I respectfully request that top priority consideration be given this resolution. It is important, I feel, that Congress now establish definitive standards of conduct and provide safeguards against their abuse. We must assure the people throughout the country that their trust will not be violated. I would hope that the Standards and Conduct Committee could be made a permanent committee by including it under Rule 11 of the House of Representatives. Your kind cooperation is appreciated. Sincerely, DANTE B. FASCELL, STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN E. S. JOHNNY WALKER, IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESO LUTION 154 Mr. Chairman, it is a great pleasure for me to appear here today before this Committee, and I wish to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and all the other distinguished Members for this opportunity. I would like to apprise you of my opinion regarding the establishment of a House Select Committee on Standards and Conduct. I have just returned from a brief visit to my home state of New Mexico. The three most frequent topics of conversation were Vietnam war, taxes, and Congressional behavior and ethics. If We Congressmen are the victims of what sociologists call "stereotyping." we were asked to describe ourselves, we would probably give the description generally reserved for boy scouts-decent, hardworking, loyal, honest, etc. However, if we asked the general public to describe us, I fear we would get an answer which would more closely describe a cartoon character-inept, dishonest, loud-mouthed, opportunistic, etc. About one out of every 400,000 people in this nation is a U.S. Representative at any given time, and I believe we are truly a representation of the entire population. We are neither all virtuous, all the time, nor all totally lacking in virtue, all the time. Naturally, we would say we are more often than not doing what is best for our country. In order to be most effective, we must have the respect and confidence of the people we represent. Stereotypes are usaully grossly unfair and inaccurate. But there is an apparent need or desire on the part of people generally to neatly categorize and label nationalities, races, religions, professions, sections and a multitude of other items. Fortunately, stereotypes can be changed. But it is a slow and laborious process. I believe a move is long overdue on the part of Congress to start chipping away at a belief that is both unfair and untrue and which has been in the making for more than 150 years. Recent adverse comments by our constituents and in the news media are not something new. Congress has had during its history frequent crises, during which a Member or group of Members have been accused of wrongdoing. Some of the charges made were true and some were based on emotionalism and some were of a more dubious nature. I do not intend to recount the history of this legislative body. Suffice it to say that we are all more or less familiar with the subject. The resolution calling for establishment of a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct is a good start toward the goal of giving the American people a picture of Congress which is closer to the truth. Since we are the only ones authorized to take action against our own Members, it seems to me that it makes sense to have a bipartisan committee, which I hope will act in a non-partisan manner, to investigate allegations of wrongdoing and more important, to make recommendations to prevent actions which will sully the name of Congress. At the present time, it seems to take a great deal of public outrage to force Congress to act upon such allegations. It is my hope that such a committee as is suggested will take the lead and initiate corrective measures before the public makes a demand. Even the creation of the Select Committee on Standards and Conduct will be criticized by some. No doubt, in creating this committee, we are admitting that it is needed. I don't think we should be afraid to make such an admission. I thank the Chairman and the distinguished Members of this committee for giving their attention to this very important subject and for giving me this opportunity to express my views. STATEMENT OF HON. SILVIO O. CONTE, ON HOUSE RESOLUTION 43 Mr. Chairman, I want to thank this distinguished committee for affording me the opportunity to present my views on the very important legislative proposals now under consideration, namely the establishment of a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct in the House of Representatives. As we have learned with striking force in the past few months, this issue is one of the most important to come before the 90th Congress. I introduced House Resolution 43 on the first day of the present session in the belief that the establishment of such a Select Committee could no longer be ignored. Events of that day have only confirmed and strengthened my own convictions on this point. Under the provisions of House Resolution 43, the Select Committee would be given power to investigate alleged violations of established standards of conduct by a member or employee. Such standards, in turn, would be established by the House independently, or at the recommendation of the Select Committee. Most importantly, any allegations of misconduct or violation of the standards of the House would have to be submitted to the Select Committee in the form of a complaint, either in writing or orally under oath, made by or submitted to a Member of the House. The Select Committee would then undertake an investigation in accordance with the complaint and subsequently make recommendations to the House for possible resolutions of censure for its consideration and action. I might remind the distinguished Committee that I had sought on several occasions during our debates in the matter concerning Adam Clayton Powell on the first day of the present session to introduce an appropriate amendment to the rules of the House. At first I sought to reestablish the Select Committee, and later to set up a Standing Committee on Standards and Conduct. Because of the parliamentary procedures under which we conducted our debates that day, I was not given the opportunity to present either of these amendments. I subsequently redrafted my proposal and introduced it as House Resolution 43. It was clear to many in the House in the previous Congress that such a Select Committee was necessary, primarily to solidify an ethical and moral code based on the solemn oath each of us takes as members of the House of Representatives. It was deemed necessary as a means of establishing uniformly accepted and understood standards to govern our own conduct and to evaluate the conduct of our colleagues. It was advocated as a means to reaffirm public confidence in our elected officials and in the Congress of the United States. Within the last several months, serious allegations concerning ethical misconduct have been voiced against a member of this House, and a member of the other body. In the ensuing publicity, much concern has been voiced in the press and among the public over the conduct of all our Members and of the salaried employees of the Congress, of the ethical foundation and moral commitment of the Congress as a whole. The public, hearing the charges and weighing them against our reluctanec to act on them for so long, has not been entirely without justification in voicing those anxieties and doubts. There is no question that the great majority of us who are honored and privileged to serve in this great body, do so under the strictest self-imposed moral code. We do so quietly and without notoriety, because that is, as it should be, the normal and accepted standard. That is the rule rather than the exception. When exceptions do occur and they reach the public eye, as indeed they all will sooner or later, the shock and dismay is such as to create a major national issue, a virtual crisis of confidence. It behooves us in this body therefore, as duly elected representatives of the citizens of this country and as solemnly charged Members of Congress, to take every feasible step to remove the unjust stigma that attaches as a result of the misconduct of a single colleague or employee. In short, it is high time we established principles which will serve as a guide for all members of this body and its staff and employees, and upon which swift and fair action can be based in answer to formally presented charges. Establishment of a bipartisan committee, acting on an accepted code of ethics, and having full investigative powers, will serve not only to uphold the integrity and prestige of the House of Representatives, but will also provide the means to confirm or, most importantly, immediately deny the veracity of any charge or allegation brought any Member or employee. In this sense, such a Select Committee, functioning within the guidelines suggested in House Resolution 43, would serve primarily as a safeguard against unjust and unfounded allegations that might be suggested from time to time and which, through character assassination, misinterpretation, and untruth, can wreck the career of the most gifted and distinguished public servant. If a Member or employee is accused of wrongdoing, either by the press or by his political enemy, he need only rely on the Select Committee to give the lie to the accusation. If the charge prove true, then the Committee is empowered to act accordingly, for the good of the House and the good of the country. I respectfully urge the distinguished Committee on Rules to consider favorably House Resolution 43 for the establishment of a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct and to report favorably thereon to the House so that it might be approved and such a Select Committee be established as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN DANIEL E. BUTTON, ON HOUSE RESOLUTION 18 The much and overly publicized case of a single Congressman whose conduct has been so overt as to attract public scrutiny and to obligate his Colleagues to inquire into it, naturally has raised innumerable questions in the minds of almost all Americans. These questions, and their implications, are reflected in many letters from my own constiuents, who have been asking about the Congressional basis for disciplining Mr. Powell and also about the suspicions and rumors of misbehavior elsewhere, perhaps widespread. I believe that the public deserves reasonable answers to such inquiries. I believe that the time has come when further delays in enacting a realistic and workable code of ethics will have several adverse and undesirable effects. First, to discipline Representative Powell (in fact, even to consider the question of disciplining him) without providing the rationale for doing so, and prospectively doing so in the case of allegations against any other Member, will unmistakably leave many people of goodwill with the distinct impression that he was improperly and unfairly singled out for punishment, perhaps because of his race. To permit this thought to take shape would be to do a grave disservice to the credibility and honor of the Congress. I cannot believe that it is the will of Congress that such an unjustified and discreditable policy or practice could prevail in this House. Second, such failure would seem to be avoiding the very well-intentioned questions put to individual Members by their constituents who somewhat fearfully seem to be asking for a forthright and believable refutation of scandalous rumors about misconduct of some or even many Members. None of this is new to any Member of the House, even to those newly seated Members such as I who find ourselves appaled at the prospect of having this Hous eneedlessly and sadly compromised in actuality or in a general impression. The House of Representatives can do justice to itself, its Members, Congressman Powell, and not least to all Americans, by adopting forthwith a viable Code by which we can all be judged and which can be impartially and equitably administered by an appropriate committee. I have introduced H. Res. 223 which deals with this need, and I speak on behalf of it and similar legislation to accomplish the purpose. STATEMENT OF HON. SAMUEL S. STRATTON, OF NEW YORK Mr. Stratton, Mr. Chairman, I strongly support the efforts to reestablish the Select Committee on Standards and Conduct and have introduced legislation, H. Res. 220, for this purpose. I commend our colleague from Florida, Mr. Bennett, for the leadership he has taken in behalf of this legislation. I have been convinced for some time that a separate Committee should be established to develop standards for the conduct of Members and investigate reported violations in a calm and consistent manner. The committee should have as its sole purpose this important and delicate task so that it remains free from any other involvement as a Committee. I believe the integrity of Congress and the confidence of the American public in their elected representatives is at stake. We cannot postpone exercising this responsibility any further. Recent developments have demonstrated a need both for established standards of conduct and an established method of investigating reported irregularities. But this must be done on the basis of an established machinery, not on an ad-hoc or hit and miss basis. To help prevent unfortunate situations from developing and to deal with them before they so seriously threaten the public confidence in this foremost legislative body in the world, we should take this action without delay. By establishing this Select Committee on Standards and Conduct these difficult matters can be handled in a way that will not impugn the integrity of Members wrongly accused but at the same time will deal effectively with violations that are clearly not in keeping with standards that should be adhered to by Members of the House. I strongly urge the Committee to favorably report this legislation. STATEMENT BY HON. RICHARD T. HANNA Mr. Chairman, I think we all know that House consideration of the legislation now being heard by the Rules Committee is long overdue. I am sure I'm not alone when I express my pleasure at the Rules Committee's early consideration of this housecleaning measure. Democratic institutions by definition must find their foundations in the confidence of the people they represent. When an institution no longer commands the respect of the people it serves it should no longer play a meaningful role in the affairs of the society that created it. While Congress is still a long way from total institutional alienation from the people it serves, we are, however, in the grips of a severe crisis of confidence. For example, a recent survey by Parade Magazine indicated that on a credibility scale of 10 of the people ranked Congressmen at level eight, one step above car salesmen. The unfortunate circumstances surrounding the Adam Clayton Powell affair have pointed up our poor public image. Few issues in recent memory have pro duced the flood of mail as has the Powell incident. With rare exception, the tone of the mail has indicated that the Congress is on trial. Had we been willing to face the issue of House conduct and ethics in the past the Powell issue possibly would not have been raised in the context in which we must consider it today. Adam Powell would long ago have been punished for his blatant misconduct. The Committee has the chance to take that all important first step forward insuring that Powells of the future will not put the institution of Congress on trial everytime we consider a Member's conduct. We are on trial today. We have been judging a man on arbitrary one-time standards. Because we have been lax in the past, there are no precedents or rules to proceed on, and how we account for ourselves will be carefully and closely scrutinized by the public. While I cannot condone the actions of Powell, neither can I condone Congress' past unwillingness to create standards and subject itself to periodic review. Ironically, Adam Powell may well be the spark that produces a Congressional code of standards and ethics. If we are to expect and merit our constituents' confidence, it is absolutely necessary that they have faith in our integrity. We hold an important public trust. We have been chosen by our respective communities to make the decisions on the public affairs of the day. If this trust is only offered in a cynical acceptance of expected corruption, the fabric of the institution can only deteriorate. Mr. Chairman, I am asking the Committee and the Congress to take a step toward closing the present confidence gap. I am asking that in your deliberations you consider recommending a Select Committee that will have both the support and respect of the American people as well as the Congress. I am asking that you produce a mechanism that will have meaning and teeth. I am asking that Congress show the Nation that it has enough faith in itself to command the faith and confidence of the Nation it serves. To fail to act during this Congress on the question of conduct and ethics would to this great institution represent a most damaging setback. STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLOTTE T. REID, 15TH DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 162 I appreciate this opportunity to submit a statement in behalf of House Resolution 162, which I introduced in the House of Representatives on January 19, 1967, to establish a Select Committee on Standards and Conduct. As provided in my bill, such a Select Committee would have a bipartisan membership, consisting of six Majority and six Minority members to be appointed by the speaker. It shall be the duty of the Committee to recommend to the House appropriate rules and regulations to insure proper standards of conduct by Members of the House, and by officers or employees of the House, in the performance of their duties and the discharge of their responsibilities. Furthermore, the Committee would have the authority to report violations, by a majority vote, of any law to the proper Federal and State authorities. Such a Select Committee would also have the power to investigate any violation by Members, officers, or employees of the House of any standards of conduct established by the House of Representatives or already in effect. This investigation would be made upon receipt by the Committee of a complaint, in writing and under oath, made by or submitted to a Member of the House and transmitted to the Committee by such Member. Upon the completion of such investigation, the Committee may recommend to the House appropriate resolutions of censure for its consideration and action thereon. I am immensely pleased that the Committee on Rules is considering this legislation so early during this Session. Certainly there is widespread interest throughout the country in the question of ethics and credibility in government, and I feel it is most essential that public confidence in the integrity of the Congress be maintained at the highest possible level. After all, a Representative in Congress has the unique role of providing the most direct link between the people and their Government-and if our people lose confidence in the objectives and goals of those they elect to public office because of a few highly |