Let me tell you briefly why this line needs repair so urgently.

I urge this subcommittee to continue those efforts.

I recognize that your job is not an easy one.

You still face tough decisions.

They all need safe, reliable, efficient public transit.

Our bill will replace the complicated electoral college system with the simple method of using the popular vote to decide the winner of a presidential election.

Such an occurrence would clearly not be in the best interest of the people, for they would be denied the ability to directly elect those who serve in our highest offices.

This outcome has, in fact, occurred three times in our history and resulted in the elections of John Quincy Adams (1824), Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), and Benjamin Harrison (1888).

I hope that the timing of this bill's introduction will only underscore the fact that the time has come to put an end to this archaic practice that we must endure every four years.

I am hopeful that our fellow members on both sides of the aisle will stand with us by cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.

I urge all members who are interested in real campaign finance reform to carefully consider cosponsoring this bill.

The problem that needs to be addressed is the use of the frank as a campaign tool whose real 'informational' purpose is to make constituents aware of how deserving we are of reelection.

The legislation I am reintroducing would simply strike mailings of this type from the code, thereby disallowing future use of the frank for these purposes.

My bill specifically targets franking abuse by cracking down on the use of mass mailings.

last year I introduced H.R. 642, a bill that ends the most pervasive abuse of the frank--sending out unsolicited, self-promotional mass mailings.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to reintroduce, along with Congressman Wise from West Virginia, a constitutional amendment that seeks to end the arcane and obsolete institution known as the Electoral College.

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.

I yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.