Charles T. Canady: “Mr. Chairman, today for the second time in its history the House of Representatives will debate and vote on the issue of…”

“Mr. Chairman, today for the second time in its history the House of Representatives will debate and vote on the issue of limiting the terms of Members of Congress. The first debate and vote on term limits occurred less than 2 years ago, in March 1995. At that time, although a majority of the Members of the House voted in favor of the proposed amendment to the Constitution limiting the terms of Members of the House and Senate, the vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required for proposing constitutional amendments under article V of our Constitution. Today we renew the debate and attempt once more to give the legislatures of the States an opportunity to address this important issue. Since the House considered this issue in 1995, it has become clear beyond any doubt that amending the U.S. Constitution is the only means of enacting term limits for Members of Congress. The Supreme Court has struck down State-enacted measures to limit congressional terms, and made clear that nothing short of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution will be successful in establishing term limits.”