Dave Camp: “in the aftermath of the House Bank and Post Office scandals in 1992, the House and our colleagues in the other body…”

“in the aftermath of the House Bank and Post Office scandals in 1992, the House and our colleagues in the other body established a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. Last year, this bipartisan reform panel met for many weeks listening to the testimony of Members and former Members of Congress and many other people testified, including Mr. Perot of Texas. There were over 100 hours of hearings in which many questions were asked and answers were given about how Congress works and how it can and should be changed. The joint committee's final report was finished just before the end of the year. And, in the coming weeks we will all have the opportunity to further consider and vote on the joint committee's recommendations. My distinguished colleague, David Dreier of California, who served as a vice chairman of the committee, and many other Members on both sides of the aisle, put a lot of time and work into these efforts for which they are to be commended. Establishing a two year budget cycle; authorizing use of non-Members of Congress in ethics investigations and limiting the number of committees and subcommittees are steps in the right direction. I know our side of the aisle, led by Mr. Dreier, is working to make this package stronger as it moves through the Rules process and makes its way to the floor. By changing the way business is done here in Congress, we make Congress more accountable.”