Amending Congressional Accountability Act to Permit Second Term For Board of Directors of Office of Compliance

AMENDING CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT TO PERMIT SECOND TERM FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2004)

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 5122) to amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to permit members of the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance to serve for 2 terms, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to object, though it is not my intention to object, and I yield to my distinguished colleague from California for an explanation.

Mr. DOOLITTLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I offer this bill which would amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to permit members of the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance to serve two terms instead of one. The committee believes that amending the act to allow for the reappointment of members of the Board of Directors to a second term will improve the efficient operation of the Office of Compliance.

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his explanation. I applaud the effort to bring this forward. I think it covers four basic principles. First, fairness requires that congressional employees be accorded the same rights and protections as other employees. Second, if the law is right, it should apply to Congress as well as the private sector. Third, if Congress lives by the same laws it applies elsewhere, it will write better laws. And, fourth, the constitutional separation of powers doctrine must be respected.

Mr. Speaker, I do hope, however, that we are able at a future time to revisit a GAO recommendation. GAO recommends strongly that the executive director, general counsel and the two deputy executive directors be reappointed to serve subsequent terms in either the same or different positions if warranted. I think that this makes sense, and it is my hope and intent that the committee in working with the chairman can bring this to the floor at a future date.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

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