Directing Clerk of the House to Make Technical Corrections in Enrollment of H.R. 4818

DIRECTING CLERK OF THE HOUSE TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS IN ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 4818 -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 07, 2004)

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I support this provision to fix the misguided insertion in the Omnibus Appropriations bill allowing Congressional staff to view individual tax returns. However, I protest the process through which that insertion, and others, were inserted into a 3,000-plus page spending bill without the knowledge of most members and without an opportunity to correct all of them.

One such additional insertion is a provision which effectively eliminates one of our most effective tools to fight crime-the Federal Prison Industries program. Study after study-some of them covering as much as 16 years of follow-up data-have shown that inmates who participate in the Federal Prison Industries program are more likely to be employed and less likely to commit crimes than those who do not take part. And corrections officials tell us that Federal Prison Industries are critical to their maintaining safety and security in the prisons by giving inmates something productive to do with their time. Crime victims and the inmates' dependents benefit, as well. Last year alone, inmate workers paid more than $3 million from their wages in the form of restitution to victims and support payments to dependents.

Inserting provisions in a 3,000-plus page bill with no opportunity to know about them or review them prior to voting on them, not only violates House rules against legislating on an appropriations measure, but violates principles of transparency and regular order in legislating, as well.