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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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Pelosi Statement on Ethics Investigation of Mark Foley
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi introduced a privileged resolution on the House floor tonight requiring an immediate Ethics Committee investigation of Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL), who abruptly resigned his seat today amid questions surrounding his inappropriate emails with a former male page. Below are Pelosi’s statement and the text of the privileged resolution:
"For nearly a year, Republican leaders have known of the egregious behavior of Congressman Mark Foley, yet were prepared to adjourn tonight without an Ethics Committee investigation. But because Democrats forced a vote on a privileged resolution, the House has now acted unanimously to have the Ethics Committee conduct a bipartisan investigation.
"The investigation must determine when Mr. Foley sent the inappropriate emails, who knew of them, whether there was a pattern of inappropriate activity by Mr. Foley with pages or former pages, when the Republican leadership was notified, and what corrective action was taken once officials learned of any improper activity.
"For more than 150 years, children from across the nation have come to Washington to serve as pages in the U.S. Capitol. The Page School is a national treasure, and the children who attend it and work in the Congress are our special trust. Members of Congress have a responsibility to protect their employees, especially young pages who serve this institution."
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Below is the text of Leader Pelosi’s privileged resolution:
Whereas for more than 150 years, parents from across the country have sent their children to be pages in the U.S. Capitol, the Page School is a national treasure, and the children who attend it and work in the Congress are our special trust;
Whereas, according to press reports, Representative Mark Foley (R-FL) reportedly engaged in highly inappropriate and explicit communications with a former underage page;
Whereas these allegations were so severe that Representative Foley immediately resigned his seat;
Whereas the page worked for Representative Rodney Alexander (R-LA) and, according to press reports, Representative Alexander learned of the emails "10 to 11 months ago"; (AP, September 29, 2006)
Whereas Representative Alexander has said, "We also notified the House leadership that there might be a potential problem", and the Democratic leadership was not informed; (AP, September 29, 2006)
Whereas all Members of Congress have a responsibility to protect their employees, especially young pages who serve this institution;
Whereas these charges demand immediate investigation, including a determination of when the emails were sent, who knew of the emails, whether there was a pattern of inappropriate activity by Mr. Foley involving email or other contacts with pages or former pages, when the Republican leadership was notified, and what corrective action was taken once officials learned of any improper activity;
Whereas given the serious nature of these charges, the pages, their parents, the public, and our colleagues must be assured that Congress will take responsibility that such egregious behavior is not tolerated and will never happen again;
Therefore be it resolved,
That the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct shall immediately appoint an Investigative Subcommittee to fully and expeditiously determine the facts connected with Representative Foley’s conduct and the response thereto; and
That Committee on Standards of Official Conduct is further directed to make a preliminary report to the House within ten days.
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
