Opposing Motion To Recommit H.R. 3221

Floor Speech

Opposing Motion To Recommit H.R. 3221

* Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise to voice my concern over the recent motion to recommit the bill HR 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, which passed the House on September 17, 2009.

* The motion to recommit stated, in part, that no organization that has been indicted for any federal or state campaign finance or election law can be eligible for any federal government contract or grant. The motion specifically names the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) as an organization covered by the bill.

* Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution clearly states, ``No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.'' Congress cannot legislatively punish an individual or specific class of people. The fact that the motion to recommit appears to meet both criteria for a bill of attainder--specificity and punishment--should give us pause. Legislation that could potentially violate the Constitution surely deserves more debate than twenty minutes.

* The recent revelations regarding the conduct of some ACORN employees is disquieting and merits closer investigation; however it is not Congress' place to assign guilt and punishment. The Constitution affords all accused people the protections of the judicial system; Congress must allow the judicial branch to function properly. For this reason I opposed the motion to recommit, and I will oppose any legislation that attempts to punish an individual or specific class of people without the judicial protections afforded them by the Constitution.

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