Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a point of personal privilege.

The SPEAKER. The Chair has examined the press accounts that have been submitted, and it qualifies as a question of personal privilege under rule IX.

The gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) is recognized for 1 hour.

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I have always considered the time spent in this institution, the people's House, as one of the highest honors a person can be provided by this country. Each of us is elected by the people to be a Member. Each of us has an equal right to be here. But what we do here, what position or responsibilities that we have, we owe to each other.

Last Friday in the Ways and Means Committee while conducting a markup of a bill as a result of decisions made by members of the committee and by me as chairman, there was a breakdown of order and decorum. To reestablish order in the committee, I requested that staff place a call to the Sergeant at Arms. That decision, in my opinion, was proper and appropriate. A second decision to instruct staff to see if the Democrats that had occupied the library would go to room 1129, which is a room reserved for the Democrats for meetings and caucuses, and to enlist the support of the Capitol Police to do so if necessary, that decision, in the words of Norm Ornstein in a column today in Roll Call, was described as ``just plain stupid.'' I agree with him.

Every Member has as much right to be here and to be heard as any other. In hindsight, calling the Sergeant at Arms for help in the committee room, I still believe, was good judgment. My instruction to use the Capitol Police, if necessary, in the library was not. I learned a very painful lesson on Friday. As Members, you deserve better judgment from me, and you will get it. Because of my poor judgment, those outside the House who want to trivialize, marginalize, and debase this institution were given an opportunity to do so. Because of my poor judgment, the stewardship of my party as the majority party in this House has been unfairly criticized.

Because of my poor judgment, I became the focus of examination rather than the issues. The visions that each of us have for a better America, different as though they may be but equally entitled to be heard, were not focused on.

It has been said that our strengths are our weaknesses. Or as my mother would have put it, ``When they were passing out moderation, you were hiding behind the door.'' I believe my intensity has served useful purposes, fixing problems and passing laws that otherwise may not have made it. But when one is charged and entrusted with responsibilities by you, my colleagues, as I have been, you deserve better. Moderation is required.

For the remainder of my time in this, the people's House, I want to rededicate my efforts to strengthening this institution as the embodiment of what is best about us. I need your help and I invite it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

END

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