CARDIN: We worked together in a bipartisan manner, maintaining our commitment to a process that was fair to the respondent as well as the House and its rules. I want to commend the chairman, Mr. Goss, for his outstanding leadership of that subcommittee, as well as my fellow members Steve Schiff and Nancy Pelosi.

I also want to comment and complement the committee's special counsel, Jim Cole, for his splendid work in shepherding us through this process. He's never wavered in keeping us on track, in keeping us focused on the issues before us. He has prepared a report on all the issues, in about one half the time that he originally expected to have in order to prepare that report. And he is here today, with no time to prepare and no sleep.

As I have said, he has the patience of a saint. Unfortunately, he has had to use all of that patience. He has been completely impervious to the political winds swirling around him; and we have had our storms. For all of that, this committee and country owe him a great debt of gratitude.

In addition, I want to recognize the outstanding work of Attorney Kevin Wolf, his assistant -- or, Mr. Cole's assistant for the great work that he did for our committee.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't also recognize the work of Virginia Johnson of our committee. Her contributions to the work of the subcommittee has been innumerable and invaluable, and she has my deep appreciation.

Now the process moves to the full committee. The investigative subcommittee has set an outstanding example of bipartisan cooperation. Again, I am very proud of the work product and the fact we were able to reach a unanimous 4-0 vote. Throughout our year-long investigation, Chairman Goss, Representative Schiff, Representative Pelosi and I worked closely together to build consensus and to understand the issues underlining the charges against Representative Gingrich.

During the past two days, Mrs. Johnson and I have communicated regularly in an effort to make the best possible use of the time that remains under the deadline, set by the House on January the seventh. The objective of the full committee must be to follow the example set by the subcommittee. We must work together to send a bipartisan recommendation to the full House, and to give the members of the House the best opportunity now available, before they vote, to understand the sanctions recommended by this committee.