macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-15
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this legislation. This bill is. of course. to name the U.S. courthouse in Charleston. South Carolina. after Judge Julius Waties Waring. During Judge Warings time as a Federal judge in the Eastern District of South Carolina. he was a trailblazer in pursuit of justice for African Americans. Judge Waring consistently ruled for African American plaintiffs in cases involving voting rights. unequal pay. and civil rights. Before Judge Waring was named to the Federal bench. he served as assistant U.S. attorney and as corporation counsel for the City of Charleston. He is most famously remembered for a 1951 landmark school segregation case. Judge Waring wrote in his dissent on a threejudge panel that racial segregation in public schools was "per se inequality." He became the first Federal judge to take that position since Plessy v. Ferguson ruled for separate but equal. In his dissent. he went further to denounce segregation as an "evil that must be eradicated." His dissent is commonly understood to provide the intellectual underpinning of the Supreme Court outlawing school segregation in Brown v. Board of Education. Because Judge Warings decisions were considered controversial at the time. he endured threats of violence and was alienated from most of Charleston. Soon after Judge Warings momentous decision. he retired from the Federal bench and moved to New York. where he later died. Fifty years after his death. this legislation naming the Federal courthouse in Charleston in his honor is appropriate because of Judge Warings courageous judicial service in the face of fierce opposition to the bedrock American value of "justice for all." I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-15
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2559. and I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bill designates a 10mile segment of Interstate 10 between milepost 535 and milepost 545 in Kendall County. Texas. as the PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this bill along with my colleagues from Texas. Private Lee was a hero who tragically lost his life at the age of 19 while fighting for his country in Vietnam. Milton A. Lee was born February 28. 1949. in Shreveport. Louisiana. He later moved to Texas and attended Harlandale High School in San Antonio before enlisting in the Army. The actions preceding his death were nothing short of heroic. While serving as a radio operator with the 3rd Platoon. Company B. the platoon was surprised by hostile fire by the North Vietnamese Army. Private Lee moved through the heavy enemy fire to give lifesaving first aid to his wounded fellow soldiers. As the platoon was advancing to reorganize. Private Lee noticed four hidden North Vietnamese soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher ready to attack the lead element of the platoon. He selflessly charged through the enemy fire and overran their position. killing the attackers and capturing their weapons. His actions saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and were instrumental in the destruction of the key position of the enemy defense. Private Lee died April 26. 1968. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970 for his gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased that we can come to the floor of the House today and celebrate this young mans courage and conviction by naming a portion of Interstate 10 in his honor. This bill is a fitting tribute. Before I close. I would like to remind my colleagues that there are only 23 legislative days left before highway and transit program authorizations expire. Here we are again on the brink of yet another extension in the middle of the summer construction season. I strongly urge my colleagues to take up the charge to restore our Nations infrastructure. If we do not act quickly. we will soon not have any miles of road left worthy of naming after any great American. I support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. before leaving my district. I had the great excitement of presiding over or introducing a new medical center to the Acres Homes community and to the community of Houston. the UMC Center. organized by committed and dedicated doctors. This facility is formerly the Doctors Hospital Tidwell in historic Acres Homes community. The real value and significance are two things. One. Americans need access to good health care. With the Affordable Care Act. we have been able to sizably bring down the 25 percent of Texans who are uninsured. We have been able to expand with community health clinics. For those States who have accepted the expanded Medicaid. which includes Ohio under Governor Kasich. a former Member of this body. and. as well. the State of Kentucky. they have seen a sizable dent in those who are uninsured. I want to thank those doctors working with me and working with the Texas Department of State Health Services. the U.S. Department of Health. recognizing that an innercity hospital. a hospital dealing with those aged populations and children and young families. is valuable to save. We need to save Riverside Hospital. I want to congratulate those doctors. and we will work together to be able to provide good health care for all of the community.
Date: 2015-06-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Let me thank the manager of this hour. Mr. PAYNE. and all of my colleagues and my chairman. who has just spoken and who set the tone very eloquently and with deep conviction. In his having served on the supreme court for the State of North Carolina.
Date: 2015-06-15
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding and giving me the opportunity to lend my voice to what I think is a crisis that we are experiencing. As my colleagues before me have pointed out. particularly Representative SHEILA JACKSON LEE. we are in the midst of an American crisis. shaking the very foundation of the Black community. The word crisis should motivate us to act now. Crisis describes a need for immediate action. Crisis calls for an immediate infusion of resources. Crisis requires a meeting of minds to find answers. If thousands of people disappeared in the prime of their lives. their friends. their families. their coworkers having no idea where they went. we would be calling that a crisis. Yet. for years. our young. Black men have disappeared from their homes. their communities. and everything that would have been their lives. Violence has taken them. Violence that we could have avoided with stronger schools to give youth the outlet that they need. Better jobs and job training to prepare these men to be supporters of strong families. Prisons have taken these men. prisons that we support through a legal system that dehumanizes men of color and enforces policies that all but ensure these men will enter an endless cycle of recidivism where more than 67 percent of them will come back into the communities with no preparation. no assistance whatsoever in becoming whole and healthy in their communities. This is a nation that is quick to see these Black men as a problem. and this is a nation that seems to continue to ignore and deceive the slow. steady disappearance of 1.5 million Black men. This is devastating to our families and to our whole communities. It is past time that we see this for the crisis that it is and invest the resources and intellectual power that will end it and save our men and our families and our communities. There is a very witty African American comic who refers to the crisis of Black men and the need to get them on the endangered species list. because when we recognize that a species is endangered. we place value on that species. We place resources in every opportunity to ensure that they continue. that they thrive. and that they live in the habitats that are healthy for them. Well. this is a situation of an endangered species. This is. indeed. a crisis. So I thank my colleagues for drawing attention to this issue.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as we rally around the obvious in the need for criminal justice reform and. in essence. the rehabilitation of our criminal justice laws as we deal with the interaction of law enforcement and civilians. having a pathway for respect for both. one of the most forgotten aspects is dealing with the treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system. I intend. over the next couple of weeks. to introduce a series of legislative initiatives that address that form of the criminal justice system. which we find. as parents and family members. touches all juveniles. One of the things that the bill recognizes is that a young persons brain is still developing into his or her early twenties. and that those who commit crimes before this point should be treated differently by the criminal justice system. The purpose of this effort is to improve the treatment of young offenders within the Federal criminal justice system and to put them on a path toward successful reentry by providing options for the sentencing judges: a safety valve for young offenders which would. in essence. break through the mandatory minimum. an early release for young offenders. and. particularly. alternatives such as massive use of home arrest. Our children are our future. They get on the wrong path. Lets not celebrate that wrong path and force them to live that wrong path. Lets save their lives.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. there are just 6 more working days before the ExIm Bank expires. and given the critical importance of this program. I thought it would be useful to provide a quick index of hard numbers showing what this would mean to the United States economy: Sixtythe number 60. That is the approximate number of ExIm credit agencies that are competing with us around the world that are waiting for our Bank to expire so they can grab that American export business. 3.340. That is the number of small businesses that are supported right now by the ExIm Bank. helping them to export their goods and provide jobs. 164.000. That is the number of American jobs that are provided right now this year by the ExIm Bank that we would lose immediately. 1.3 million. That is the number of private sector jobs that have been created by the Bank since 2009. with no additional cost to the American taxpayer. In fact. it makes money to help us pay down our debt. And. finally. zero. That is what we gain by killing our Bank. Zero. We dont get the revenue. We dont get the jobs. We dont get to export our goods. Lets renew it.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the month of June as Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month. Approximately 340.000 Texans and 5.4 million Americans currently have Alzheimers disease. One in nine Americans over 65 is projected to develop Alzheimers. and it is the sixthleading cause of death in the United States. The rapidly growing number of older Americans will lead to a corresponding rapid growth in the prevalence of Alzheimers disease. The devastating emotional and financial impact of this debilitating disease is known by too many. My motherinlaw battled this disease. so I know firsthand how difficult it can be for patients and their loved ones. I strongly support efforts to advocate and raise awareness and robust funding for research to find treatments and cure for this disease. Congress has a real opportunity to dramatically impact the lives of millions of Americans by funding research and outreach programs for Alzheimers. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the month of June as Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month. Together we can help turn the world purple for Alzheimers. and by doing so. promote care. support. and research of this terrible disease.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Speaker. ladies and gentlemen. what is about to happen on this floor with this rule is a direct violation of the United States Constitution. for in the United States Constitution. it clearly says that the United States Congress shall have the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations." And in this rule is a clear violation of that. We already voted it down overwhelmingly 302126. Republicans and Democrats. It was the foremost bipartisan vote in this 21st century. the very thing that the American people are crying for. Now. why did Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison all agree? Very strong. very independent minds. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson could hardly bear to be in the same room with each other. but they agreed on this because they knew that every State had Representatives in Congress to look out for jobs that could be shipped overseas. This is the primary reason. ladies and gentlemen. Look at every trade agreement. This country has lost over 2 million manufacturing jobs to China as a result of the China deal. Over 150.000 jobs to Mexico. Yes. it created jobsnot in the United States. And what kind of jobs? These are jobs that impacted at the lower- and middleincome levels of our economy. It is the middle class that is the heart and the soul of America. Let this Congress stand up and reject this rule. We proved our mettle with that 302 vote. Congress. I am asking you. the American people are asking you: Do what Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison asked us to do. and let it be the Congress that regulates commerce with foreign nations.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding and for the astute question that he asked. which is one that I would like to follow up on. Mr. Speaker. let me say to the gentleman from Georgia that he is quite right. There are very serious and important components of the intelligence bill covered by this rule. As many of us have experienced over the last couple of days. we are in and out of intelligence and security briefings because that is the era in which we live. And in most instances. Members draw their concern from the responsibility they have for protecting the American people. I am on the Homeland Security Committee and have continued on that committee since the tragedy. the heinous act of 9111. and before. when the select committee was in place. So I have no quarrel with some of the important elements of this legislation. But the gentleman from Georgia should recognize that this is an aberration. There are two or three points that I would like to make: First of all. we are long overdue for getting rid of the sequester. This joke was played on Members and the American people only because of the supercommitteenot because of any individual Members. but there was a supercommittee structure put in place. the time ran out. and they could not come to a budget conclusion. So this was the ultimate end. Members didnt vote on this. They voted on the supercommittee. and then this was the hatchet that fell when the supercommittee did not work. So sequester should be something that Speaker BOEHNER puts on the floor and immediately gets rid of. And the reason why I say that is because I am going to talk about the shenanigans dealing with the trade bill. But what I am going to say is that the overseas contingency fund is being used to bolster up this bill. the intelligence bill. But I cant get those resources to be utilized for infrastructure or summer jobs or fixing the education system that we have responsibilities for or providing opportunities for young people to finish their education or criminal justice reform. So this is being 43 percent pumped up when used by funds that are not in the stream.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman. The funding is not in the stream of funding that other appropriators have to utilize. That is wrong. Then I might conclude on the shenanigans of the trade fix. if you will. I am for TAA. the Trade Adjustment Assistance. I want it to be voted on straight up or down. like many Members do. to provide for workers and not have. unfortunately. the addition that was added coming from the other body. So now we know that. whatever shenanigans that will come up. it probably wont be in the way that will help American workers. Mr. Speaker. this rule should be voted down because we need an opportunity to work on behalf of the American workers. to get rid of sequester. and to find a way to move this country forward.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Madam Speaker. I rise to acknowledge and honor a group of World War II veterans from New Mexico who visited Washington. D.C.. last week. They came to visit the memorials. their memorials. that are dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. We have about 5.000 World War II veterans in New Mexico. and I appreciate the efforts of the Williamson Foundation in supporting the veterans by organizing this weeks Honor Flight. While I am sure each veteran appreciated the opportunity to visit the memorials. I know many of them were just as impressed with the gratitude expressed by their fellow New Mexicans for their service. Huge crowds greeted them at the airport in Albuquerque. One veteran said he had never received a thank you before this trip. New Mexicans played pivotal roles and sacrificed a lot during the war in Europe. north Africa. and the Pacific. We must never forget what these and all veterans have done for our great Nation. I thank them for their service.
Date: 2015-06-16
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you so very much. Madam Speaker. I would like to thank my friend and colleague from California. Congressman JOHN GARAMENDI. for yielding. and I commend him for organizing this Special Order on Alzheimers disease in honor of the month of June. which is Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month. As the cochair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimers Disease. I know how devastating this disease can be for our patients. families. and caregivers. I am proud to lead the task force along with my cochairs. Congressman CHRIS SMITH. Congressman MICHAEL BURGESS. and Congressman
Date: 2015-06-17
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker and Members. I rise today in honor of the graduates from the KIPP Generations Collegiate High School. KGC. in Houston. Texas. KIPP is a charter school that partners with our Houston area public school system. Last Sunday. I was honored to speak at their commencement ceremony. I have followed the success of KIPP students for 20 years. From their beginnings in elementary school. Mike Feinberg and his excellent staff have taught thousands of children in Texas. KGCs main focus is to build a rigorous learning environment to better equip its students for college. This school has upheld its mission by empowering its graduates to take ownership of their education by approaching learning with curiosity. with a sense of responsibility. and by putting their knowledge into action in the service of others. Hailing under the motto of "We Lift as We Climb." KGC is truly a model of success for the entire country. KGCs values of hope. empowerment. grit. and citizenship are tools that every student needs to succeed in the 21st century. Because of this learning environment. every graduate from this program has been accepted into a college or a university. KGC continues to perform well above the State in district averages. I would like to congratulate the students. the parents. the teachers. and the administrators for their success now and in the future.
Date: 2015-06-17
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Colorado. as well as Leader PELOSI and Whip HOYER. for their unyielding support for thousands of American jobs and businesses. I rise to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question in order to force a vote on legislation sponsored by myself. Mr. HECK. Ms. MOORE. Mr. HOYER. and 186 other Democrats that will renew and reform the ExportImport Banks charter for the long term. Mr. Speaker. Congress has just 5 days to act before the ExportImport Bank shuts down. We are in the eleventh hour. and despite a recent bipartisan vote in the Senate and broad support across the aisle in this House. we are still fighting to keep this engine of job creation and economic growth alive. It is interesting to note that. contrary to most of the disagreements that take place in this Chamber. in the debate over the ExportImport Bank. the facts remain undisputed. Over the past 5 years. it is estimated that the Bank has created or sustained more than 1.3 million private sector jobs. 164.000 in the past year alone. In 2014. the Bank returned more than $674 million back to the American taxpayers. an amount totaling $6.9 billion over the past two decades. Democrats. Republicans. business. and labor all understand the important role that the ExportImport Bank plays in our economy. Presidents. ranging from Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush to Bill Clinton. have been outspoken in their support for the Banks ability to create and sustain American jobs and keep our businesses competitive. ExIm levels the playing field with countries like China. Russia. and countless others. all of which have their own version of the Bank supporting American competitors. Mr. Speaker. Democrats are coming to the floor today to implore our numerous Republican colleagues who support the ExportImport Bank. starting with Speaker BOEHNER. to stand up for jobs. businesses. and American competitiveness by standing up to the extremists who want to close the Bank. Lets send a strong message to Americas manufacturers. businesses. and workers. that we are committed to preserving an institution that. for decades. has helped this Nation create jobs and grow the economy. I would urge a "no" vote on the previous question.