macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota . the chair of the committee and our transportation guru.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. 1301 to recognize the goals and ideals of National Train Day. Americas rail network is one of its greatest treasures. and I am pleased to support Congresswoman BROWNs resolution in support of National Train Day. This year marks the third annual celebration with familyoriented events that provide opportunities to explore interactive and educational exhibits on the ways trains have transformed our country. This year we also celebrate 141 years of connecting travelers from coast to coast as the first transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10. 1869. On that day in Promontory Summit. Utah. the "golden spike" was driven into the final tie that joined 1.776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways. linking the east and west coasts by rail for the first time. In Texas we have several events lined up to celebrate National Train Day. and Dallas Union Station will be one of 13 Texas train stations participating in National Train Day. The event will feature train equipment displays. entertainment. balloon makers. and face painters. and additionally. the Dallas Museum of the American Railroad will display its 1931 M180 Doodlebug and a heritage Pullman Sleeping Car. Madam Speaker. trains have truly transformed America over the last two centuries. adding to our national character and making us a more efficient and mobile country. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day and recognizing the contributions that trains have made to our national transportation system.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include additional material on House Concurrent Resolution 263.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased today to support House Concurrent Resolution 263. which authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 25th Annual District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Capitol Police. along with the D.C. Special Olympics. will participate in the Torch Run to be held on June 4. 2010. Law enforcement officers. who are part of the extended volunteer network that supports the Special Olympics. carry the Olympic torch across the Capitol Grounds throughout the District of Columbia. The D.C. Special Olympics expect over 1.500 law enforcement officers to participate in the Torch Run. which will be a 2.3 mile course from the Capitol Grounds to Fort McNair. These events. along with others throughout the year. are designed to raise funds to support yearround activities for the D.C. Special Olympics. The D.C. Special Olympics allows area residents with intellectual disabilities to participate in competitive sport activities in order to test their abilities against their peers. develop confidence. and improve their health. The D.C. Special Olympics will work closely with the Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol to make sure that the event is in full compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of the Capitol Grounds. The event will be free and open to the public. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

I just want to thank the gentleman from Rhode Island. Mr. PATRICK KENNEDY. for your leadership throughout the years in support of the Special Olympics. And how many years have you supported it?
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Well. I want to once again thank you for your leadership. not just for America. but for the world in this area.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as an original cosponsor. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 263. which would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. I commend my colleague from the District of Columbia for introducing this resolution for this worthy cause. This annual event is in its 25th year of bringing together nearly 50 Federal and local law enforcement agencies to show support for Special Olympics DC. Each year. law enforcement officers across the country and around the world participate in local Torch Run events to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. In 2008. the Torch Runs raised over $34 million for Special Olympic programs. Funds raised from the Torch Run help support yearround training and programs for Special Olympics DC. It makes an impact in the lives of our communitys most vulnerable citizens and enables thousands of children and adults with disabilities to participate in Special Olympics programs. Mr. Speaker. the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run is a fitting way to continue the legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver so that everyone has the opportunity to compete and reach their full potential.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include additional material on House Concurrent Resolution 247.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am delighted to support House Concurrent Resolution 247. which authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. HOYER. who has been such a great and consistent champion for his constituents for this event. Consistent with all events using the Capitol Grounds. this event is open to the public and free of charge. The organizers will work with the Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol. I support Concurrent Resolution 247 and urge passage of the resolution. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I want to point out that the Soap Box Derby. of which Mr. HOYER has been the sponsor for a number of years. is an event that has been put on for a number of years. and the purpose is to prepare young people from age 8 to 17. Mr. Speaker. may I inquire as to how much time we have remaining?
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1278) in support and recognition of National Safe Digging Month. April. 2010. as amended.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 1278.
Date: 2010-05-05
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1278. a resolution to designate the month of April as National Safe Digging Month. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. PHMSA. along with many States and stakeholders across the Nation. have come together to support this designation. If approved. it will also mark the 3year anniversary of 811 as the national "Call Before You Dig" telephone number. This year. throughout the entire month of April. PHMSA is encouraging all homeowners and contractors to call 811 before they dig to prevent fatalities. injuries. environmental dangers. and other possible loss of critical infrastructure and services. According to PHMSA. excavation damage continues to be a leading cause of serious pipeline incidents. In fact. each year there are hundreds of thousands of underground utility lines damaged through excavation in the United States. 35 percent of which occur as a direct result of people not calling before digging. According to PHMSA. the onecall notification system has helped reduce the percentage of excavation damages caused by failure to locate underground utilities prior to digging. from 57 percent in 2004 to 35 percent in 2009. Clearly. these numbers speak for themselves. Indeed. it is extremely important to call 811. the Call Before You Dig line. and it is such an easy way for individuals and companies to save lives. the environment. our Nations infrastructure. and even save money and investments. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2010-05-06
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5019. the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act. because this Congress must continue to make sure that Americans are getting back to work and that we are continuing to move our economy forward. In our congressional district. the construction industry is one of the highest sources of income for residents. yet this industry has been especially hardhit by the recent economic downturn. Unemployment rates in the construction industry have risen almost 17.4 percent and have shed over 134.000 jobs over the past two years. The HomeStar program seeks to increase employment in the construction and constructionrelated sectors and increase building energy efficiency to significantly reduce energy use in America. It is estimated that the program will create approximately 168.000 more jobs in the construction and manufacturing sectors. while promoting Americanmade goods and services. The program also seeks to address the issue of rising home energy costs by improving building energy efficiency. I have always been a strong supporter of energy efficiency and I am pleased the HomeStar program will build on already existing energy efficient retrofitting programs to save homeowners as much as $9.2 billion in energy costs over 10 years. Congress should continue to invest in job creation and energy efficiency measures in order to keep our nation a leader in the global economy. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Date: 2010-05-06
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. as an original cosponsor of this important legislation. I rise in strong support of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010. As we work to develop and deploy new forms of clean. homegrown energy. we must never lose sight of this central fact: There is no cleaner. cheaper source of energy than the energy you never have to use. Energy efficiency is literally Americas greatest energy resource. Over the past thirty years. energy efficiency and conservation improvements have significantly outpaced our production and import of petroleum and any other single source of energy. Going forward. we can do even better. and this initiative is part of that futurecreating 168.000 jobs across the United States. reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 4.14 metric tons. which is the equivalent of taking 767.000 cars off the road. and saving Americans $9.2 billion on their energy bills over the next decade. Finally. in addition to the Silver and Gold level rebates provided to homeowners under this bill. this initiative also includes the establishment of a Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program so that states and localities can provide lowcost financing to homeowners wishing to undertake retrofits. While on a smaller scale. this provision is consistent with the Green Bank proposal included the Housepassed energy bill and can go a long way towards overcoming the lack of upfront capital that is currently a barrier to many homeowners getting started on making these commonsense improvements in the first place. Madam Chair. this combination of jobs. energy savings and consumer relief is a perfect trifecta for the American people. I thank my colleague Representative PETER WELCH for his leadership on this issue. commend the committee for bringing this bill to the floor and urge my colleagues support.
Date: 2010-05-06
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. I rise today in support of H.R. 5019. the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of The best way to lower energy costs is to make homes. buildings. vehicles. and infrastructure more energy efficient. Providing American homeowners with incentives to improve the energy efficiency in their homes is a straightforward concept that will spur job growth. protect our environment. and lower residential energy costs. We must revolutionize our economy and energy infrastructure in order to become more efficient. The growing "Green Economy" presents an opportunity to create large numbers of quality. greencollar jobs for American workers to grow emerging industries and to improve the health of low- and middleincome Americans. Specifically. Home Star will create 168.000 new jobs in an effort to jump start our Nations struggling economy. As the cost of energy continues to spiral out of control. Home Star presents a commonsense approach to mitigate costs to American homeowners. During extreme weather conditions. people living in poverty and the lowincome elderly shouldnt be overburdened by the cost of energy to heat and cool their homes or the cost to provide food for themselves and their families. This legislation is another. positive step for America in the road towards economic recovery. Madam Chair. Dallas is ready for this opportunity to make costeffective investments to rebuild and retrofit our community and our Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of
Date: 2010-05-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 268 to support the goals and ideals of National Womens Health Week. As a nonpracticing registered nurse. I know from firsthand experience how important it is to lead a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a good diet. exercising. and making good life decisions are incredibly important to the wellbeing of any person. This week. on National Womens Health Week. we focus our attention on the importance of womens health so that we can encourage women to lead better. healthier. and more fulfilling lives. Women play vital roles in the family unit as mothers. grandmothers. sisters. and daughters. It is often the case that in offering care for others. women themselves forget to address their own healthcare needs. It is no surprise that when the health of a mother decreases. so too. does the health of her family. As women take on larger roles in the workplace and are forced to balance the needs of family and career. they are even less likely to place an emphasis on their own needs and health. For this reason. it is incredibly important that we emphasize the importance of womens health during this week. Women. too. have some very specific healthcare needs that are important to highlight during National Womens Health Week. Breast cancer. heart disease. and osteoporosis are just a few of the major diseases that can affect women. and it is important that they are screened for and receive adequate treatment for these ailments. Additionally. women are disproportionately faced with higher healthcare costs and because of this they many times have reduced access to care compared with men. Mr. Speaker. National Womens Health Week seeks to address the health needs of women so that all Americans can lead better lives. The role of women in our society is remarkably important. and it is imperative that women understand their own healthcare needs as well as have access to affordable care. Because of this. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting this resolution for the betterment of women across the country.
Date: 2010-05-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 268. "Supporting the goals and ideals of National Womens Health Week." First and foremost I would like to thank my distinguished colleague from New York. Representative MAURICE HINCHEY for introducing this bill. Mr. Speaker. it is vital we recognize that women need to take better care of their health. Starting this week from May 9th to May 15th. families. communities. businesses. government. health organizations and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease. It is crucial that women have knowledge about the health risks that confront them and that greater action is taken to reduce those risks through preventative measures such as a healthy lifestyle and regular medical screenings. With just a small amount of preventative care through exercise and doctor visits. women can drastically cut back on serious health risks that threaten to cut their life span. Mr. Speaker. I reiterate once again. that it is a very well known fact that improving the health of all women will improve the health of the whole community. It is a well known fact that improving health for women improves health for everyone. Research indicates that when women take care of themselves. the health of their families improves along with theirs. Women are known to be the caregivers of the family. Women are known to sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of their families. During National Womens Health Week it is of great importance we encourage our mothers. sisters. grandmothers. and aunts to go take time out for themselves. It is essential that women educate themselves on different steps to take on improving their lifestyle. health and lower the risks of certain diseases. Some of the most common preventative measures that can be taken are the following: getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity. 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity. or a combination of both each week. eating a nutritious diet. visiting a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings. paying attention to mental health. including getting enough sleep and managing stress. In addition. it is important that women start taking care of themselves at an early age. If they start early. they are more likely to stick to these habits. thus in turn. maintaining healthier families and communities. In Houston and all across America. it is important that women do everything they can do to lead healthier lives. In this spirit. I encourage women to get the necessary checkups and preventative screenings from their health care providers so they can live long. healthy and productive lives. Once again it is important to remind our mothers. sisters. grandmothers and aunts that when they take care of themselves. they in turn are taking care of their families and community.
Date: 2010-05-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1299 to support the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Every year. on May 15. we recognize the fallen peace officers from our communities that have given their lives in the line of duty. We can thank these men and women for upholding our laws and ensuring our safety. even in times of crisis. I am deeply humbled by the sacrifices of these brave men and women. and I express my condolences to their families for their loss. On January 6. 2009. Dallas lost one of our own police officers. Senior Cpl. Norman Stephen Smith. when he was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant. He died shortly before his 18th anniversary with the Dallas Police Department. and his knowledge and skill continue to be missed within his unit. With his death. Dallas lost a great man and a great police officer. and we will never forget his sacrifice for our communitys wellbeing. My condolences go out to his wife. Regina Smith. and their two children. Mr. Speaker. Peace Officers Memorial Day is a day in which we honor some of our nations bravest and most valiant men and women. The work of police officers and other peace officers places them in danger almost on a daily basis. and I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting this resolution that honors our peace officers who have died in the line of duty.
Date: 2010-05-11
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H. Res. 1094 to commemorate the life of the late Cynthia DeLores Tucker. a civil rights activist and the first female. AfricanAmerican Secretary of State of any of our fifty states. C. DeLores Tucker was born in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania in 1927 as the tenth of thirteen children. She grew up during the Great Depression. and during this period she faced large amounts of racism and economic hardship. She would later attend Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. and in 1951 she married her husband. Bill Tucker. In 1950. Ms. Tucker became active in the civil rights movement and local politics when she registered AfricanAmerican voters for the Philadelphia mayoral campaign. She would later go on to run for public office herself and was elected to the Philadelphia Zoning Board where she became the first AfricanAmerican and the first woman to serve in this position. Later. in 1971. she was named Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania making her the first female. AfricanAmerican secretary of a state in the nation. The rights of African Americans and the rights of women were never far from Mrs. Tuckers thoughts. In 1965. she participated in the White House Conference on Civil Rights. and she marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.. from Selma. Alabama to Montgomery. Alabama in support of the 1965 Voting Rights Bill. She also founded the National Congress of Black Women in order to aid in the educational. political. economic. and cultural development of AfricanAmerican women and their families. Mr. Speaker. America lost a great soul and noble spirit with the passing of Cynthia DeLores Tucker. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in honoring her legacy by supporting this resolution. Truly. she will be missed.
Date: 2010-05-12
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. Fifty years ago in Dallas. Texas. at Texas Instruments. Dr. Jack Kilby invented the microchip. This groundbreaking technology is arguably the catalyst of the information age and the entire field of modern microelectronics. At that time. this technology was unimaginable. If not for Dr. Kilby. it is feasible that sophisticated highspeed computers. largescale semiconductors may cease to exist. The example Dr. Kilby set proves it is the American people that will create the next technological feat. In order to become energy independent. create new jobs and exports. and develop the next great technology. we must invest robustly in scientific education and innovation. This is the goal of America COMPETES. and I am pleased the provisions in this bill are for all Americans. I. along with my supportive colleagues. want to thank the House leadership for bringing this important legislation to the floor.