macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1984-01-26
Speaker: ROBERT F. SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the Nation and the world were prepared to hear President Reagan recite a highly partisan campaignlaunching address last night. Instead. he offered us a glimpse or the American personality. He echoed this Nations most heartfelt desires. He urged that we tear down barricades to work for the common good. both here at home and in the community of international superpowers. He acknowledged that Americans of all political affiliations are hurt by huge deficit spending and he asked representatives of all parties Democrats. Republicans. Conservatives and Liberals. to help him eliminate the deficits. He acknowledged that all people of the worldthe United States and the Soviet Union alikeare threatened by nuclear hclocaust and he asked the people of the Soviet Union to join us in eliminating the threat. in a spirit of world peace and harmony. My fellow Members of this Congress. I urge that we join him in the search for solutions. instead of promoting petty. partisan efforts to place blame. II1164 I am ready to acanit that his goal of cooperation is my goal and the goal that is nost deeply embedded in the hearts of my constituents of Oregon and all Americans.
Date: 1984-02-01
Speaker: PAUL LAXALT (republican)
Chamber: S

JOE BIDEN. and TED KENNEDY for the fine. conscientious efforts put forth in the furtherance of this vital measure which now gives the Federal Government the proper tools needed to be effective in its crime fighting role. I urge passage of this legislation as swiftly as is possible.o
Date: 1984-02-21
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. in recent months we have all heard a great deal about the plight of the civilians of El Salvador. Many of them have been forced to flee their homeland because of the civil war that has raged there for several years now. This is indeed a tragic situation. and one that should not be ignored. It seems strange to me. however. that little or nothing is said about the refugees of another country in that same region: Nicaragua. For the most part. the U.S. media has ignored the situation that has prevailed there since the Sandinistas seized power in f Remarks February 21. 1984 1979. Seldom do we hear about the nearly 250.000 Nicaraguans who have fled their homeland since that year. but the question must be asked: Why have they fled? Do prosperous. free and content people leave their native land for no reason? The answer is painfully obvious. the Nicaraguan people have responded with their feet to the oppressive and totalitarian rule imposed upon them. Rather than endure the injustice and the tyranny of the MarxistLeninist regime which the Sandinistas have sought to create. many brave Nicaraguans have taken their chances in other. freer nations. The time has come to recognize Central Americas "other" refugees. I recommend the following article that receptly appeared in the Washington Times as an excellent and enlightening account of their plight. It details some of the abuses and atrocities committed by the Sandinistas against their own people. [From the Washington Times. Jan. 26. 1984]
Date: 1984-02-22
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I think we have all enjoyed the spectacle of listening to Democrats express concern over deficit spending. and as a friend of mine back in Illinois said during the recess. that is a little bit like Orson Welles doing commercials for designer jeans. I think perhaps some of our Democratic friends have seen Mr. Mondales budget and they are anticipating the magnitude of the tax increases that would be necessary to try to achieve a balanced budget given an estimated $130 billion increase in spending beyond what we are spending now. I was also taken by the Speakers comment in U.S. News & World Report that President Reagan is the alltime record budget buster in history. and I would simply remind all of us that we alone in this body have the exclusive jurisdiction to originate all spending bills. No President can spend a penny that has not been mandated originally in this bodynot even our colleagues in the other body. The origination of all spending is exclusively a function of the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker. Thomas Jefferson said. "If we can prevent government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of caring for them. they must be happy."
Date: 1984-02-23
Speaker: DANIEL B. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we are confronted in this Congress by a serious problem. The problem is the inability to live within our means. Year after year we insist on spending more than we collect. The Federal budget is out of control. For years. fiscally responsible colleagues have spoken about the need for a balanced budget. while many of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle have scoffed about the need for fiscal restraint. Apparently in recent months Democrats have discovered the amazing fact that budget deficits are a real problem. Now both Democrats and Republicans agree that we need to do something about deficits and solve the problem. Unfortunately. some Democratic Members are not interested in solving the deficit problem. They are only interested in campaign rhetoric. They are not interested in reducing the enormous growth of Federal spending. which is the real cause of higher deficits. Therefore. it is imperative that Congress pass a balanced budget amendment. A constitutional amendment is the best way to insure the necessary fiscal responsibility. I urge its adoption.
Date: 1984-02-28
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. at this time I would hope to offer a unanimousconsent request calling for consideration of the voluntary school prayer constitutional amendment. The Chair ruled that in order to make this request I must have the clearance of the majority and minority leaderships. This request has been cleared by the Republican minority leadership. I would now yield to a spokesman from the Democratic majority leadership for appropriate clearance. Mr. Speaker. I hear no response. That should make it clear to the American people who stands in the way of voluntary school prayerthe Democratic leadership of this House.
Date: 1984-04-10
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today legislation dealing with authorizations for the Panama Canal Commission will be considered. As this authorization bill is discussed. I cannot help but be reminded of the fact that a tremendous mistake in our foreign policy was made with the signing of the Panama Canal Treaty on With the decision to turn the canal over to the Government of Panama. the United States effectively signaled Moscow of its intentions to look the other way while the Soviets attempted to gradually tighten their stranglehold on Central America. At each turn the Soviets have made small yet significant advances. and we have done nothing to stop them. in fact. we have often been accomplices. whether willing or not. to their adventurism in the region. First. permitting their beachhead in Cuba. next the Canal Treaty. then. the abandonment of Nicaragua. later. the Soviet brigade in Cuba. and npw. the very survival of democracy in El Salvador is being threatened. And rather than support a foreign policy of strength and decisiveness. many here in Congress call for negotiations and appeasement. But such negotiations can bring only temporary lulls in the conflict at best. the Soviets and their surrogates will stop at nothing less than complete control of the region. Why is it that so many people continue to ignore the growing menace gathering over Latin America like a huge and dangerous thundercloud? The Soviets themselves have made no secrets of their intentions nor of their foreign policy for the region. The main thrust has been to strengthen their hold on Cuba while striving to expand Soviet influence while undermining U.S. Influence wherever other openings arise. Ironically. the Panama Canal itself has been used extensively by the Soviets to deliver arms and ammunition to the Sandinistas in Nicaragua and the Marxist terrorists in El Salvador. Needless to say. they have been remarkably successful in exploiting opportunities. Our policy for the region. on the other hand. has been vacillating weak. even feeble. This fact is certainly not lost on the Soviets. They carefully consider our resolve and determination before making any move. And this. perhaps more than any other factor. accounts for the recent increase of violent. terrorist activity in Central America. The weaker we are perceived to be. the bolder Soviet expansionism will become. Until we are willing to stand up and defend freedom and democracy as the leader of the free world that we are. the Soviets will continue to exploit our lack of resolve until we are ultimately faced with a direct confrontation on our very borders. In the past we have allowed Soviet aggression in other parts of the world to go unchecked. but we can no longer afford to do so. Central America is too close to home to just look the other way. as many in this country advocate. I only hope that the precedents set by the Panama Canal Treaty and the abandonment of Cuba and Nicaragua can be reversed. Unfortunately. time is running out.
Date: 1984-04-12
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to House Concurrent Resolution 290 because I believe that the mining of territorial waters or ports in Nicaragua should not be curtailed. I maintain that any operation or action that lessens the capacity of the Sandinistas to support the insurgents in El Salvador should be actively pursued. There is irrefutable evidence that the Government of Nicaragua is the greatest single source of insurgency. subversion. and instability in Central America. Better than 80 percent of the arms and munitions sent by the Soviets and the Cubans to the Salvadoran terrorists pass through Nicaragua. and until such time as the Sandinistas are willing to bring an end to this activity. I think it is imperative. that at the very least we make it difficult for them to do so. If that means mining the harbors. or even establishing a blockade like that used so courageously by President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis. I firmly believe that we owe it to the future of freedom and democracy in the region to take these measures. Mining the harbors in Nicaragua is meant to put the economic squeeze on the Sandinistas. not to sink ships. The mines that are being planted by the Contras are small. handmade acoustic mines that are not even capable of sinking a ship: they are designed solely to discourage and harrass arriving vessels. But if the Nicaraguan economy is in Jeopardy. it becomes much more difficult for them to export arms and munitions to El Salvador. We are. therefore. in a very real sense. defending democracy in El Salvador. This tactichitting economic rather than military targetsis the same one that worked with such remarkable success for the Sandinistas as they fought to overthrow Somoza. The rebels in El Salvador are using the same tactic there. too. By undermining the economy. an eventual overthrow is greatly facilitated. But suddenly. when the Saridinistas find themselves in the role of victims rather than perpetrators. they cry foul and call us and the Contras violators of international law and ruthless terrorists. The whole thing seems extremely ironic to me. Just a few short years ago. they were the ones doing the disrupting. and in their case it was somehow justified. Now. however. the roles are reversed and the Sandinistas do not like it one bit. I urge my colleagues to vote against House Concurrent Resolution 290. It sends a message to Managua that will most certainly be heard in Havana and Moscow. and I think it is a message that will only further weaken our already eroded foreign policy for Central America. We must do all in our power to defend freedom and democracy in that region.e
Date: 1984-04-24
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today I am introducing a bill to prohibit State governments from taxing social security benefits. This bill is necessary because last year Congress passed legislation taxing middleand upperincome retirees on up to half of those payments. Unless Congress acts. many of these same retirees will pay State income taxes on the benefits beginning with returns filed in 1985. Twentyfour States either have current statutory provisions. or legislation pending that could make social security benefits subject to taxation. Although I am opposed to the taxation of all pensions. at least the Federal taxation of social security benefits Is intended to preserve some degree of solvency in the social security trust fund. The sole reason for a State government in taxing those same benefits would be to enlarge its revenues. The reason States can easily accomplish this. is that most have laws that allow taxation patterns mirroring Federal practice. Therefore. they use the adjusted gross income (AGI) reported on the Federal tax forms as the basis for an individuals income to compute State tax liability. Some States have taken legislative action to exempt social security benefits from being included in taxable income. But it should not be left up to the States to remedy a gross injustice created by Congress. I do not believe that it was our intention to permit States to levy a tax on social security benefits when we approved the 1983 Social Security Act Amendments. The intention was to provide some protection for the social security system. It is grossly unfair for the States to raise revenues by singling out social security beneficiaries. We can correct the injustice with this bill. and I urge its speedy adoption.
Date: 1984-04-25
Speaker: DANIEL B. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. various provisions of the U.S. Criminal Code now authorize the imposition of the death penalty for crimes of homicide. treason. and espionage. However. these sentences are generally unenforceable because they fall to incorporate a set of legislated guidelines. Today only the relevant provisions of the aircraft piracy law appear to comply with the death penalty decisions of the Supreme Court. In 1981. murders were occurring every 23 minutes. According to the Department of Justice. In 1981. 25 million Americans were victims of crimes and 23.000 Amerians were killed by criminals. The stabbing deaths of two guards and an Inmate at the Federal penitentiary in Marion. Ill.. in October 1983 is only one example of a need for capital punishment. Both guards were killed by inmates already serving multiple life sentences for murder. Prisoners serving life sentences can sit back and scoff at a criminal justice system which Is powerless to deal with their actions. Prisoners serving life sentences are "in effect immune." Conservatives conclude that the safety of society and retribution for crime should be the predominant concern. The practice of leniency in our judicial system has not curtailed crime in America. but made it easier for a person to commit a crime knowing that his or her chances for just punishment are slim. Now it is time for us to act against the staggering increase of violent crimes. Let us move swiftly. in a bipartisan effort to establish procedures for the imposition of the death penalty.
Date: 1984-04-25
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. at this time I would hope to offer a unanimousconsent request calling for the consideration of the amendments to permit voluntary school prayer. a balanced budget amendment. and the lineitem veto. - The Chair has ruled that to make these requests in order I have to have the approval of both the majority and the minority leaderships. I have received that clearance from the minority leadership. and I would now yield to any spokesman representing the Democratic majority leadership for similar consent. As Joan Riverb would say. help me. help me. Hearing no response. Mr. Speaker. that should make it clear to the American people who stands in the way of these three important issuesthe Democratic leadership of this body. And I think they have subscribed to that immortal counsel that you can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. and that is enough.
Date: 1984-04-25
Speaker: DANIEL B. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I wish to state the importance of scientific research and technology in modern society and the need to maintain the strong U.S. position in these areas. Although I am unable to support H.R. 4974. the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1985. due to the additional $58.5million increase over the Presidents requests. I offer my support for the advanced scientific computing concerns contained in this legislation. The rapid advances in information and communications technology has enhanced the opportunity and need to coordinate and integrate research and development of the supercomputer. If we are to maintain economic growth and productivity. and remain competitive in the international market. we must address the needs of the U.S. Supercomputer users aid developers. The Government has supported the U.S. computer industry since its inception. It is our responsibility to continue the progress of the computer industry. and insure the U.S. continued leadership in this technology which is vital to scientific advances and our national security. Within the realm of fiscal responsibility. I state my support for the promotion of the Supercomputer technology insuring the competitive edge of the U.S. science and national security.
Date: 1984-05-03
Speaker: DANIEL B. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. drug trafficking has become a major problem in every State. county. and city of this great Nation. This problem reaches into the homes of the rich as well as the poor. and something must be done to curtail this epidemic. Boats seized from drug traffickers by the Federal Government are usually vandalized and looted by criminals before they have to be sunk in the river. The hundreds of seized and rotting vessels. aircraft and autos are a national embarrassment because the law now prevents Government officials from confiscating and selling the vehicles Intact until after conviction and by then they are usually worthless. Forfeiture reform. which would correct the current problems in our law enforcement tool of forfeiture are contained in 8. 1762. This is the single most important legislative tool before us to reduce the drug trafficking into every congressional district. The only way to reduce drug trafficking is to take the profit out of the crime. To reach this result. forfeiture allows the Government to seize the assets used to commit the crime and those assets which are the criminals illegal profits. We cannot enforce this punishment correctly as long as current procedures are so inefficient and time consuming that the assets rot in the interim. Forfeiture reform Is just one of the many desperately needed reforms that are in the Presidents Comprehensive Crime Control Act. The American people deserve this reform measure today.
Date: 1984-05-16
Speaker: ROBERT F. SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman made a point wich I want to amplify because I think it is so important. and that is simply that the people watching and listening and conerned about their family budget. balance their own budgets. They must do that or they go broke. The facts are that 43 States In the Union have balanced budget amendments to their constitutions. They balance their budgets. they must by constitution. I think that given the fact to allow the American people an opportunity to answer this issue. I think the people are way ahead of the Congress on this question. In fact. the polling that I have done shows that between 70 and 80 percent of the people in this country to the question. "Do you believe that the "Aderal Government should balance its .1udget?" will say yes. because that is the frugal means by which we have existed all these years. So I think the gentleman made a good point and I believe the American people are ahead of the Congress. and given a chance the American people will be heard and I urge them and urge us to continue this effort. because it Is only going to be through a grassroots kind of effort. hearing from the people. pressuring the Congress to act on this issue. that it will ever be accomplished. Again. I thank the gentleman.
Date: 1984-05-22
Speaker: PHILIP M. CRANE (republican)
Chamber: H

I will not vote against the MX missile. And if I may reclaim my time for a second. I would like to address the fiction that this irresponsibility is because of defense spending because the gentleman knows we are spending less than Carter recommended.
Date: 1984-05-22
Speaker: ROBERT F. SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. let me say at thq outset that I do truly appreciate the kindness extended to me by the gentleman from Alabama. the subcommittee chairman. not only to me but to those Oregonians who came more than 3.000 miles to testify regarding this issue. That kind of hospitality I do appreciate. Mr. Chairman. Let me just say first of all that this is not a question of building the Elk Creek Dam. That is not the issue here. I would debate and discuss at some length my colleagues accusations about the cost benefit ratio of Elk Creek or whether or not it should be built. or I will debate with the Corps of Engineers regarding their latest analysis of Elk Creek. I do not want to do that. because that is not the issue. The issue here today is the question of whether or not there ought to be an additional million dollars appropriated under this bill that the committee and the chairman have so graciously heard regarding the situation around the Elk Creek Dam. and here is the problem. Currently there are two bridges across the area that the corps now controls. It owns the land. The Government. we have spent. the peoples money has already spent $13 million on this project. That has already been spent. It is there. But in the reservoir area. there needs to be built a road around the reservoir area. or two bridges must be improved. If they are not. we cannot get the timber out that lies behind this reservoir area. Now. if we are going to build Elk Creek. we will debate that another day. whether or not we do. If we are going to build it. then we ought not to fix the bridges. This information is as current as this afternoon in my discussions with the Corps of Engineers in Oregon. They need the authorization to either build a road around the reservoir. and that is what this money is for. And why is it necessary? Because that community. Jackson and Josephine County depend upon the timber resources for their livelihood. It builds schools. it furnishes opportunities for children to go to school. it buys roads. and I can tell you that it is the foundation of the economics of that area. Without this appropriation. that road cannot be completed and we cannot continue the flow of timber from that avea. Therefore. I am not asking the decision to be made here by the Congress to build Elk Creek Dam. I can challenge the figures. I will not do that. I am asking to listen to the committee who has heard this bill. who has listened to the testimony and the chairman who so graciously brought it and follow their lead and do not strike this amendment to the bill.
Date: 1984-05-22
Speaker: ROBERT F. SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H

Well. the timber industry does not oppose the dam. and I want to correct my colleague. Actually. I should accuse him of trespass. He did represent the area. but now I represent the area. so I am bringing you what I consider to be the exact position. There is one timber company that has timber that might be in the flood plain zone. They are not too happy about it. But the timber industry supports the basic construction of the dam and they certainly support this amendment which allows the timber to be taken out. Without it we cannot survive.
Date: 1984-05-23
Speaker: VANDER JAGT (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield. for purposes of debate only. such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California .