macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-10-07
Speaker: DAN MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I urge all Members to support this measure.
Date: 2002-10-07
Speaker: DAN MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5805 White Oak Avenue in Encino. California. as the "Francis Dayle Chick Hearn Post Office."
Date: 2002-10-07
Speaker: DAN MILLER (republican)
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 on H.R. 5340.
Date: 2002-10-07
Speaker: DAN MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to have the House consider H.R. 5340. introduced by our esteemed colleague. the gentleman from California . that designates the facility of the .United States Postal Service located in Encino. California. as the Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn Post Office Building. Mr. Speaker. all Americans were saddened to hear that Chick Hearn. the renowned playbyplay announcer of the National Basketball Associations Los Angeles Lakers passed away on August 5 of this year. He was unquestionably one of the most adored and distinctive sports broadcasters in. American history. "Chick" Hearns record of broadcasting longevity is astonishing. Since the 1960s. he called over 3.300 Lakers games. plus numerous University of Nevado at Las Vegas basketball games. many college and professional football games. and even the first Muhammad AliJoe Frazier boxing match. His continued excellence earned him the nickname the "Golden Throat." It was remarkable that. despite leaving the Lakers announcing booth last December because he had to undergo heart surgery. he valiantly returned to call the Lakers playoff games all the way through to their third consecutive NBA championship this past summer. While his longevity in the broadcasting booth is well known. many outside of California may not realize that scores of basketball phrases were in fact invented by the colorful Chick Hearn. He made famous terms that are now pervasive in basketball vernacular such as "air ball." "finger roll." "give and go." and even "slamdunk." Mr. Speaker. naming a Post Office after Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn is a fitting tribute to a man who was as beloved and appreciated as Chick Hearn was. Therefore. I urge all Members to adopt H.R. 5340. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-10-07
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Res. 567. "Recognizing the importance of surface transportation infrastructure to interstate and international commerce and the traveling public and the contributions of the transportation construction. trucking. rail. intercity bus and passenger industries to the economic well being of the United States." On October 1. I introduced this bill. along with 11 of my colleagues. to show the Congresss gratitude to the men and women who continue to provide America with an efficient and reliable transportation system. Mr. Speaker. this bill recognizes the vital role the transportation construction. trucking. rail. intercity bus and passenger transit industries play in the United States economic wellbeing. The trucking industry alone has transported more than 83 percent of the volume traded between the U.S. and Mexico. and more than 73 percent between the U.S. and Canada in 1999. There are now 6 million commercial trucks. and that number will increase to 8 million by 2013. Between the growing number of trucks and the fact that the registered vehicles are expected to increase from 225 million to 275 million by 2020. we are fortunate to have such an efficient and reliable transportation construction industry. The transportation construction industry sustains 2.2 million jobs and has provided us with 3.9 million miles of roadway. Americas freight railroads are responsible for carrying 70 percent of the vehicles from domestic manufacturers. Americas freight railroads also carry more than 40 percent of the Nations intercity- freight. While the rail industry has met the growing economic demand. it has also lowered the cost of moving freight by 29 percent since 1981. Public train ridership has also grown by 23 percent since 1995. Public transit also plays a significant role in providing added convenience. to Americans lives. Public transit as a whole helps to reduce vehicular traffic congestion on roads and highways and leads to cleaner air. Intercity buses alone carry over 770 million passengers a year. In 2000. the total public expenditures to operate. maintain. and invest in public transportation systems reached $23.5 billion. Mr. Speaker. I would like to commend the surface transportation infrastructure community for the immense contributions they have made at both an economic and societal level. The surface transportation community has continually bettered the transport of goods and services and facilitated trdnsit for the traveling- public. I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska and the gentleman from Minnesota and their staffs for the hard work they have given on this measure. I know I speak on behalf of Congress when I commend the hardworking men and women in the surface transportation industry who are continually giving their services to provide America with a reliable transportation network. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-10-08
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Madam Speaker. I rise today in.support of the resolution on the use of force in Iraq. This resolution may very well determine where Americas future lies. and I do not take this responsibility lightly. I fully understand what it will mean to watch the carriers leave port in Virginia. or see the men and women leave the many military bases that I represent back home. This vote may send them in harms way. in defense of liberty and freedom. and that is a very heavy weight to carry. However. we cannot forget the attack that struck America over a year ago. and we must act to ensure that our way of life is protected and preserved. It has been asked almost in unison across America how that fateful day last year could have been avoided. The answer is simple: we do not avoid these disasters. we prevent them. I support this resolution because I firmly believe that prevention is the only way to preserve our way of life. and a regime change in Iraq is necessary to restore global peace. I believe that if we do not remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power and bring liberation to Iraq. the terrorist attacks of last year will simply serve as a preamble to countless acts of terrorism across American soil. We are certain that Iraq has continued with development of nuclear. biological and chemical weapons. and we know of their effectiveness. Husseins maniacal use of these agents on his own people proves not only his disregard for human lives. but also proves their effectiveness. He has killed thousands in his very own country. We know that without intervention. Iraqs weapons programs will only increase and improve. and the longer we wait to intervene. the more seriously our troops will be threatened by Iraqs nuclear. biological. and chemical warfare programs. The possibility of Hussein having longrange nuclear capabilities in the near future is very. very real. America cannot afford to allow its people to live in a world where Iraq has nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein is the worlds most dangerous terrorist. and as the attacks of last year have shown. terrorists do not consider the consequences. America must prevent these disasters before they happen and ensure that nuclear war never enters the pages of 21stcentury history. Americas Iraqi policy of containment must be replaced with a policy of prevention. We must prevent future disasters by disarming Saddam Hussein of his nuclear. his chemical. and his biological weapons and overthrowing his regime. Madam Speaker. I urge all my colleagues to support our President and to Support this resolution.
Date: 2002-10-08
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I stand here today in full support of giving the President the tools he needs to protect the lives of Americans at home and around the world. The United States and United Nations have tried sanctions. We have tried inspections. we have tried nofly zones. we have tried treaties. peace talks and 16 different Security Council resolutions. Saddam has violated every agreement. Anyone who holds hope after 11 years of Saddam Husseins outright rebellion against the world must be the eternal optimist. Saddam Hussein has no intention of allowing inspections inside his palaces or weapons facilities. Saddam Hussein has no intention of allowing his scientists and families to be questioned outside of Iraq as President Bush has asked for. and Saddam Hussein has no intention of giving our government or the family of Scott Spiecher. the downed American pilot. any information on their sons whereabouts. Saddam is a bloodthirsty madman who cannot be left to his own devices. If left alone. Saddam Hussein will continue to build biological and chemical weapons and obtain a nuclear capability. Last night. the President told us that Saddam is now building unmanned vehicles and airplanes to disperse those weapons almost anywhere. As a representative of the people of the State of Texas. I cannot sit back and allow Saddam Hussein more time to plot the demise of the United States and our allies. As one of the few Members of Congress to fight in combat and the only Member held captive as a POW in Vietnam. I know we cannot fight a war from the Congress of the United States and win. Our President. with the passage of this authority. can and will deliver. Let. us learn from our Vietnam experience and ensure that President Bush has all the tools he needs to protect freedom in America and in the world. A resolution .without restriction must be passed. Our future is at stake.
Date: 2002-10-09
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. no Member of this body ever wants to put our men and women in harms way in a war. a war that wfll undoubtedly cost lives and inflict anxiety on the families of the loved ones who are in harms way. My community hosts the Navys future force in schoolhouses. in the Air Forces current command and wing commands and special operation units. It is these brave men and women who will fight this war. These are the men and women who will put their lives on the line for us and defend freedom. I do not question the need for this action. I do not question the risk that is presented. But I do not wish for this war. I wish with all my soul that this monster could be removed from power without firing a single shot. I wish the people of Iraq would rise up and put their lives on the line. as our military personnel will. I wish we did not have to send Americas sons and daughters to liberate their sons and daughters from a man who murders his own people. I wish our European partners would see the threat as we do. I wish they would use their tools to unite a common response to Iraq rather than sow the seeds of division seen in the parliaments and personal political campaigns of our allies. But most of all. we see that the world is content to ride our backs to prosperity and to freedom. a weight that we have carried before and. apparently. will carry again. Mr. Speaker. I know this task must be carried out by the United States of America. We must face this continued threat of terrorism head on. alone. or with our friends. And this position is no different than our position in the past. As leaders of the free world. we have always walked point. Mr. Speaker. we must trust our values. protect our freedom. and let liberty be our guide. This strategy has served us well over the past 200 years. and I can think of no reason to turn our back on it today. I support the President of the United States. and I support this resolution.
Date: 2002-10-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4757. bipartisan legislation which promises to greatly improve the Instant Check by encouraging states to automate and share disqualifying records with the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background System. NICS. database. H.R. 4757 is a model of sensible. commonsense public safety legislation. It represents what we can achieve when we leave the rhetoric behind and concentrate on how to best keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4757 manages to be both progun owner and prolaw enforcementstopping criminals in their tracks while permitting lawabiding citizens to be approved for purchases in minutes. not days or weeks. And. it does so by focusing on enforcement of existing laws. on strengthening them. Mr. Speaker. instant background checks serve little purpose if they are based on incomplete or inaccurate criminal history records. Today. we strive for accuracy. for completeness. H.R. 4757 goes a long way toward making the NICS system work the way we intended it to work. and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
Date: 2002-11-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise to honor our friend. my neighbor. Terry Morris. the Tally Clerk of the House. who is going to retire this December after 33 years of service to the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker. Terry accepted a position as Assistant Tally Clerk 33 years ago. and 16 years later he took over the helm as the Chief Tally Clerk. responsible for all votes in the House of Representatives. At the time of his retirement. Terry will have served longer in the House than all but 5 of the 435 currently serving Members. During Terry Morris tenure. the House has voted on the Gulf War. giving 18yearolds the right to vote. impeachment. on antiterrorism measures in the wake of the attacks on September 11. and on authorizing the President to use military force against the threat of weapons of mass destruction from Iraq. Terrys professional objectivity and downtoearth style have made him many friends among Members on both sides of the aisle. particularly among new Members. whom he assists in familiarizing themselves with voting procedures. Terrys service has spanned both Democratic and Republican majorities. during which time his goal has always been to serve the whole House of Representatives. regardless of party. Perhaps Terrys most unusual and important day as Tally Clerk came on December 19. 1998. when the House took four votes over a period of 2 hours on four separate articles of impeachment. two of which passed and two of which failed. Terry has been quoted as saying. "Of the thousands of votes I had taken in my career. I knew this would be the most significant." Terry is originally from Madison. Wisconsin. where he majored in political science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Terry and his wife. Barbara. have two sons. Tim. a senior at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg. Virginia. and Christopher. a sophomore at Bishop OConnell High School in Arlington. Virginia. Terry is an avid golfer and tennis player. and one of the founders of the Capitol Hill Tennis Club. In his retirement. Terry intends to spend more time golfing. playing tennis and visiting friends around the country. So we wish you Godspeed. Terry. We thank you for everything that you have given of yourself to this institution. We are the better for having known you. and the poorer for your leaving. We will not forget you.
Date: 2002-11-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Let me join my friend from Texas in also honoring GEORGE GEKAS and his 20 years of service to.this body. I think the crowning achievement this evening was an overwhelming vote for this bankruptcy bill. The objectionable parts of this bill were not inserts that he put in there as part of the political sausagemaking that goes on between the House and the Senate. but the overwhelming 244116 vote I think speaks well for the kind of bill that he worked with his colleagues across party lines to put together. A graduate of Dickinson from Harrisburg. Pennsylvania. he was very underspoken. not just softspoken. but understated. was someone who was not always out there getting the credit. issuing press releases. but he was here. He had one of the best attendance records in the House. often driving between Harrisburg and Washington. D.C.. between sessions. getting back to his district as often as possible. He was an impeachment manager as the majority whip noted and had a distinguished career in the Committee on the Judiciary where he was involved in the intricacies of many bills that came out of there. His 20 years of service here I think are a reflection of the dedication that he put into public service which preceded his election to Congress. He will be missed from this body. I will miss him. Again. I congratulate him for this crowning achievement. the passage of this bankruptcy bill tonight.
Date: 2002-11-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the gentleman from California bringing up STEVE HORN. I have known STEVE HORN I think longer than anyone in this body because I was a Senate page from 1963 to 1967 and STEVE HORN worked there as a legislative aid to Senator Tom Kuchel. When he left Senator Kuchels office. his replacement was a young man named Leon Paneta. So history works in strange ways. but I kept up with STEVE through the years. followed his career in the presidential administration he went into. leaving Tom Kuchel. and then into his academic career. Of course STEVE had degrees from Harvard and Stanford. was a university president. well regarded in the Long Beach community. When he was elected to Congress in 1992. it was a huge upset. This was a district that had been drawn to elect a Democrat. and STEVE won it and held it every time. the only Republican most years to be elected in that area because he transcended politics. He was a very. detailoriented Member. He took copious notes on every hearing. what Members were saying. I hope some day he will publish that and share that with the world. He was active not just in the Y2K legislation that the gentleman from California
Date: 2002-11-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I would agree with the gentleman. But anyway STEVE is going to be missed. He is leaving on his own volition. We always like to say there are three ways to leave public office and two of them are not very pleasant. STEVE has opted for the third role. but I hope he will remain active in governmeit and somewhere find a place for him perhaps in the administration because he has a lot to give and a great education and great experience.
Date: 2002-11-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. let me commend my friend. the gentleman from Utah . for a distinguished career here. not only his stewardship of the Committee on Resources. but his stewardship of the most popular committee in the House. the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. I know that could the gentleman have stayed. on the Committee on Standards of OfficialConduct as chairman. he would have probably stayed in this body. and his disappointment at going off that. But Jim was a pillar of integrity. picked by the leadership because of that. because of his objectivity in dealing with these kinds of issue. and the gentleman added a great dimension to this body. We will miss you and I hope you stay active. Jim.
Date: 2002-11-18
Speaker: ROBERT SMITH (republican)
Chamber: S

He would make about two of me. ROBERT BYRD. Here he came to my office. took his own busy time to come to my office. This was back in April of this year. He came to my office. paid a special visit to my office to tell me how sorry he was to hear about my little dog Billy. So -once again. as I have many times in my long years with which God has blessed me. I came to realize that the people with whom we work here in the Senate often have a personal side that we do not get to know or understand in our working relationships on the Senate floor. Our colleagues are usually much more complex than their public persona would lead one to believe and have facets to their characters that are not often seen in their daily official activities. But Senator ROBERT SMITHS thoughtful expression of sympathy gave me a better understanding and appreciation for this man who for several years now has proudly represented his State in the Senate. He is on the Armed Services Committee with me. I have served on that committee now with him these many years. Senator SMITH possesses an admirable quality of perseverance. As a young man. he had to work his way through college. Although he was the son of a naval aviator who was killed in combat during World War II. when ROBERT SMITH was old enough. he enlisted in the Navy and he proudly served our country in combat in Vietnam. He is a person who had to run for Congress three times before being elected. As a Senator. his tenacious adherence to his independent ways eventually cost him his Senate seat. He has often been portrayed as a fierce conservative. but I came to perceive him as the "citizen legislator" that he promised to be when he was first elected to Congress in 1984. In his twelve years in the Senate. he has been a forceful advocate of the many and various causes in which he believes. and he has never been deterred by the labels others may place on those views. BOB SMITHS politics is not easy to characterize. from his support for a constitutional amendment to balance the budget to helping to preserve and protect our environment. he has defied easy labels. Senator SMITH has also been a strong advocate for modernizing his states and the nations infrastructure. and for that I sincerely applaud him. He has also tenaciously fought to gain a thorough accounting of American MIAs and POWs. I have probably opposed Senator SMITH more than I have agreed with him. but I have consistently been impressed with his independence of spirit and thought. and his dedication to the causes in which he believes. I am confident that in his future efforts he will continue to demonstrate the steadfastness. courage. and integrity that he has exemplified during his twelve years in this chamber. I wish him well in his future endeavors. I hope he will. indeed. come back and visit those who are his colleagues of this date.
Date: 1989-01-31
Speaker: MILOS JAKES (republican)
Chamber: S

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Nabreszi L. Svobody. Prague 1. Czechoslovok Socialist Republic.