macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

I would be glad to. In fact. what is really interesting about these comments" from Speaker. Gingrich was that he was sitting on a panel of the American Enterprise Institute. a conservative think tank. with former Speaker Foley. the Democratic Speaker who Gingrich succeeded. and they were literally trading head nods back and forth from what one another was saying. And one of the things that Speaker Gingrich commented on was as follows: "Congress has to think about how fundamentally wrong the current system is. Whenfacing crises at home and abroad." he said. "its important to have an informed. independent legislative branch coming to grips with this reality. and not sitting around waiting for presidential leadership." And he said so much ifiore than that. Mr. DELAHUNT. I would yield to you. And he went on. on the same day and in the same panel discussion.
Date: 2006-07-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. DELAHUNT. before you yield to Mr. RYAN. he actually went on and I have the rest of his comments from that point. He actually went on and suggested that Congress rediscover its power to supervise the administration. And he said. "The failure to do effective aggressive oversight disserves the country and disserves the President." I mean. disserves the country and disserves the President. We are not talking about the namby pamby liberals that the Republican leadership always refers to. We are talking about the former Speaker of this House and the leader of the Republican Revolution. This is damning criticism. Damning criticism. Mr. RYAN.
Date: 2006-07-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

here. A Washington Post editorial on Tuesday. July 25. which is today. A14. this is an editorial. Mr. Speaker. and I am just going to read the first paragraph. maybe some of the second. Do large corporations need another tax break? The House of Representatives seems to think so. It plans this week to take up a measure defining when States can tax companies doing business in their State and make it easier for companies to avoid paying State taxes. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Business Activity Tax Simplification Act would drain $1 billion from State government treasuries during the first year in effect and $3 billion a year by 2011 as corporations continue to take advantage of this situation. Now. it just goes on. The National Governors Association is just totally outraged by this. and they are saying a Federal corporate tax cut using State dollars. that is what they are calling this. this is the editorial today in the Washington Post. I think it is important that we point out who the Republican majority is fighting on behalf of. We have State governments now that are in deficits have to figure out how they can make up. Mr. RYAN used to be a State senator. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ used to be a State Senator and State representative in the Florida legislature. I used to be a State senator and State representative in the Florida legislature. I think it is important for us to look at the States and look at what they have to do. We are both Fleming fellows. and when we were taking that fellowship program at the Center for Policy Alternatives in Washington. D.C.. for State legislatures. it talked about the devolution of taxation. putting tax cuts here. putting -it on the backs of the States. We can take out a credit card and we can borrow from foreign Nations. that is this Republican rubber stamp Congress has been doing. but in the States. Mr. Speaker. they have to balance their budget. And so when they balance the budget. what do they do? Raise tuition costs. They cut dollars going to local governments. and local governments then have to put a penny here and a penny there. and a million here and a million there on property taxes to be able to make it up. Meanwhile. we have got Members here in Congress. because special interests knocked on their door and said. hey. can you help us get more money. more subsidies that you have already given us. while we are at it. let us do all we can. do not worry about it. the folks back home will pay for it. that is why it is important. 11:30 at night we are back and we are making sure we share with the Members and the American people. I just wanted to read this because we are all creatures of State government and State service. and we know how those legislatures feel. This is the National Governors Association. So these are not Democratic governors only. not Republican governors only. not Independent governors only.
Date: 2006-07-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

which � is quite interesting. Goodness. what we are paying down on the debt because of the Republican outofcontrol spending on the majority side. the rubber stamp Congress. doing everything the President says to do for the billionaires and millionaires and all of the people that Mr. RYAN pointed out. who are not outside rallying in front of the Capitol saying we need more money. doing what.1 just pointed out here in The Washington Post editorial just today. just stacking on top. piling on. putting more cream. and whip cream. and whipping it on up and throwing eight or nine cherries on top of this eightfloor cake they are giving to the special interests. Looking at what the veterans are getting. Nothing. Little or no investment. Well under $50 billion. I am looking at this chart. and it is well under $30 billion. So when you look at it as it relates to the investment. it just doesnt pay off.
Date: 2006-07-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

And just so we can segue into how we would do it differently. what we would do is we would go back to the -days of PAYGO rules. We would make sure that we have some fiscal discipline that we impose on ourselves. just like the State legislatures that we came from. just like they do. which is that we are not going to deficit spend. Just like families who struggle every day to not spend more money than they take in. to not put all their wants and desires on a credit card and live on credit card debt. We need to operate this budget like families feel compelled to operate their family budgets. We are simply not doing that. What we would do. and we have offered amendments time and again. Mr. RYAN. through Mr. SPRATT. our lead Democrat on the House Budget Committee. He has offered amendment after amendment that has been rejected unanimously by the Republicans again and again opposing reestablishing PAYGO. PAYGO is tough. It forces some difficult choices. But it would make sure that we could really cut the deficit and go back to the surpluses that we had under the Clinton administration. I mean. that is the direction that we need to move in. If we continue down this path. if we continue in the direction that the Republicans have taken us. we will continue to spiral downward and pass the deficit and the debt onto future generations. Really. we only have a couple of minutes. and what I didnt get to mention at the end of our last hour was what Speaker Gingrich had said. So if you would just before we end yield back to me. I kind of want to throw that out there for everyones final thoughts. Be happy to yield.
Date: 2006-07-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Well. just to throw this out. I want to end by telling you what Speaker Gingrich said at the end of that panel. He said. "While waiting for voter backlash to clean up Congress. he had some pithy advice for lawmakers. who in the current wave of scandal and personal enrichment on Capitol Hill have confused the public interest with their personal interest. said the former Speaker. my answer to them is: Go home." Good advice.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. America needs to be prepared. Whether it is for a commuter train attack or a hurricane. it is clear America must get serious about all hazards preparedness. and that is preparing for all emergencies. whether they are natural or manmade. Today I am introducing the Preparedness First Act to authorize critical grant programs that our State and local governments already depend upon for all hazards emergency preparedness. The premise of this bill? To ensure that States and localities will have a basic level of preparedness so that they can protect their citizens. communicate with each other and work with the Federal Government during any type of emergency. from earthquakes to terrorist attacks. Under this bill. all States would receive a base of preparedness funding. This would guarantee that the Federal Government would have an able partner in every State to coordinate preparedness activities. Additional resources would then be made available to address the unique risk and manmade disasters that are posed in each area. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and put all hazards preparedness first for all Americans.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to support H.R. 2730. the United StatesIsrael Energy Cooperation Act. introduced by my colleagues Congressman SHERMAN and Congressman SHAOEGG. The bill uses two existing cooperative efforts. United StatesIsrael Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and the United StatesIsrael Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation. to establish a $20 million/year grant program administered by the Department of Energy. This program is intended to encourage American and Israeli businessmen and academics to pursue projects that would reduce our dependence on current energy resources and explore ways to increase energy efficiency. Research by the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy has shown that the dependence of the United States on foreign oil will increase by 33 percent over the next 20 years. We are familiar with our Nations "addiction to oil." as President Bush phrased it in the State of the Union. and the need to wean ourselves off of foreign energy dependence and onto more efficient energy resources. As we watch the Middle East transform before our eyes once again. we must remember that in Israel we not only have a strategic ally. Israel is also a leader in technology innovation and research. a resilient and strong economic partner. and a nation that shares our interest in the development of energy alternatives development. Israel has the highest proportion in the world of scientists and engineers within the working population. as well as the highest proportion of published scientific papers and patents. The United States and Israel share an unease about depleting energy resources. as well as a concern of the environment. and the importance of conservation initiatives. Although our politics and diplomacy are clearly actively engaged on a different stage of history in the Middle East. We must explore opportunities to increase our energy security. and pursue scientific advancements with the American and Israeli private and public sectors. This venture is in our economic interest and our national security interest. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 5611. I serve on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. and I am glad our committee reported this bill to the floor. It does basically two things: One. it creates these publicprivate partnerships so we can deal with the demand side. That benefits all Americans. I am honored to represent a district where we make a lot of gasoline that fuels our cars. but we also have to pay that high price at the pump. We can control our own destiny if we use publicprivate partnerships that this bill will allow between the Department of Energy and different groups. They will really help to show how we can lower our number of miles we need to drive and do a lot of other things. some of them are being done right now. Making the Department of Energy more proactive with these privatepublic partnerships. will lower our demand side and hopefully lower our individual costs we have to pay for fuel. Also. if we lower demand. the price will come down. Because the reason we are paying over $3 a gallon. at least in my area and some areas of the country. is because of the high demand. The other part of the bill I think is really good. and I am glad Mr. CONAWAY included it. the partnership on fuel supply for evacuations. I dont think there is any secret that in the HoustofHarris County area last year when Rita just. barely missed us. it went to the east and hit both Congressman TED PoEs district and Congressman KEVIN.BRADYS. but we were concerned enough that we had almost 2 million people trying to evacuate. and the supply side for evacuations was not there. The State of Texas and our local community is doing some planning now in anticipation. But. in hindsight. it really is the Department of Energys responsibility to be able to look at this and make sure that in emergencies we have a plan in place for supply for evacuations but also after the fact. In the Houston area. we have a number of refineries. and we actually shut those down because we thought Rita was going to be in the Houston Ship Channel and we were going to have 5 feet of water in those refineries. To get that refining capacity back up. we have to have some assistance. and I want the DOE to be a partner in that. I support the bill and thank you. Mr. CONAWAY. for introducing it.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to be able to offer this resolution recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. and I want to thank Mr. OWENS for all of his efforts over the years and thanks to all the cosponsors. For over 170 years. our Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been on the forefront of preparing our Nations youth for a bright path and successful future. Many struggling. almost closing. and some did close. but determined to finish their mission. Originally founded for the purpose of providing educational opportunities for African Americans. HBCUs have profoundly changed the American economic and social climate. The fact is that until 1964. HBCUs represented one of the only opportunities African American students had to obtain a degree in higher education. HBCUs have changed the face of this Nation and have opened the doors for many generations of African American students. Today Americas HBCUs continue to provide excellent educational opportunities for all Americans. Over 200.000 diverse students across the United States attend HBCUs today. I am proud. to represent Paul Quinn College. the oldest historical black col�lege west of the Mississippi River. For over 130 years. Paul Quinn has provided their student with the tools to become successful leaders. Because of their unique resources. HBCUs continue to be extremely effective in graduating African American students and preparing them to compete in the global economy. While they may start behind going into the college. they have always been able to compete equally and competitively on the graduate level. HBCU graduates over half of all American professionals. and 50 percent of all African American school teachers graduate from HBCUs. Additionally. the Historically Black Colleges and Universities remain extremely successful in graduating African American Ph.D.s and scientists. The fact is that we cannot move forward as a country until all of our children have the opportunity to succeed academically. Each day. HBCUs help us bridge that achievement gap. Celebrated the week of September 10. National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week allows us to reflect upon the impact these institutions have had on our history and to celebrate their continued commitment for outstanding education. I would like to thank the House leadership and the Education and the Workforce Committee for allowing me to bring this important resolution to the floor. and I request the support of all my colleagues of Resolution 928.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

That is absolutely right. and we are here because it is imperative that we move this country in a new direction. Americans are begging us to take us off the course we are on now. It is such a privilege to be here with you. We have been good friends for more than a dozen years now. It is just a privilege to share a community with you. to share constituents who really have been clamoring not just in south Florida where we live but. all across the country. You and I travel the country talking to Americans in so many places. and it does not matter. What I found and I know you have. too. it does not matter what walk of life they come from. It does not matter whether they are wealthy or middle class or lower income. No one that I have spoken to says. Debbie. yes. yes. you know. let us keep it right the way we are going. you know. just keep going in the same direction because everything is great. It is almost laughable to say that. The minimum wage is a perfect thing to highlight in terms of the example that we need to throw out there to show where our priorities would be if we were in control. and we know we are not. versus where the Republicans priorities are. We try to use third party validators so it is not just the
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

everyone looks at the United States of America. and just because the Republican majority says that everything is fine doesnt necessarily mean that it is. Because here are the hard facts. The hard facts are these. Mr. Speaker President Bush and the Republican majority has borrowed $1.05 trillion. $1.05 trillion. from foreign nations. Historic. And my next chart tells you who we are borrowing it from. and they are owning a part of the American apple pie not because they had to pay $56 to fill up their F10 pickup truck. not because of their indiscretions. but because of the indiscretions of the Republican majority. We have 224 years of history in this country. with 42.presidents before this President. and they were only able to borrow $1.01 trillion. Those are the facts. That is from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It is not the Kendrick Meek report or the Debbie Wasserman Schultz report of the 30something report because we think it works towards our position and not leveling with the American people. I can tell you without looking at this chart. Mr. Speaker. I can tell you exactly what is on it because I have read it so many times to so many groups and here on this floor. Who are we borrowing it from? Who is owning a piece of the American apple pie? Japan. at $682 billion. China. at $249.8 billion. the U.K.. at $223.2 billion. the Caribbean. at $115.3 billion. Taiwan. at $71.3 billion. and the OPEC nations. that I can go on and talk about these countries that we have issues with. Iran. Syria. oilproducing Middle Eastern countries that we are borrowing money from that we have issues with. They own a piece of the American pie at $67.8 billion. Germany. $65.7 billion. Korea. $66.5 billion. Canada. $53.8 billion. These are the countries that are buying our debt. And it is not because of what the American people have done but what the Republican majority has allowed to happen. They have rubberstamped everything the President of the United States has sent to this floor. And that is not what article one. section one of the U.S. Constitution calls for. We use the Constitution as guiding principles on behalf of this country. I am not here on behalf of the House Democrats. I am here on behalf of the American people. and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ is here on behalf of the American people. There is a reason why prominent Republicans are saying that they are totally lost at what the Republican majority has done. Mr. Speaker. and that is that fact that that the American spirit will rise up out of partisan politics.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you. Because with everything that we have laid out here over the last 20 or so minutes. what is clear is that we are moving in the wrong direction. The priorities of the Republican leadership here are completely out of step with the priorities of the American people. So. instead. what the Republicans here have attempted to do is to shift the focus and attention away from what is really going on and engaging in the politics of distraction. Now this that I have in my hand is about to become a scarcity. It is a social studies textbook. an American history textbook. which. Mr. Speaker. I would argue that in our high schools will soon be obsolete. We wont have any reason to use these any more. particularly the section on how a bill becomes a law. Because last week we actually brought a bill to the floor that was defeated in the Judiciary Committee. a bill that related to court stripping. stripping the courts of the right to review cases related to the Pledge of Allegiance and whether under God was constitutional or not. Now that question" can be debated all day. and there are varying degrees of opinions on that subject. But we teach our children in public schools the concept of how a bill becomes a law. as created by our Founding Fathers. this system of checks and balances and the separation of powers. And because the Republicans are moving this country in the wrong direction and dont share the priorities of the American people. they have had to deflect attention away from what is really going on here and focus on things like the Pledge of Allegiance. gay marriage. and flag burning. Today in Judiciary we literally spent. Mr. MEEK. 62 hours on one bill and one amendment related to the separation of church and state. Now. Mr. MEEK. when you go home. do your constituents. does the father of four who leaves for work in the morning. when you see him on the street. does he stop you and say. KENDRICK. I really want you to go to the Congress and focus on the Pledge of Allegiance? Or do you think it is more likely. and in your experience. do they tell you. you know. Ijust wasnt sure how I was going to fill my gas tank today? Or how about the parents of kids who are fighting over in Iraq? Do you think they are really worried about whether we amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage? Is that at the top of those parents list. or is it more likely that at the top of their list that their baby comes home to them? What is going on here?
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Four months. Mr. MEEK. Less than 4 months. This may be the last evening that we spend as the 30something Working Group until we come back from the August recess. The 30something Working Group has an opportunity each night to talk about the direction we want to move this country on behalf of Democrats and the next generation. -All of the charts and information that we have talked about tonight are available on our Web site. www.housedemocrats.gov/30something. We appreciate the privilege that the leader gives us each night to talk about the priorities of the Democratic caucus and the American people. and it is a privilege to be here with you once again.
Date: 2006-07-26
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

It was good coming back to the floor with you. As you know. in -the 30something Working Group. we not only come to the floor but we meet every week. We have staff evaluate things for factual purposes. and I am glad that we are coming to level with the American people about what is going on. Mr. Speaker. before closing out. we would like to honor Tim Frieman. who has worked here in the Democratic cloakroom for 30 years. We appreciate his contributions and all that he has done. We had a great reception. Members. bipartisan. went down here in the Capitol and honored him. We appreciate him and his family for their contributions.