macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-15
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Thank you. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker. supporting H.R. 5021 means protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout this great country. More specifically. in Illinois. it means saving nearly 30.000 jobs and 4.000 construction projects that are already underway. Supporting this bill means improving our crumbling roads and bridgesa constitutional responsibility of this bodys. Supporting H.R. 5021 means governing responsibly instead of creating yet another manufactured crisis that would add even more uncertainty and instability to a still struggling economy. By extending this highway trust fund. which is not my first choiceif we extend this bill and these programs through May. we can continue working on that longterm highway bill that both sides of the aisle stand here and say that we need. and we can create jobs and keep up with our 21st century transportation needs. The highway trust fund has fallen short for many years. and we need to come up with longterm solutions. I look forward to working with my colleagues from the other side of the aisle and with Chairman SHUSTER and his continued leadership.
Date: 2014-07-16
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the immigration crisis taking place on the southern border of my home State of Texas demands our undivided attention as well as immediate action. That is why. unlike the President. I will head to the Rio Grande Valley on Friday. This area covers over 320 river miles and 19 counties. equating to over 17.000 square miles. Knowing this. there is no way to fully grasp the scope and depth of the crisis through a simple briefing in Washington. The President and HARRY REID just dont get it. Last night. HARRY REID declared. "The border is secure." That blew my mind. If he and the President spent any time at the border. they would see just how out of touch they are. Mr. President. Americans. particularly Texans. have been waiting 51/2 years for a secure border. It is time to secure our border. It is time to enforce our immigration laws.
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I have been to the border many times. but I never expected to witness what I saw last Friday. a real manmade crisis. The Presidents failure to secure our border and uphold the rule of law has led to this mess. and now he is failing to deal with it. While President Obama is nowhere to be found. Texas Governor Rick Perry has made stopping the crisis his number one priority. I commend him on his latest decision to deploy the Texas National Guard to help secure the southern border. I am also grateful for the men and women working around the clock to control the crisis. Securing the border will help send a clear message to countries that. if you enter illegally. you will not be allowed to stay. And that is the right thing to do. We are a Nation of laws. and there is a process for coming to America. Texans and the American people deserve real border security now.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Madam Speaker. as an American small businesses owner. I deliver to my accountants each and every year tremendous sums of information that is then used to compile a tax return that I. along with my wife. like other hardworking Americans. must sign under penalty of perjury. I have no doubt that five CPAs. given the same information from any taxpayer. would calculate five different tax liabilities. Yet when the IRS comes calling. every American is guilty until they prove their innocence. Make a mistake or lose a receipt? For the taxpayer. guilty. Pay the penalty and interest. or the IRS will use the law to take your home. your car. your life savings. and they will put you in jail and leave your family in the ditch. But when the IRS gets caught cheating. they lie to Congress. take the Fifth. and destroy the evidence. If they get away with this. what and who is next? I cant help but think. Madam Speaker. that we must be getting close to George Orwell and what he described in his novel. While some people are created equal. under this administration others are more equal. Had the IRS abused liberal groups. the press and the administration would demand the prosecution of the individuals responsible. and that is exactly what should be happening right now.
Date: 2014-07-30
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the life and work of Chaplain Jennifer Nielson of the 108th Sustainment Brigade. I believe it is important that we recognize and value the work performed by our countrys military chaplains. Following an initial deployment as an enlisted soldier. Jennifer Nielson became a chaplain while waiting to fulfill a second deployment in Kuwait. As a resident of the capital city of Springfield. Illinoiswhich I am proud to representJennifer has served as a Wounded Warrior chaplain. providing support for our Nations veterans. and has organized yellow ribbon events welcoming home our returning veterans. Currently. Chaplain Nielson is working with the National Guards Family Program Division. providing support and counsel in Illinois. Because of her unyielding support and compassion. I am proud to recognize her service today. As we take time this week to recognize the chaplains who have bravely provided spiritual guidance to their fellow servicemen and -women throughout history. it is important that we also acknowledge those who carry on their traditions and thank them for their service. Chaplain Nielson has faithfully served her country for the Illinois Army National Guard. and I am proud to honor her and the rest of the dedicated chaplains supporting our troops across the globe.
Date: 2014-07-30
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I would be remiss today if I werent able to honor a former teacher of mine who made an impact in my life that she may never have known. When I was 7 years old. my family moved from Des Moines. Iowa. to Taylorville. Illinois. and almost a week later. I was sitting in a brandnew classroom as a secondgrader at South Elementary School in my hometown of Taylorville. Illinois. A young graduate student teacher who was doing some work in that classroom came up to a very shy boy who was determined not to talk to anybody in class that day. That was me. When she knelt down beside my desk. all the heads of my classmates around me turned and welcomed me as one of the new kids in that second grade class. That confidence that Mrs. Cynthia Dipert gave me that day was confidence that built up throughout my elementary school career. junior high. and high school. Frankly. maybe that instancemaybe that gesture of compassion that Cynthia gave me that dayhelped lead me here to this great institution we call the House of Representatives. Now. Mrs. Dipert went on to teach my daughter. I always enjoyed going to parentteacher conferences when my daughter was in Cynthias class. Then we saddled her with my twin boys in the exact same class. and I thought I would enjoy going to parentteacher conferences then. too. However. I walked in one day. along with my wife. and we asked Cynthia. Why is a bloody hand hanging from the ceiling? It was fake. of course. She said. Oh. Your son sits there. and I am reminding him that he needs to raise his hand before he talks. I think. Mr. Speaker. we might need to have props like that here in the House of Representatives sometimes. It is hard for me today to stand here and think about those fun times I had and the impact that Cynthia Dipert had on so many kidsmy own. me. and those of so many people in my hometown of Taylorvilleas she is not going to be able to have that impact any longer because. just under 2 weeks ago. Cynthia passed away. I stand here on the floor of this great institution to tell her thank you and to tell her thank you for the service that she has provided so many people in central Illinois. Rest in peace. Cynthia Dipert. God bless you all.
Date: 2014-07-30
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. every worker in America pays a portion of their hardearned wages into the Social Security Disability Insurance program for promised benefits if he or she becomes too disabled to work. While providing a vital safety net. the disability program is plagued by major fraud. This fraud reveals significant weaknesses in the program that put at risk not only billions of taxpayer dollars but also the benefits on which millions of disabled Americans rely. At a time when the program revenues will cover only 81 percent of benefits in 2016. not one dime should be lost to fraud. waste. or abuse. That is why as chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee. I am introducing the Stop Disability Fraud Act which makes fair. commonsense changes to combat fraud and better protect taxpayers and beneficiaries. Americans want. need. and deserve no less. I urge my colleagues to support this effort.
Date: 2014-07-30
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 935. which prevents wasteful and duplicative regulations that could ultimately expand the EPAs reach further into every part of our country. Federal law already requires the EPA to ensure that pesticides cause "no unreasonable adverse effect" to humans or the environment. Labels attached to pesticides that are related to its use are crafted to minimize such impacts. The label. in effect. is the law today. When a person does not follow the label. regardless of additional permits. they are violating the law. Yet activists believe requiring water permits. even when a user abides by the pesticide label. will somehow strengthen our water quality. States continue to spend more and more money and man hours implementing and enforcing a water permit process that most regulators do not believe does anything to further protect the water quality. That is why H.R. 935 is so important. This bill removes a pointless paperwork exercise and burden through NPDES permits that do nothing but create additional hurdles between consumers and the benefits of products like pesticides provide. Registration and labeling of a pesticide already does as much as any additional NPDES permit would require. In fact. EPAs own analysis suggests that the NPDES permits program for pesticides is the single greatest expansion in the programs history. covering over 5.5 million pesticide applications per year by 365.000 applicators. If H.R. 935 is not implemented. the effects of the EPAs overregulation would be felt across the State of Georgia. For example. county officials will have one more hurdle to overcome when trying to control the mosquito population and the outbreak of West Nile virus. These counties are forced to address an additional bureaucratic hurdle before they are able to address a serious health threat to our citizens. a hurdle that provides no additional benefits. With this unprecedented expansion. all stakeholders are affected. including State agencies. cities. counties. municipalities. research scientists. forest managersand every American will pay for this. Last Congress. we passed this same legislation. 292130. and I ask Congress to. again. do the same thing.
Date: 2014-09-09
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Chairman. the EPA is at it again. this time with an overly burdensome rule that would expand their reach and power to regulate under the Clean Water Act. I have heard from roadbuilders. homebuilders. and small businesses who are concerned about this overreach. In particular. farmers in my district are very concerned that this rule could add new permitting requirements for farming activities like irrigation ponds and drainage ditches. That is right. The EPA. which is the same Agency that inexplicably released the personal information of livestock producers. is now telling farmers "just trust us" when it comes to this new rule. There is a trust gap between the EPA and the agricultural community. One of my priorities is trying to bridge that gap. Instead of this proposed rule. the EPA and the Corps of Engineers should engage with States and local governments to produce a more commonsense approach to regulating our waterways. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. the WOTUS Regulatory Overreach Protection Act.
Date: 2014-09-09
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. on rollcall No. 489. I placed voting card in machine and it did not register. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes."
Date: 2014-09-10
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this summer America has witnessed the horrific actions of ISIS as it marched into Iraq as part of its mission to create an Islamic state. As a 29year Air Force veteran. I know trouble when I see it. and so do the American people. ISIS is a direct threat to America and our democratic way of life. Congress and the American people want. need. and deserve a clearly defined strategy from our President to defeat ISISnot a strategy to degrade or contain or manage. but a strategy to defeat ISIS. Tomorrow Americans remember the 13th anniversary of the 9111 attacks. As we remember all those we lost that day. let us also remember the hard lessons those attacks taught us: that we must always be vigilant in protecting the American way of life and all that we hold dear.
Date: 2014-09-10
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. today. I have the honor to stand on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to wish my hometown of Taylorville. Illinois. in my home county of Christian County. a happy 175th anniversary. I was only 7 years old when my parents moved our family to Taylorville. where my mom and dad were opening their very first restaurant. While my family has called Taylorville home for 37 years. I can say what made Taylorville and Christian County a great place to live when we first moved there still makes it a great place to live now. My parents wouldnt have been able to achieve the American Dream without the support of friends and neighbors in Taylorville and Christian County. and without a doubt. I would not be standing here today if it werent for the help and friendship of so many people throughout my years in Taylorville and Christian County. As Taylorville and Christian County prepare to celebrate their 175th anniversary. it is an honor for me to be able to stand here today and offer my congratulations and best wishes.
Date: 2014-09-15
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Speaker. I. along with my colleague from Georgia. Mr. JOHNSON. am pleased to offer H.R. 4119. the West Hunter Street Baptist Church Study Act. During the civil rights movement. the church served as a headquarters for many workers and a meeting ground for leaders. The West Hunter Street Baptist Church served as a spiritual refuge for countless men and women. like our colleague. JOHN LEWIS. who devoted their lives to the civil rights movement. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.
Date: 2014-09-16
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to acknowledge and honor Paul and Margaret McNamara of Champaign. Illinois. for recently being recognized as Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institution. Dr. McNamara and Margaret are parents of six children. four of whom they have adopted. They made the decision to adopt because they understood that countless children across the globe are without a permanent family. After the births of their first two children. Daniel and Annie. they began looking into adopting children with special needs. They adopted their son. Joseph. from South Korea. and then Jonathan from India. When they learned that Josephs sibling. David. was in foster care in South Korea. they adopted him as well. The McNamaras have been extremely active in their community. as well as their church. in providing information and support to families considering adoption. Adoption is a selfless act of kindness. and it is truly an honor to have the McNamaras in my district. Their dedication and continued community support are unprecedented. and we should take a moment to appreciate those who adopt both at home and abroad.
Date: 2014-09-17
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. 227 years ago. our Founding Fathers came together to write the Constitution. and it is on this foundation that we have built the greatest Nation on Earth. The Constitution protects our democracy and our individual liberties that define the American way of life that we are all blessed to enjoy. I have spent most of my life defending what the Constitution stands for. 29 years in the United States Air Force and now in the United States Congress. I consider this to be an honor and a privilege. We can all do our part to defend Americas freedom by understanding and remembering our Constitutions significance. That is why today. on national Constitution Day. I encourage all Americans to join me in reflecting on the history and the meaning of this important document. We must never take our freedom for granted.
Date: 2014-09-18
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Thank you. Mr. Chairman. for your service in this great institution. Mr. Speaker. we are here debating this jobs package because our economy is stagnant. Our unemployment rate hasnt fallen below 6 percent since this President took office 6 years ago. Although growing the economy may not remain a number one priority for the Senate. it may not remain a number one priority for the President. I assure you it is for millions of Americans who cant find a job or who continue to look for that job promotion or who feel their paycheck isnt going as far as it should. My bill. the Hire More Heroes Act. is not a waste of our time. is not a waste of taxpayer dollars. and it overwhelmingly passed this House with only one "no" vote. You cant get much more bipartisan than that. Mr. Speaker. It is part of this jobs package because the Senate has yet to take up this bipartisan bill that would help our veterans. This bill will help incentivize small businesses to hire more of our heroes. It takes away a punitive punishment in ObamaCare. We have been told that we cant change ObamaCare. but this bill does. and it does it because any veteran who gets their health care through the VA or TRICARE wouldnt count toward a small business 50employee limit which would. in turn. incentivize small businesses who create the jobs in this country to hire more of our veterans. That is not a waste of taxpayer dollars. That is not a waste of time. Frankly. we need to do what we can to stop what ObamaCare has been doing to small businesses and disincentivizing them from hiring more people and. therefore. lowering our unemployment rate. This jobs package is crucial. This jobs package is something that we in this House should continue to push. I would urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to make sure that they call their colleagues in the Senate and say. "Pass this bill." Pass this bill. Do what is right. Help our veterans. Help Americans find jobs.
Date: 2014-11-13
Speaker: BILL CASSIDY (republican)
Chamber: H

the author of this bill. a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. a real leader in trying to bring about energy independence in America.
Date: 2014-11-13
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. it is great to follow my colleague. but we have some other colleagues here tonight that I want to make sure that they get an opportunity to talk about their experience with the two Members that we are here to honor tonight. Congressman Phil Crane and Congressman Lane Evans. For that reason. I yield to my colleague from the great State of Georgia
Date: 2014-11-13
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Georgia. The gentleman from Georgia mentioned the great legacy that Phil Crane left. and it was a great legacy that not only former Congressman Phil Crane left for those of us who follow him in Illinois. it is a great legacy for former Congressman Lane Evans that he left too. My colleague from Georgia also mentioned what would a young Member of Congress say if Phil Crane were here today and the inspiration that he gave to all of us. Mr. Speaker. I yield to my colleague and my good friend from the great State of Illinois . one of the youngest Members of Congress to offer his remarks.
Date: 2014-11-13
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Thank you to my good friend from Illinois. Mr. Speaker. I would remiss if I wasnt able to offer my prepared remarks on Congressman Crane and also Congressman Evans before we recognize some of our other friends who are here tonight. Mr. Speaker. I want to say it is a privilege for me to be able to stand on the floor of this House to recognize the life and accomplishments of two great leaders from the State of Illinois. Congressman Phil Crane was first elected in the 13th District of Illinois to represent the northwest Chicago suburbs in 1969. and he held that office for nearly 40 years. At the end of his career. he was the longestserving Republican Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Crane was. in a word. a legend. He was one of those largerthan -life politicians that we often talk about or read about in history books but who rarely exists today. We also take the time today to mourn the loss of former Congressman Lane Evans. Last week. former Congressman Lane Evans passed away after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. Mr. Evans. a former marine. was elected in 1982. at the age of 31. and served the people of the 17th District for parts of three decades. In fact. over the course of his tenure. Mr. Evans served the many parts of Illinois that I am now lucky and proud enough to represent. During his 24 years in the House. he was a staunch advocate for our Nations veterans and for Americas working men and women. and his service to his constituents was second to none. He will be remembered as a fighter both for the people he represented and against the disease that eventually took his life. It is fitting today that Republicans and Democrats together have come to the floor to honor the lives of two great public servants from Illinois and to thank them for their service to our country. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of Congressman Evans and Congressman Crane during this very difficult time. Mr. Speaker. I mentioned Republicans and Democrats coming to the floor of the House to honor these two great men. and it gives me great privilege to yield to my good friend and colleague from the great State of Illinois.