macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-11-30
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman. I recall the story of my colleague whose grandfather served in World War I. As soon as he got here. he was willing to shed his blood for this country. I am on the Homeland Security Committee. Mr. Speaker. I would not want to jeopardize one inch of this Nations security. but I can assure you. if we look to 9/11. there was no one there with a Diversity Visa. The terrorists had student visas. and they were overstays. Former Congressman Bruce Morrison. who introduced this. said that Diversity Visas are at the heart of the definition of America. And as my friend and colleague from California. Congresswoman LOFGREN said. Who that was a terrorist would want to stand in line and provide all of the information that they needed to provide to get a Diversity Visa? I will enter into the RECORD a letter from the Archbishop of Los Angeles. the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration. who absolutely opposes H.R. 6429. a church that believes in the Beatitudes. as we all do.
Date: 2012-11-30
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I can only say. the Catholic Church does not want terrorists to roam this Nation. And if we look closely at this allegation of fraud. we will find computer error. We will find that with the decades of Diversity Visas. as they were introduced with Bruce Morrison. we will find that this is not the cause of any cancer of terrorism. If we go into our hearts. we will know that Diversity Visas reflect the language written so eloquently by the poet for the Statue of Liberty and that is: "Give me your tired. your poor." Those are the great Americans. And I can assure you that in my constituency. Mr. Speaker. the diverse 18th Congressional District in the city of Houston. they reflect what America is. They are building the jobs. I ask my colleagues to oppose this. and let us get back to the drawing board for a conference on immigration reform. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to oppose H. Res. 821 the Rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 6429 "STEM Jobs Act." an illconceived bill that eliminates the Diversity Immigration Visa Program in order to increase the amount of visas available for STEM applicants. As a senior Member of the Judiciary Committee I have long advocated for the Diversity Immigration Visa program. Earlier this year. during a Judiciary Committee mark up of a bill which was also designed to kill the Diversity program. I offered an amendment that directed the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State to report to Congress on steps that could be taken to further eliminate fraud and security risks in the Diversity Visa program. Rather than vote to fix the program and defend legal immigration and diversity in our immigrant pool. every Republican on the Committee who was present voted down the amendment. On Wednesday. I once again offered amendments in Rules Committee to protect the Diversity Visa Program. and once again the Republican majority on the Committee voted against it. Nearly 15 million people. representing about 20 million with family members included. registered late last year for the 2012 Diversity Visa Program under which only 50.000 visa winners were to be selected via random selection process. Each year. diversity visa winners make up about 4 percent of all Legal Permanent Resident. LPR. admissions. Unlike every other visa program. its express purpose is to help us develop a racially. ethnically. and culturallydiverse population. It serves a unique purpose and it works. In recent years. African immigrants have comprised about 50 percent of the DV programs beneficiaries. however only 1 percent of legal permanent residents recipients. Diversity Visa immigrants succeed and contribute to the U.S. economy. According to the Congressional Research Service. in FY 2009 Diversity Visa immigrants were 2.5 times more likely to report managerial and professional occupations than all other lawful permanent residents. The Diversity Visa program promotes respect for U.S. immigration laws. It reduces incentives for illegal immigration by encouraging prospective immigrants to wait until they win a visa. as opposed to attempting to enter without permission.
Date: 2012-11-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I think its important that we have the facts from the National Science Foundation on immigration from Africa. According to NSF. there are about 13.000 students from Africa. The vast majority of them are bachelors degree candidates who are not eligible for visas under this bill. and the vast majority of those in graduate school are not in STEM fields. Again. theyre not eligible for visas under this bill.
Date: 2012-11-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to correct the record. I recall when Democrats were in the majority. we passed the DREAM Act. We only got 8 Republican votes to pass that DREAM Act. Further. the way this bill is written. if you were brought here as a baby in violation of the immigration law. but now youre getting your Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University. youre not eligible for one of these visas. This is written in a way to divide people. Its not even an honest effort to capture the best and brightest. And further. on African immigration. last year we had 6.218 Diversity Visa recipients from Nigeria. Taking the chairmans number of 1.200I dont want to get in an argumentin masters and Ph.D. in STEM fields. thats the enrollment. As you know. most Ph.D. programs are 6year programs. most Masters programs are 2year programs. So those actually graduating would be a small fraction of that. a few hundred each year. So we would be seeing. for example. a huge reduction in immigration from Nigeria. just as an example.
Date: 2012-11-30
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to H.R. 6429. an unnecessarily partisan bill to increase the number of visas for foreign students graduating with advanced degrees in science. technology. engineering. and mathematics (STEM). While I strongly believe we should increase the number of visas for these students. I oppose this bill because it eliminates the Diversity Visa Program. There is broad bipartisan support to increase the number of STEM visas. It is unfortunate that the Republican Leadership brought this bill to the floor. President Obama highlighted his support for increasing the number of STEM visas in his 2012 State of the Union Address. when he stated that it made no sense to train foreign students with advanced STEM degrees and then "send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else." This bill is virtually identical to the version the House considered last September. However. Republicans added a provision to reauthorize the temporary "V visa" program. I support the "V visa" program. because it unites families. Unfortunately. the Republicans restricted the "V visas" by eliminating the ability to obtain work authorization and by not allowing spouses and children already here to participate in the program. This bill is flawed and we can do better. I wish the Republican Leadership would have brought to the floor a bill introduced by Rep. ZOE LOFGREN to increase the number of STEM visas without eliminating the Diversity Visas Program. I support that legislation.
Date: 2012-11-30
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to oppose H.R. 6429 "STEM Jobs Act." an illconceived bill that eliminates the Diversity Immigration Visa Program in order to increase the amount of visas available for STEM applicants. As a senior Member of the Judiciary Committee I have long advocated for the Diversity Immigration Visa program. Earlier this year. during a Judiciary Committee mark up of a bill which was also designed to kill the Diversity program. I offered an amendment that directed the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State to report to Congress on steps that could be taken to further eliminate fraud and security risks in the Diversity Visa program. Rather than vote to fix the program and defend legal immigration and diversity in our immigrant pool. every Republican on the Committee who was present voted down the amendment. On Wednesday. I once again I offered amendments in Rules Committee to protect the Diversity Visa Program. and once again the Republican majority on the Committee voted against it. Nearly 15 million people. representing about 20 million with family members included. registered late last year for the 2012 Diversity Visa Program under which only 50.000 visa winners were to be selected via random selection process. Each year. diversity visa winners make up about 4 percent of all Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) admissions. Unlike every other visa program. its express purpose is to help us develop a racially. ethnically. and culturallydiverse population. It serves a unique purpose and it works. In recent years. African immigrants have comprised about 50 percent of the DV programs beneficiaries. Diversity Visa immigrants succeed and contribute to the U.S. economy. According to the Congressional Research Service. in FY 2009 Diversity Visa immigrants were 2.5 times more likely to report managerial and professional occupations than all other lawful permanent residents. The Diversity Visa program promotes respect for U.S. immigration laws. It reduces incentives for illegal immigration by encouraging prospective immigrants to wait until they win a visa. as opposed to attempting to enter without permission. The Diversity Visa sustains the American Dream in parts of the world where it represents the only realistic opportunity for immigrating to the U.S. Former Rep. Bruce Morrisonone of the architects of the Diversity Visatestified in 2005 that the program advances a principle that is "at the heart of the definition of America." the principle that "all nationalities are welcome." Ambassador Johnny Young. Executive Director of Migration and Refugee Services. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. testified at a 2011 Judiciary Committee hearing: "The Program engenders hope abroad for those that are all too often without ithope for a better life. hope for reunification with family in the United States. and hope for a chance to use their Godgiven skills and talents."
Date: 2012-12-04
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

There should be one powerful driving force for all of usand that is to serve the American people. The least we can do before December 31. 2012. is to provide the middle class of Americathe working men and women of America. those who every day get up at 6 a.m.. at 4 a.m.. and work night shiftsa tax break. I am proud to commit to giving Americans making incomes of $250.000 and below a tax break. and I stand here today proudly in having signed the petition. Let me say what else we can do very quickly. As a cochair of the Congressional Childrens Caucus. we have passed a bipartisan bill on the intervention in and prevention of bullying. Everywhere you go. youre hearing about the dastardly conditions of our children who are going to school across America. To our Members of the United States Congress. lets pass that legislation before we leave here. and lets go into 2013 with America recognizing that the Congress understands that the safety and security of our children in the schools of America are vital. Thats the least we can doto protect the children of America. Pass the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2012 now.
Date: 2012-12-05
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. as announced earlier by Congressman RALPH HALL. we lost a memorable Texas legislator. Congressman Jack Brooks. who proudly served his southeast Texas district for 42 years after he was first elected in 1952. ultimately serving as dean of this House of Representatives and dean of our congressional delegation. I knew Jack Brooks from my days in the State legislature. and he was one of my mentors when I first came to the House of Representatives. Representative Brooks was known for his tough persona and for chewing on his cigar while commanding a room. But he had a heart of gold. I remember sitting down with him when I first came to the House of Representatives. When he asked me what committee I wanted to serve on. I thought. well. Ill get what I need. I told him I wanted Energy and Commerce. He chewed on his cigar and said. Youll get Ed and Labor and like it. But Jack was a great leader and a role model. He supported civil rights bills. refused to sign the segregationist Southern Manifesto in 1956. and helped write the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned racial segregation. May we always remember Congressman Jack Brooks. He was a great man. political figure. U.S. Marines veteran. and a friend that Ill never forget.
Date: 2012-12-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the Speaker this afternoon. and I am grateful for the words. the prayer that was offered about light. both of inspiration and collaboration. I think there are bipartisan voices crying out for an acceptance of a tax cut on 98 percent of the American people. That is why the President went to Michigan. to speak to working men and women. to be able to reaffirm their voices that were spoken so loudly on November 6. Let us have a tax cut that will impact 98 percent of the American people and businesses. And let us collaboratively work together for the steps going forward. But let me be very clear. Having spoken to physicians yesterday in meetings in hospitals. you cannot raise the eligibility rate of Medicare recipients. It just will not work. You cannot judge a persons physical condition between 65 and 67. That is not the way to balance the budget and reduce the deficit. We know that entitlements. Social Security. is not the issue. Pass the tax cuts on 98 percent. Mr. Speaker. and work collaboratively in 2013 to find a pathway forward to make this economy the growing economy that it has begun to be. I ask my colleagues. lets work together.
Date: 2012-12-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman from California. and I thank the gentlelady from Illinois for her persistence on this issue of seniors and Medicare. Congresswoman SCHAKOWSKY. along with Congresswoman MATSUI. cochaired a task force that was very effective on making sure that the Democratic Caucusand. really. Members of Congresshad an understanding of the safety net. but also the issue around the word "earned." For some reason or another. when you put the benefits of individuals on the altar of sacrifice. its because they didnt earn anything. You can sacrifice them. One thing that the Congresswoman emphasized is the idea that Social Security is earned. Medicare is earned. and. to a certain extent. Medicaid. though its on a different structure. To the gentleman from California. I want to speak directly to what youve said as insurance commissioner. We value your experience. because heres my point that I want to make. I want to stay narrowly focused. First of all. let me say that there are enough bipartisan voices right now to pass the Senate bill. I want to thank Congressman WALZ. whom we have a petition with 178 Democratic names. We welcome our colleagues. Republicans. to get on. But the point I want to make is thatand I want to change my vernacular. I want to change my language100 percent of the American people will get a tax cut. If we pass the Senate bill. 100 percent-
Date: 2012-12-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Im so glad you used the statistic of a white male because I want this to be holistic. You did it on income. There are other disparities between African Americans. Asians. and Hispanic based upon a number of factors. a number of factors. So. there is a population that youve just mentioned. I assume there are numbers for white women. and then there are what we call health disparities because of various ethnic differences and distinctions. nothing that would make them different as Americans. but it would make you want to think more closely about a cookiecutter approach to how Medicare can be. And to raise it to 67 is dangerous for the diversity of this country. And remember what we said. We want to be for the 100 percent. I thank you for allowing me just to say that point. Thank you. Congresswoman. because I think our fight is a noble fight. and it is not against anybody. it is for something. and I would like our friends to join us and recognize that this is not a good idea. I thank the gentleman.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Speaking in the instance of deliberations. redundancy is sometimes good. So I join my colleagues in again placing the defining word "nonstarter" on any idea to raise the eligibility age for Medicare for hardworking seniors. but hardworking Americans. Let me clarify that Medicare is earned. it is not a handout. The word that we use as "entitlement" sometimes now has become on the order of what ObamaCare used to be. An entitlement is entitled because of earning it. and that goes to Social Securitywhich is solvent until 2037and even Medicaid for seniors who are in nursing homes who have worked. So if we move that aside to look long term at how we begin to look at entitlements. were openminded. But the bottom line is lets pass the middle class tax cuts that are for 100 percent of Americans. Lets join Senator TOM COBURN: Im for raising revenue because we have to. or Senator CORKER: Theres a growing body of folks who are willing to look at the rate on the top 2 percent. or KAY GRANGER: Extending middle class tax cuts is just the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker. lets get busy in a bipartisan way.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman. and I rise to support S. 1998 and commend the basis of this legislation. which will look for a clean audit report and in particular as it relates to Congress submit a report on the plan to obtain an unqualified opinion annually until an unqualified opinion is submitted. and submit to Congress and the Comptroller General a report on DHS plans and resources needed to modernize DHS financial system. Let me be clear that we know that it takes resources to secure the homeland. but this is a Department that has $40 billion in the annual budget and 200.000 employees. DHS is the Nations thirdlargest Federal Department. It demands a clean audit. I would also indicate that one of the issues that we have continued to work on in the committee is to ensure the access of small. minority. and womenowned businesses to the vast contracting needs that DHS is engaged in. In particular. when there are natural disasters. we are often seeing where those who live in the area who would benefit from being able to be the contractors or to be able to work on the restoration and remove the debris cannot access DHS in a fair way to be able to secure a contract to put people to work. So even as we are talking about audits. Im talking about management processes. as well. And I would hope that this legislation. as it begins to look at audits and making sure that we have an unqualified audit. will also look at process as we go forward in the 113th Congress. because as we secure the homeland. we want to make sure that we have a Department of Homeland Security that has had very fine leadership in Secretary Napolitano to be able to assure that the infrastructure that runs this agency is parallel to the infrastructure that is securing America. I think that will be a perfect system. So I do support this legislation. and I hope the comments about small. minority. and womenowned businesses are taken to heart and that we will find a way to ensure that our resources. tax dollars. are utilized by the American people in the right and appropriate way.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of S. 1998. the "DART Act." the purpose of which is to obtain an unqualified audit opinion. and improve financial accountability and management at the Department of Homeland Security.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you. Before I yield. I turned around and saw that Andrew and Fish and Hannah are here. so welcome the Stark kids. I yield now to Congresswoman BAR-
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you very much. I know. as we all know in this life. Members leave the Congress. they dont leave public policy. they dont leave public life. and I expect we will be hearing from them as they leave the Congress in their future endeavors. I know that Mr. BILBRAY still wants to clean up the salt in the Salton Sea. and I know that DAN LUNGREN probably still wants to take down Hetch Hetchy. Ill be glad to join him on both efforts on that one. and I know WALLY HERGER still brings the concerns about the watersheds of the great northern parts of our State. So this relationship goes on. their advocacy goes on. and thats true on both sides of the aisle.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you so much. Thank you for your service. Mr. Speaker. that brings to a conclusion our delegations honoring those Members who are leaving. I would just say. and this is not news to Members of the House. but on a bipartisan basis. this is a very. very spirited and rambunctious delegation on both sides of the aisle. and a lot of seniority is leaving the Congress with this delegation. a lot of expertise. But Im very proud to have served with all of them and for their contributions and the sacrifices they made in public office on behalf of public policy that they strongly believe in and became advocates for. With that. I yield back the balance of my time. I want to recognize Mr. BERMAN who is here and thank him again for his service.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank my friend. Mr. WOODALL. for yielding. Mr. Speaker. I would just point outand I think the gentleman knows thiswe have not seen a single proposal from our Republican colleagues to extend unemployment insurance because there is a philosophical difference and a majority of the Republican colleagues dont think we should extend unemployment compensation for 1.3 million Americans. We have not seen a proposal. We paid for this proposal in a way that has bipartisan support. I will just say the question is whether we should be able to vote on it. My colleague and friends can vote against it. but I think the American people deserve a vote on this.
Date: 2012-12-12
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank my friend. Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker. the gentleman is right. As I said at the outset of my comments. I support the bipartisan agreement. I think it is a small step forward. But the gentleman knows we will be debating that issue later this afternoon. Right now we are debating the rule of the House. That rule parachuted in a docfix for 3 months. which we support. but our Republican colleagues denied this House and the American people an opportunity to vote to extend UI in that rule. That is what we are debating right now. Mr. WOODALL. and you know that. The way that rule was structured was to deny the people of this country a vote to help 1.3 million Americans. and that is shameful.