macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is my pleasure to rise in support of H.R. 2133 introduced by the gentleman from Kansas . which would establish a commission to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown versus Board of Education decision. This bill passed the House on June 27.. 2001. under suspension of the rules by a vote of 414 to 2 and passed the Senate on August 3 with some amendments. These amendments change how the commission would be formed and who would make the recommendations for commission members. Mr. Speaker. May 17. 2004. will mark the 50th anniversary of this landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. This legislation wouldestablish a Federal commission to provide for and encourage the commemoration of that anniversary. The Brown decision. as studied in law schools across the United States. is remembered for its definite interpretation of the 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. The Court stated that the discriminatory nature of racial segregation violates the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. which guarantees all citizens equal protection of the laws. On a human level. the Brown decision has had a dramatic impact on families. communities. and governments by outlawing racial segregation. meaning an end to legal discrimination on any basis. Today. we take it as a given that. as the Court opined at that time. separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Cheryl Brown Henderson. of the Brown Foundation. had the idea to establish a commission to prepare for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of this decision. Seeing the educational value this commission would bring. my colleague. the gentleman from Kansas . followed through with legislation to establish it. The commission would work in conjunction with the Department of Education to plan and coordinate public education activities and initiatives through its 10 regional offices. Activities such as public lectures. writing contests. and public awareness campaigns will be included. The commission is to be comprised of 22 members. including representatives from the Department of Education. the Department of Justice. the NAACP. the Judicial Branch. the Brown Foundation. and the Brown v. Board National Historic Site. In addition. Members of the Senate and House of -Representatives from the States in which the lawsuits were originally filed. Delaware. Kansas. South Carolina. and Virginia. and from the State of the first legal challenge. Massachusetts. and the District of Columbia would recommend individuals to the Speaker of the House and minority leader and the majority and minority leader in the Senate for the commission. Ultimately. we hope that this commission will educate Americans about the farreaching historical impact of this decision and what it has done for this country. Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas . the sponsor of this bill. to speak on behalf of it.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to provide for the conveyance of the excess Army Reserve Center in Kewaunee. Wisconsin. as amended.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 788 would require the General Services Administration to convey to the City of Kewaunee. Wisconsin at no cost a parcel of property containing an Army Reserve Center located in northwest Kewaunee. The property consists of two buildings with approximately 17.000 square feet of space constructed on 4.4 acres of land. The property is excess to the needs of the Army and surplus to the needs of the Federal Government. It has been vacant since 1996. Currently. the City of Kewaunees municipal services are located atldifferent sites around the city. Kewaunee city hall. police department. ambulance service and community center/ senior center have outgrown their present facilities. They require room to expand. The City of Kewaunee intends to consolidate these services at the vacant Army Reserve center. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin . the bill sponsor. a strong fighter for the citizens of Kewaunee. Wisconsin.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill -to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4270 John Marr Drive in Annandale. Virginia. as the "Stan Parris Post Office Building."
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

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. 1766.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 1766 sponsored by the gentleman from Virginia would rename the Post Office at 4270 John Marr Drive in Annandale. Viginia. to honor Stan Parris. a distinguished and dedicated Republican representative from Northern Virginia. Stans career in public service began as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors representing the Mason district. He later served the people of Virginia as Secretary of the Commonwealth and Director of the Commonwealth of Virginias Washington Liaison Office. Stan went on to represent the Eighth Congressional District of Virginia from 1973 to 1975. and more recently from 1981 to 1991. While .in Congress he was a member of the Committee on Banking. the Committee on the Interior and Insular Affairs. and the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control. As the ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. Stan was a vocal critic of D.C. Government policies in the 1980s and recognized the early signs of the Citys financial and organizational mismanagement. which eventually escalated to crisis level by the mid1990s. Additionally. he was among the first congressional Members calling for the closure of Lorton Prison. a process that finally began as part of the National Capital Revitalization and SelfGovernment Improvement Act of 1977. Stin was ahead of his time. While serving in Congress. Stan successfully pursued measures to alleviate traffic congestion in Northern Virginia. A strong advocate for the residents of Virginias Eighth Congressional District. he worked tirelessly on behalf of Federal employees and military retirees to help them obtain better salaries and benefits. E 1500 After leaving Congress. Stan was appointed by the President to serve as the administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. and since 1996 he has worked with the law firm of Dickstein. Shapiro. Moore and Oshinsky. LLP. He now resides in Hudgins. Virginia. I urge all my colleagues to join in supporting this legislation honoring Stan Parris. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia . the bills sponsor. the inspiration for this legislation and a gentleman who served with Mr. Parris in the House for many years.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia . who succeeded Mr. Parris here in the House.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and -pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8588 Richmond Highway in Alexandria. Virginia. as the "Herb E. Harris Post Office Building". as amended.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extenq. their remarks on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. it is a great honor to stand before you today to speak on behalf of H.R. 1761. designing the United States Post Office located at 8588 Richmond Highway in Alexandria. Virginia. as the Herb Harris Post Office Building. Herb Harris. again. came from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors where he cut his teeth politically. He had a very distinguished career there. He was elected in 1975 to the 94th Congress and two succeeding Congresses representing what was then Virginias Eighth Congressional District. He was the first freshman Congressman in 25 years to serve as chairman of the House District of Columbia Subcommittee on the Environment Bicentennial Celebration and International Community as well. Prior to being elected to Congress. Herb served as vice chairman of the Washington-. D.C. Metropolitan Transit Authority from 1970 to 1974 as a member of the County Board of Supervisors from Fairfax at that point representing the Mount Vernon District. He had been vice chairman of the County Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County as well. was a very distinguished leader there both in Fairfax and regionally. He was the instrumental figure in securing the needed funding for construction of Metro. We think of StarkHarris funds and the legislation that came out of that landmark legislation. TheMetro system as it exists today would not be there but for Herb Harris. He was a leader in getting money for that area and allocating it. bringing the region together to address the problems with building this mighty system. After leaving Congress in January 1981. Herb resumed the practice of law with the firm of Harris Ellsworth & Levin in Washington. D.C. He still resides in Mount Vernon. Virginia. today. Mr. Speaker. in closing I would like to thank Herb for his service to Fairfax County. the Washington metropolitan region. and to this country. I would urge adoption of this bill. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I just have a question for the gentleman from Virginia : Does this post office stay in the Eighth Congressional District under the new boundaries that the Virginia General Assembly has promulgated?
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. reclaiming my time. that is appropriate. Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia .
Date: 2001-09-10
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I also note that Mr. Harris is a former president. as I understand it. of the Bren Mar Park Civic Association. which was in the Mason District which I once represented. Again. let me say to Herb Harris. thank you for Metro. thank you for the Mount Vernon Hospital. thank you for your years of service as well. We look forward to the dedication. Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance my time.
Date: 2001-09-11
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. in the wake of these attacks on American soil. the United States of America must retaliate with force. Yesterdays acts of cowardice signify an act of war. and we will fight this war to win. Adversity does not divide America. it strengthens us and propels us into unprecedented unity. These cowards have failed. Mr. Speaker. -our America is much more than the buildings and monuments that grace our soil. America is a nation of great people. joined by the love of country and the belief in freedom and liberty. This can never be extinguished. The loss of life is devastating and has impacted all walks of American life. Our rescue workers. including police and firefighters. have suffered great loss. They are heroes. and have bravely sacrificed their lives to save those suffering from these cowardly acts committed by these evil individuals. This tragic event has mobilized America like never before. Our patriotic spirit has been resurrected. and this will be prove to our enemys demise. God bless America.
Date: 2001-09-11
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. yesterday Americas innocence was shattered by unseen enemies. Cowards. terrorists. struck at the heart of our society. killing mothers. fathers. sons. daughters. indiscriminately in hopes of political gain. We stand united in our resolve that their acts of terrorism will not deter us. I want to offer my prayers to families who are still waiting to hear from loved ones who might have been at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. or those families who have already lost loved ones in yesterdays tragic events. Words cannot express my gratitude to the countless police officers. firefighters. volunteers. blood donors. and health care providers who rushed to the crash scenes yesterday. putting their own lives in harms way to come to the aid of their fellow Americans. Yesterdays television images will remain with us forever. not only because of the sheer terror they conveyed. but also because of the uniquely American spirit that was evident: our grit. our resolve. our unparalleled ability to rally together in the face of tragedy. I am proud of the members of the Fairfax County Urban Rescue Team who were among the first to tackle the difficult debris at the Pentagon. In addition. I want to thank all those who continue to help their fellow Americans by providing comfort and prayer to those injured and their families. Mr. Speaker. we stand together to ensure that the perpetrators and enablers of these cowardly acts are held accountable and pay the highest price for their actions.
Date: 2001-09-11
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker. today I rise in strong support of our great Nation and against the dastardly acts of terrorism that we have seen. September 11. 2001. will forever live in the hearts and minds of not just Americans. but every single person who values freedom. peace. and security. The loved ones of the victims and aid workers are in my thoughts andprayers. and the most important thing is that America remains strong. and we will certainly overcome this tragedy. I saw the pictures of that destruction. especially in New York and at the Pentagon. which is where I was just 5 minutes before that happened. I was in Vietnam as a POW. I saw B52s bomb Hanoi day after day after day. and I am telling the Members. with over 100 bombs from each one of those bombers. the destruction was not as great as what I have seen in New York City and at the Pentagon yesterday. It is horrible. Members can bet we will hunt down and punish the cowards responsible for that act. This declaration. this resolution that we have in front of us today. declares that these premeditated attacks struck not only at the people of the United States. but also at the symbols and structures of our economic and military strength. and that the United States is entitled to respond under international law. The problem with that is it does not declare war. It is a war. Mr. Speaker. Let me read what the Canada National Post said today: "When foreign governments are discovered to be giving aid and succor to terrorists. they. too. must be hit. They must be hit as hard as possible and as often as possible to deter them forever." The Dallas Morning News said today. this morning: "We must remind the world of how precious freedom is and how relentlessly we will defend it. The rest of the world must know that we will not rest until we capture and punish the terrorists responsible. and any nation who protects them." May God bless and protect each and every one of us. and all America.
Date: 2001-09-11
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise in favor of this resolution. The event of yesterday. of course. will leave a lasting impact in our community in Northern Virginia. [ 2200 Our friends. our neighbors. have all been affected. as I think has the whole country. But yesterdays act was an act of war. but the enemy was not necessarily a particular country or a nation. but a network of terrorists harbored and enabled in some cases by other nations who are lurking in the shadows. afraid of identifying themselves. even in some cases denying their deeds while praising these acts. The perpetrators of these vicious acts and their abettors are not wholly identified as yet. but their act of war was not only against the United States. but against all freedomloving -people throughout the globe. Any failure on our part to act decisively against these mass murderers will only encourage more such acts against other peoples and other nations. Our country has put aside the partisan squabbling. and we stand united behind our President to give him the resources he needs to seek out and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts. We thank our allies and other leaders across the world for their expressions of support and sympathy. and working together. we can rid this planet of the terrorist menace that knows no boundaries. obeys no rules. respects no life. Mr. Speaker. this resolution is. only a start. but it demonstrates our determination as a Nation to stand shoulder to shoulder united as one people. to bring justice to these attackers and normalization to our lives. My deepest sympathy to the families of these victims and those awaiting word on loved ones who cannot be accounted for. My appreciation to the rescue workers. the police. firefighters and medical personnel and volunteers who have risked their lives to help their brothers and sisters. These Americans and countless volunteers have again demonstrated the American spirit at this time of crisis. To those military and Federal employees who were targets of the suicide bombers. they once again. as in Oklahoma City. have paid the supreme price for anger directed at our political system. They are heroes who will forever be remembered for the sacrifice they made for freedom. History will never forget their heroic sacrifice.
Date: 2001-09-11
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak in support of House Joint Resolution 61. As the horrific series of events unfolded yesterday. I like most Americans watched in shook as the blatant. cowardly terrorist attacks in New York and Washington took the lives of thousands of our fellow citizens. For far too long. we have stood on the sidelines while terrorist operations around the world have stockpiled weapons. trained their minions. and poisoned the face of the Earth with hate. death. and destruction. We have responded only to retaliate against actions taken directly upon our citizens and our interests. While these actions have been warranted and severe. it has not been enough. Yesterdays attack will be viewed as an act of war against America. Today. we need to console those who have lost so much. We will grieve with our brethren who have lost husbands. wives. mothers. fathers. daughters. and sons. We will grieve the loss of our friends and our fellow citizens in the wake of this terrible. terrible tragedy. However. we need to be firm in reminding our enemies. whomever they may be. that America remains strong. intact. and ready to respond. Do not mistake our grief and our tears as weakness or helplessness. In the coming days and weeks. the United States will again show the fortitude. the wherewithal. and the strength of spirit that has mide our Nation the greatest in history. Today. I ask my fellow citizens to be patient. We will find those who have committed this heinous travesty. They will be brought to Justice. We must now take this opportunity to send a clear message to those who would question Americas unity and perseverance. Acts of terrorism will never go unpunished. America cannot be intimidated. Finally. I ask everyone. each one of us. as American citizens to pray for these victims and for their families. Reach out. Offer what you can to help them as they grieve. Go that extra mile to ensure that those who have survived this trauma are able to rejoin us as a united people. and embrace that spirit that has for so long made America great.
Date: 2001-09-14
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. America is strong. America is united. and America will prevail over evil. The terrorist attacks against us have failed. and they have only made us more determined. more focused. more resolute. Mr. Speaker. the President will. at the appropriate time. use the full force of the United States to stop those who are opposed to freedom and the American way of life. Do you remember our Declaration of Independence? "We mutually pledge to each other our lives. our fortunes and our sacred honor." These words should remind anyone who tries to destroy our freedoms that Americans always stand together. Mr. Speaker. I fought in a couple of wars myself. and this is a war. and I am ready to do it. That is why we remain the greatest. most powerful country on Earth. Let us go to war for freedom. God bless America.
Date: 2001-09-14
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H

who served about 6 years in Hanoi as a prisoner of war. He states that on his cell wall he had a little statement that said. "Freedom has a taste to it to those who fought and almost died that the protected will never understand." I guess the events of Tuesday brought us a lot closer to understanding what could occur. We see where freedom is challenged by another nation if it may be a nation. which it is not but a group of people who have some funny attitudes. Today. I had the opportunity of going over to the Pentagon and standing there and looking at what occurred. Apparently. there were two people standing there as that plane went over their heads. They actually felt they had to duck as it went over their heads. standing right outside of the Pentagon. They said at that point that they throttled up. as we used to say in the Navy. we twoblocked the throttle. and went in. Imagine that tonnage of airplane hitting that Pentagon at that speed. A lot of people died. a very painful situation. But this thing can be made right. And it should be. and these people will be ferreted out. And I am confident they will be destroyed. That is what should occur. Freedom has a taste to it and we better learn to understand it.