macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. in 1987 the United States Congress officially designated March as Womens History Month in an effort to not only increase public knowledge of womens history. but also to raise the public consciousness of the impact that women have on our country. Over the last century. we have made considerable progress. However. our work to ensure that women have equal rights and protection from assault and abuse are not over. Today. women continue to bring home smaller paychecks than men do for doing the same job. However. I am proud that this Congress passed and President Obama recently signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 to help end pay discrimination against women. Currently. there are an estimated 198.000 women serving on active duty in our military. and still we are unable to provide them with a safe environment. free of sexual assault and violence. In addition. approximately 800.000 individuals are trafficked across international borders each year. and. sadly. 80 percent of those are women and girls. While we recognize the progress we have made. we must not be complacent. but instead work together to tap into the potential of future generations of women.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

To my friend. I want to also thank you for the goodfaith discussions and negotiations weve had. I appreciate your support for this bill and your work toward a sustainable loan modification program.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I agree with you that loan modifications are a key component to a comprehensive plan. I thank my friend. Mrs. TAUSCHER. fQr her thoughtful work on this matter. It has made this bill a better bill and one that. I think. we can all be proud of. I appreciate your effort. I would yield further.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you. I would just note further the participation of others in- Congress who worked to make this a better bill: our colleague DENNIS CARDOZA. who is part of the seconddegree LofgrenTauscherCardoza amendment. as well as Congressman BRAD MILLER. Congressman JIM MARSHALL. and of course the chairman of the committee. Congressman JOHN CONYERS. Thanks to all who worked so hard on this.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to say a word about the managers amendrpent to make sure that everyone is clear. The seconddegree amendment is going to make sure that fairness is restored to the bankruptcy laws to give needed relief to homeowners at a time when there is a truly historic crisis in the housing market. The managers amendment strengthens the good faith provisions of the bill to ensure that borrowers who cant afford to pay their debts do so. The good faith provision also requires the cburt to take into consideration an offer of a qualified loan modification. And when an affordable loan modification is available. we want homeowners to take that route. The managers amendment also advises courts to consider the Treasurys guidelines in crafting. modifications. and in doing so. it works seamlessly with the Obama administrations Making Homes Affordable Plan. In both instances. fairness and affordability are the touchstones. It doesnt make any kind of sense that relief in Chapter 13 is denied to homeowners while it is provided to speculators and investors. which is what the current law provides. By changing the law. weve restored basic fairness to the system. In addition to the heightened good faith requirement. the amendment would extend the prefiling notice from 15 to 30 days and require the debtor to submit financial documentation to the lender so a meaningful negotiation could take place. It also enhances the clawback provision to increase the amount of appreciation returning to the lender if a home should be sold for profit after judicial modification. I really. as I said earlier. want to thank my colleagues. Mrs. TAUSCHER.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Bankruptcy should be a last resort. And Ill tell you. bankruptcy is no picnic. For an extended period of time. all of the debtors personal financial life is in public. You cant spend anything without permission of the court. You cant tithe to your church unless the bankruptcy judge says "okay." Santa cant come to your house on Christmas unless the court permits expenditures for a toy. It is a permanent mark on your record. And so to think that someone would go into that proceeding frivolously with that kind of stain. that burden and that kind of a stigma. is just not realistic. And I hope the people understand this is not something that people do in a frivolous way or an unthoughtful way.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the Member from Florida for yielding the time. I am honored to be associated with this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker. the words that come to mind. as we debate this issue. the words that comes to mind are. "at last." At last we are now embracing help for homeowners. We have worked for Wall Street. we have worked to do something for Main Street. it is now time to do something for "Home Street." the street where people live. the street where people have their greatest investment. Lets talk for just a moment about the concerns with reference to allowing bankruptcy to become a part of this process. My dear friends. bankruptcy is already a part of the process. If you own two. three. four or five homes. you may modify those homes in bankruptcy. If you only own one home as your principal home.-that home is excluded from bankruptcy. The bankruptcy process ought to embrace people who have not been as fortunate as those who have five homes to the same extent that it embraces people who have but one place to call home. It is time to bring some equity into the process. This equity is not prospective. it is retrospective. It only applies to homes that were closed on prior to the bill being enacted. It does not go forward. So this argument that it embraces interest rates into the future is not a correct argument. It only embraces the past. not the future. And finally. I would say to you. as this is done. the homeowner has to attempt a workout before there can be judicial modification. The safeguards are there. The opportunity is before us. The question is. do we want to protect Home Street to the same extent that we want to protect Main Street and Wall Street? There are people who are suffering. this is the opportunity to help them.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. as Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor. I was called to the White House for a series of meetings with the President on health care reform. Accordingly. I missed two votes. that on H. Res. 146 (rollcall vote No. 98) and H. Con. Res. 14 (rollcall vote No. 99). Had I been present. I would have voted in favor of both resolutions.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members be granted 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1106. as well as to include extraneous material.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I have this amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Amendment No. 1 offered. by Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. as modified: In the table of contents of the bill. in the item relating to section 121. strike "department of veterans affairs" and insert "Department of Veterans Affairs". Page 2. after line 6. insert the following (and make such technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Amendment No. 2 by Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Amendment No. 3 by Mr. PETERS of Michigan. The Chair will reduce to 5 minutes the time for any electronic vote after the first vote in this series.
Date: 2009-03-05
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my deep concern about the difficulties Member offices are experiencing offering staffled tours of the Capitol. As Chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee. I am fully committed to making sure Member offices can continue providing this important service to their constituents. The Capitol is not a museum. It is a living. breathing institution at the core of our representative democracy. Staffled tours give our constituents a chance to experience the work that goes on here on a personalized level. When there was talk last year about eliminating staffled tours. we made clear at our oversight hearings that preserving those tours should be one of the highest priorities for the Capitol Visitor Center. Reflecting that priority. we included a provision in last years LegiSlative Branch Appropriations bill prohibiting the elimination of staffled tours. However. preserving the existence of the tours and putting a button on the CVC Web site is simply not enough. We also need to make sure that the system in place doesnt diminish Member offices ability to offer staffled tours. Mr. BRADY and I intend to work aggressively over the next few weeks to ensure that improvements to the system arrive before the peak visitor season hits. Staff who give tours should receive training. but we need to make sure that the time requirements make sense. that the training is consistent and effective. and that classes are offered frequently enough to meet Member office needs. We also need to make sure that we dont homogenize the Capitol tour and turn this beautiful institution into a museum. Staffled tours offer something that guideled tours cannot. a personalized experience that incorporates items of State and local interest. We need to make sure that we dont take that personal touch out of the tour process. We also need to make sure that Member offices are given clear information about how to accommodate their constituents if the online reservation system shows all the slots for a given day are taken. The CVC Web site and reservation system also could stand improvement. particularly standardizing the online process for booking staffled tours so that you dont have to hunt and peck to figure out how to book one. I look forward to working with Mr. BRADY and the authorizing committees on these issues so we can make the existing system more userfriendly. without compromising security or overloading the Capitol building. And I encourage and ask all Members if they have suggestions to please offer them to us. [ 1915
Date: 2009-03-06
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. in the three times that I have visited Afghanistan. the commanders in charge of our militaryNATO combined effort in Afghanistan have said to the delegation that their problem is across the border in Pakistan. that al Qaeda is not in Afghanistan other than at such times as when the Taliban brings them to engage our soldiers for practice and for training. Yet we see the government of Pakistan entering into an agreement with the Taliban in the Swat in the northern frontier areas of Pakistan to turn that rather large geographical area of Pakistan over to the Taliban and to dismantle the military presence in that area. What we have seen since this agreement was reached. an accommodation to the Taliban. is that the training camps have expanded. people have been tortured and murdered. the military has removed from the area. checkpoints have been set up so that the Taliban can examine everybody who moves in and out of the area of whether they are proTaliban or antiTaliban. and somehow we are told that this is good for Pakistan and this is good for America. It cant be. and we had better be careful before we send any more money to the Pakistani government.
Date: 2009-03-10
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

I rise to celebrate the life of former Secretary of Commerce Ron H. Brown. who was the first African American to hold that position. and the first African American to serve as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. I want to thank Chairman RANGEL for bringing this resolution to the floor. designating the Federal building located at the United Nations Plaza in New York. City as the "Ron H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building." At the time of his death in 1996. Mr. Brown was a figure of global importance and an advocate for American businesses - at home and abroad. Through his example. Ron was a pioneer for many African Americans. and a role model. and was respected for his leadership. intelligence. and public service. Born in Washington. DC. on August 1. 1941. and raised in Harlem. New York. he spent most of his life working forthe people of New York and the citizens of the United States. As Secretary. he circled the globe spreading goodwill with his enthusiasm. I remember traveling with Ron once to Africa as he was cultivating opportunities and markets for American products. It was on one of these trade missions that he died in a plane crash in wartorn Eastern Europe on April 3. Ron left behind a wife. Alma. two devoted children. Michael and Tracey. and a record of commitment to the job he loved. Since his death. Ron has been recognized wi*th many awards and scholarships. including the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership and Responsibility. established by President William J. Clinton. the annual Ron H. Brown American Innovator Award. established by the U.S. Department of Commerce. and the largest ship in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations fleet named in honor of his public service. the Ronald H. Brown. Please join me today in celebrating the life and service of one great American statesperson and pioneer. Mr. Ron H. Brown.
Date: 2009-03-11
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to celebrate March as Red Cross Month. Since 1943 we have been celebrating March as Red Cross Month to promote the services provided to the public by the Red Cross. The Red Cross has been at the forefront of helping individuals and families prevent. prepare for and respond to large and smallscale disasters for more than 127 years. Over the last year. more than 5 million people throughout the United States took advantage of educational opportunities from the Red Cross for CPR training. first aid and lifeguard training classes. And in Orange County. California. the local Red Cross chapter places great emphasis on community training. On April 18. the American Red Cross in Orange County will be hosting the fifth annual CPR day at. of course. Angel Stadium in my City of Anaheim. which will train over 1.500 people in adult and child CPR and first aid. Once again. I want to thank the American Red Cross for making our communities safer and for providing needed resources to communities that are affected by floods. by fires. earthquakes. mudslides. hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Date: 2009-03-11
Speaker: COST SHARE (democrat)
Chamber: H

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as "Secretary"). in consultation and cooperation with the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority. is authorized to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a four reservoir intertie system to improve water storage opportunities. water supply reliability. and water yield of the existing iitnFederal water storage system. The feasibility study shall document the Secretarys engineering. environmental. and economic investigation of the proposed reservoir and intertie project taking into consideration the range of potential solutions and the circumstances and needs of the area to be served by the proposed reservoir and intertie project. the potential benefits to the people of that service area. and improved operations of the proposed reservoir and intertie system. The Secretary shall indicate in the feasibility report rejuired under paragraph (4) whether the proposed reservoir and intertie project is recommended for construction. (2) FEDERAL COST SHARE.-The Federal share of the costs of the feasibility study shall not exceed 50 percent of the total study costs. The Secretary may accelut as part of the nonFederal cost share. any contribution of such inkind services by the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority that the Secretary determines will contribute toward the conduct and completion of the study. (3) COOPERATION.-The Secretary shall consult and cooperate with appropriate State.. regional. and local authorities in implementing this subsection. (4) FEASIBILITY REPORT.-The Secretary shall submit to Congress a feasibility report for the project the Secretary recommends. and to seek. as the Secretary deems appropriate. specific authority to develop and construct any recommended project. This report shall include(A) good faith letters of intent by the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority and its nonFederal partners to indicate that they have committed to share the allocated costs as determined by the Secretary. and (B) a schedule identifying the annual operation. maintenance. and replacement costs that should be allocated to the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority. as well as the current and expected financial capability to pay operation. maintenance. and replacement costs.
Date: 2009-03-11
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yidlding and for bringing this legislation to the floor. I particularly want to strongly support those items for title 16 of the Reclamation Act for water recycling and reuse. The projects in this bill are very good projects that are not in my district. They are all over the State in the southwest that have been authorized. but its most important. as we enter again the third year of this drought. with continued stress put on all of the water systems throughout the West and the Southwest. that we get into recycling and reuse. this will allow communities to take control of their water resources to be more efficient in the use of them. It allows us to develop. just in this legislation alone. that these projects go forward and there is money in the stimulus for this. There was money in the appropriations bill for this. We are seeing a savings of about half a million to a million acre feet of water in the West. Thats real water. Its valuable water. and we have the ability to reuse it. I want to thank the gentleman for this legislation and the subcommittee Chair. Mrs. NAPOL1TANO. a champion of water recycling and reuse. And I would be remiss if I didnt mention the fact that this bill also protects the beautiful Passaic Falls in Paterson. New Jersey.
Date: 2009-03-12
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Speaker. as we begin in this Congress- a potentially transformational debate on the future of health care. I think it is time that we start dispelling some of the myths about American health care. So lets start with this one. If I told you that the country which spent the most money on health care also ranked among the highest in wait times for care. opponents of health care reform would scream. "Well. that is what you get with socialized medicine.." The sad fact is that Im describing our own health care system. A recent study published in Busiiiess Week showed that amongst the six top industrialized nations. the U.S. ranked fifth in medical wait times. We ranked behind New Zealand. Britain. Germany and Australia. In addition. 26 percent of Americans reported going to the ER for treatment because they couldnt get in to see their doctor. and ER wait times for heart attack patients has nearly doubled in the last 5 years. So when you hear these anecdotes about people waiting for care in other countries that guarantee health care. know the facts. Americans wait longer. ci 1015
Date: 2009-03-12
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Title IV of the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009 creates a new Sewer Overflow RightToKnow program. The legislation amends the Clean Water Act to require owners and operators of publicly owned treatment works to notify Federal and State agencies. public health officials. and the public of sewer overflows. This is an important step to increase transparency of this public healthrelated information and to protect the wellbeing of the public. Finally. Title V of the legislation completes some unfinished business in last years Great Lakes Legacy Act. This provides funding for the cleanup of contaminated sediment around the Great Lakes. My colleagues. it has been over 20 years since Congress last authorized appropriations for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. These programs cannot wait any longer while the quality of our water deteriorates. It is time that Congress completes the task of sending these important provisions to the President- for signing. I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this act.
Date: 2009-03-12
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I strongly oppose the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida . This amendment would strike the language renewing DavisBacon prevailing wage protections for construction projects funded under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Since 1931. the DavisBacon Act has provided a living wage for Americas workers. As the authors of the DavisBacon Act knew then. and as we continue to know today. the greatest way to improve the quality of life for our nations workers and for the nation as a whole is to provide workers with an honest wage for an honest days work. One of the unfortunate effects of todays economy and costofliving is that many families find themselves struggling to make ends meet. In fact. today. many families either have both parents working or one wageearner working multiple jobs just to afford a decent living for themselves and their families. I believe that is important for the Federal government to help working Americans. It has been well documented by this Committee that -every $1 billion invested in transportation and water infrastructure creates over 35.000 jobs. In addition. the DavisBacon provisions have increased the numbers of minority and women construction workers nationwide. providing valuable wage protections and training opportunities for groups that might otherwise be left behind. As of today. twentynine states have enacted their own prevailing wage laws for publicly funded construction .projects. In some of these states. the prevailing wage laws result in even higher wages for workers than if the Federal DavisBacon provisions. alone. were in effect. However. for those States without prevailing wage protections. the DavisBacon Act is essential to protecting Americas workers. I have heard statements from opponents of the DavisBacon Act who claim that the govemnment would save money if the DavisBacon provisions were not included. In fact. such a move would be pennywise and poundfoolish. because such a move would not reduce the cost of construction projects. Studies have shown that the prevailing wage protections offered by the DavisBacon Act. in fact. attract better workers with more experience and training who are more productive than less experienced. and less trained workers. This increase in productivity often results in the completion of construction projects ahead of schedule. reducing the overall cost of the project. and offsetting any increased costs due to higher hourly wage rates. Removing the DavisBacon protections would. however. have a significant downward impact on the Federal budget. since lower wages for construction workers would result in an estimate decline of $1 billion in Federal tax revenues. I strongly oppose this amendment. and urge my colleagues also to oppose the amendment.