macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I rise today in the hopes of engaging in a colloquy with the chairman. Mr. Chairman. thank you for the work that you have done on this bill. along with our ranking member. I had intended to offer an amendment in the hopes that we could move forward with modernizing our pedestrian access at our land ports of entry. but I was held up in the NDAA markup. which is ongoing still. My amendment would have been simple. It would have set aside $5 million within the Construction and Facilities Management account in title 2 of this bill to begin construction on shovelready projects at our land ports of entry. the pedestrian access points. Mr. Chairman. our land ports are out of date and in need of massive repair. This is the first step in addressing the massive wait times for pedestrians across our country. I was recently in Calexico. California. where I saw elderly people waiting in 102degree heat just to come and shop in the United States. We hinder our economy when we hinder the lifeline of trade into our country. Mr. Chairman. this is happening every day at our border communities throughout this country. And as a Member of Congress from a border State. you understand that all too well. So I want to ask the chairman for his support in working with me during the conference to ensure pedestrian access points at land points of entry have the funds that they need to be improved so that we can increase our trade at our land ports.
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Thank you. Mr. Chairman. for that clarification and for your strong support in improving pedestrian access points at our land points of entry. and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona .
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Madam Chairman. I rise to engage Chairman CARTER in a colloquy on the Science and Technology Directorate within the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Chairman. as you know. the enabling act that created the Homeland Security Department provided the new Department with special access to the Department of Energys national laboratories. The intent was for DHS to utilize the unique capabilities at the national laboratories so that DHS would not build up the duplicative capabilities within the Department. Building duplicative capabilities at different agencies is a poor use of taxpayer dollars. and there is no need to do so given the Departments access to the existing national labs. At a time when our government has dramatically reduced its ability to conduct cuttingedge research into new technologies. we must ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is using its resources in the most costeffective methods possible. Instead of reinventing the wheel and developing new capabilities. the DHS should be utilizing our DOE national labs whenever practicable as they conduct research. development. testing or evaluate activities. The national labs have firstrate capabilities in many areas relevant to Homeland Security. ranging from explosive detection technologies to advanced cybersecurity techniques. Mr. Chairman. I urge us to work with the Department to ensure that their research and development funds are effectively spent and not used to create redundant capabilities. I yield to the gentleman from Texas. Chairman CARTER.
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their work on this. With that. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Madam Chair. in what has been one of the worst drought years in the recorded history of my home State of New Mexico. were already feeling the effects of another severe fire season. Already. more than 18.000 acres of forest have burned as a result of two fires caused by downed power lines. and those numbers are growing as we speak. Hundreds of homes have been threatened and families have been evacuated. In 2011. during the Las Conchas fire. we lost 150.000 acres of forest to wildfire. again caused by a downed power line. The importance of disaster preparedness is key to saving human lives and property. My amendment today would make available an additional $10 million for State and local grant programs to ensure local towns and communities can be prepared for catastrophic wildfires before they hit. This amendment is cost neutral. While there may be concerns by some of my colleagues and even opposition. I would ask. Madam Chair. that we work together to understand that when there are communities burning that we reach out and we try to do what we can to help these innocent individuals. My amendment would also allow local utilities to take preventive measures for the causes and impacts of wildfires. We must do all we can to ensure that communities have the resources they need to address the dangers and damages of wildfire before and after catastrophic events occur. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Madam Chair. before I yield back. I would like to take a moment to thank all of the firefighters for their brave service battling the Tres Lagunas and Thompson Ridge fires in northern New Mexico. Time and again. those on the frontline. as well as those on the command teams. have acted admirably while putting their lives at risk. To all of those who have volunteered. donated resources and lent a helping hand to the firefighters and our displaced friends and neighbors. God bless you and thank you for your hard work. Again. Madam Chair. I urge my colleagues to consider supporting my amendment that will help our communities prepare for wildfires. And with that. Madam Chair. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their work in this important area. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas is recognized for 5 minutes.
Date: 2013-06-05
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Madam Chair. I know everyones tired. I just finished getting off the floor. offering an amendment. and a colloquy with my colleague. the dear chairman.
Date: 2013-06-06
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following votes. 1. Lujan Amendment to H.R. 2217Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Had I been present. I would have voted "yes" on this bill.
Date: 2013-06-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Some years ago. many of us heard of a tsunami. As we approach this weekend of congratulating our wonderful graduates. we should in fact tell them this is the best and the greatest time of their lives. But it is important for Members of Congress to recognize that we have a task of graduating to do. We must graduate past sequestration and eliminate it. for it is a tsunami against our young people. We have to in fact graduate past this horrific. pending devastation of an increase in the student loan interest rates that will go from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Thats a tsunami against our young peopleour brightest. And we must turn back the clock on an amendment against those who came here as youngsters. through no fault of their own. who are now graduating from places around America. in high schools and colleges. Yes. immigrant children who are undocumented. who want to give back to this Nation. pay their taxes. get a work certificate and give back to those who no longer can work. a tsunami has just come against them. We have to end this and stand for our children. Congratulations to the 2013 graduates. As I go home to their graduations. I want to give them a gift that America really stands for them.
Date: 2013-06-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I am so glad that you raised that point. because we do not want to suggest that a laymans ears are different from a lawyers ears. but that is a very important point which you have made. The frustration is that. on your committee. there are many lawyers. You have lawyers who are investigators. particularly on the majority side. They understand what that concept is. which is that. when you have an indictment. you list names. and those names may be listed as coconspirators. To take that and then translate it into a laymans interpretationoh. this person is going to be prosecutedand to then suggest that the Attorney General perjured himself in front of the Judiciary Committee. where he said outright. I have no thought of prosecuting a reporter. and that wouldnt even come to mind. and to take the FBI affidavit which listedin 2010. by the way. and I think this is 2013the gentleman. Mr. Rosen. as a coconspirator and that nothing has happened since then. it is almost. I believe. an unfair treatment. an unfair misrepresentation. an unfair mischaracterization for the American people. The Attorney General made it clear in his testimony before our committee. I have no interest. no desire. no knowledge of prosecuting a reporter. I just want to add. in addition. that weve just introduced a House bill that is similar to the Senate bill that has judicial intervention now. a sort of rampedup SHIELD Act. which indicates that you would have to go to the courts in certain circumstances to secure some of the information of the press. but there is this distortion as he was questioned on May 15. 2013. and in 3 years. Mr. Rosen has never been indicted. and he has never been prosecuted.
Date: 2013-06-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I am so grateful for your leadership. I am going to conclude. and have some further comments. but before you yield. I just want to pose a question to you. Congresswoman. because. if nothing else. we can both agree together so it wont look like one person is saying it. For an officer of the court. for the highest ranking law officer of the United States. the American people need to understand that the charge of perjury is one of the most devastating charges. Forget about your career. because all of us who are barred. who are members of the bar. are officers of the courtof all courts. Some are able to practice in the Supreme Court. in various Federal courts and otherwise. and as an officer of the court. even in the representation of your client. perjury is the ultimate charge. That is why Im so baffled and felt compelled to come to the floor to raise the question of why lawyers on the Oversight Committee and lawyers on the Judiciary Committee would even offer a charge of perjury under the circumstances of what I have just defined. Let me just say this. In a letter to the Judiciary Committee. the Attorney General said: The Attorney General takes the disclosure of classified information by those who have committed to protecting it very seriously. especially as such disclosures can cause grave damage to our national security. The Attorney General also has the utmost respect for the vital role the media plays in an open society. Then it goes on to talk about his commitment to protecting these vital sources. Then it goes on to again restate this whole question of investigation versus prosecution. It says: At the outset. it is important to note the difference between an investigation and a prosecution. And it goes on to lay out probable cause again. Thats lawyer talk. But it is very clear that the General wants to lay out for the Members of Congress in an open wayby the way. I dont know if we could both stand up here and count how many side meetings and staff meetings that they had with the Attorney General on the gun walkings. what we call Fast and Furious. and now the meetings and letters that are going back. the ongoing contempt charge issue that is going on. This Attorney General has made himself available. The real question I just want to pose to you. as I yield for your answer. is what it means to be charged with perjury as an officer of the court. What General. what lawyer would take it lightlythough some generals have gone to jail for perjurythat has been proven in a court of law?
Date: 2013-06-06
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

And some evidence. In this instance. we have one line that was stated that. No. I will not prosecute. versus the fact of the signing of an affidavit that did not result in a prosecution. Congresswoman?
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise to commend two young men from Richmond. California. who will begin classes this fall at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee. Florida. Sounds pretty straightforward. I know. but these are no ordinary students. What makes these young men from my congressional district stand out is their background. Its not just that most people thought they would never go to collegein fact. most people thought they would never make it out of the neighborhood. People thought they would end up in jail. or even worse. Dvondre Woodard and Eric Welch are two senior fellows at the city of Richmonds Office of Neighborhood Safety Peacekeeper Fellowship. an office that does a remarkable job of changing violent lives. Dvondre and Eric are shining examples of what remarkable transformation individuals are capable of when they desire to make positive change in their lives and when theyre supported in that effort. From a life dominated by gun violence in the streets of Richmond to noses buried in books at college. internships in Washington. D.C.. and meetings on Capitol Hill. these young men have come a long way. I wish them the best. I hope their success will serve as an inspiration for many more to follow in their steps and leave the violent streets.
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I rise today to honor Sergeant Maribel Manriquez Ramos. a resident of my district who was laid to rest this past week. Her dedication was displayed in her many promotions. commendations. and medals earned during deployments to imminentdanger areas like Korea and Iraq. Sergeant Ramos served her Nation with both duty and honor both at home and abroad. Back home. she was set to receive a degree in criminal justice from Cal State Fullerton this May. During her enrollment at the university. she served as an inspiration to other veterans in the pursuing of their dreams through higher education. Unfortunately. our heroic Sergeant Ramos died at the age of 36. She is a hero because of the way she lived her life. She lived a life of honor and service both as an Army sergeant and as a community leader. To her family. I convey the deepest sympathies from all of the community. May she never be forgotten.
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this important issue along with Congressmen MCINTYRE. GRIMM. HENSARLING. and many. many others. Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 634. the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act. This bill will make it easier for companies to manage their risks and plan for their future by clarifying that DoddFrank does not require end users of derivatives to post collateral on these trades. Congress never intended for these companies to be required to post collateral on their derivatives. because that would needlessly raise their costs and could even discourage companies from prudently managing their risks. But because of a drafting error in DoddFrank. end users of derivatives currently face uncertainty about whether the regulators will require them to post collateral. Both Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler have stated that they support this bill because it would provide them with muchneeded clarity on whether their rules on posting collateral should apply to end users. This bipartisan effort to correct a problem with DoddFrank is not an attempt by opponents to weaken the safeguards of the bill but. rather. an attempt to make good legislation even better. Congress needs to step in and ensure that companies that use derivatives to manage their daytoday commercial risk are not subject to unnecessary collateral requirements. It was reported out in a very strong bipartisan vote from Financial Services Committee. and for these reasons. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 634.
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 742. the Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act. which has been sponsored by my colleague and good friend Representative CRAWFORD from Arkansas. and its been a pleasure to work with him on this. I would like to strongly urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. H.R. 742 is noncontroversial and it is highly bipartisan. shared by both Democrats and Republicans alike. It passed the Agriculture Committee by voice vote unanimously. and it passed the Financial Services Committee by a unanimous vote as well. 520. Madam Speaker. DoddFrank ushered in a new era of financial marketing. reporting and transparency requirementswhich was very much neededin order to aid regulators by providing insight into what were once very opaque markets and to facilitate informationsharing between and among United States and international regulators. These were very laudable and necessary changes that were welcome by regulators and market participants alike. DoddFrank also included a provision requiring that in order for the gathered action information to be shared. the SEC and the CFTC. or a swap data repository. be indemnified against accidental release or misuse of information. Unfortunately. Madam Speaker. this indemnification provision is having an unintended consequence. an unintended effect of preventing data collection and informationsharing. particularly when international transactions and international regulators are involved. because indemnification is a legal concept unique only to the United States. H.R. 742 would very simply remove this indemnification requirement. as requested by United States. foreign regulators and swap data repositories. so that we can realize the level of global informationsharing that is so critical to monitoring systemic risk. Madam Speaker. as I said. I strongly support this very simple but necessary bill that will help to facilitate greater informationsharing. as intended by DoddFrank. and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentlelady for her leadership and for yielding. This is a very strong bipartisan effort. and I rise today in support of H.R. 742. the Swap Data Repository and Clearing House Indemnification Correction Act. In enacting the DoddFrank Act. Congress passed the most sweeping reforms to the financial industry in decades in response to the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes. The facts are clear: the financial system is global and. as a result. systemic risk is global as well. We saw it in 2008 with the exposure that European banks had to counterparties like Lehman and Merrill. and we see it today with U.S. banks exposure to the European debt crisis. The great equalizer here is data. This is the reason DoddFrank created swap data repositories. It was so that the regulators. domestic and foreign alike. could recognize prospective cracks in the financial armor before they become gaping holes. This is critically important. and we must get it right. Data collection has been one of the issues that Ive worked hard on in the past. and I want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support collaboration and to encourage an open exchange of data with our foreign counterparties. Virtually everyone agrees that the indemnification provisions in DoddFrank will have the unintended consequence of limiting the extent to which our U.S. regulators share information with well over 50 foreign regulators. That is the complete opposite of the direction we want to go. This bipartisan effort to correct a problem in DoddFrank is not an attempt in any way to weaken the bill. It is an attempt to make good legislation even better. This bill will go a long way toward furthering a major goal of the DoddFrank legislation in reforms. which is sharing data and collaborating with foreign entities to reduce global systemic risk. This not only has strong bipartisan support. but it is likewise supported by the SEC. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important correction.
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Madam Speaker. as I have no additional speakers. I would like to close by simply saying a great thanks for the work of Mr. CRAWFORD from Arkansas.
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer my full support for H.R. 1038. the Public Power Risk Management Act. which is sponsored by my colleague from California . And Id like to commend
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

I have no other speakers. Madam Speaker. so I would like to close by saying that Mr. COSTA. our distinguished Congressman from California. expresses his deep concern and support for this legislation. and I certainly wanted to register that on his behalf. And certainly to Mr. LAMALFA and to
Date: 2013-06-12
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership. I commend the work of Mr. TURNER and others for strengthening protections for women in the military. but its not enough. The amendments from JACKIE SPEIER and other women leaders were not included. We need an open rule where all of these ideas can come to the floor to protect our men and women in the military. The status quo in the military is not a way to solve the problem of sexual abuse. Too often. it is the problem. Every year that I have been in Congress. the military brass has come to us and said that they will stop this abuse. Yet each year. it seems to be getting worse. Women are even afraid to report it. Theyre then afraid that theyll be punished in some way. Despite the widespread public and congressional outrage. some top military officers still seem to resist important. fundamental changes to a culture that has clearly failed in one of its single. most important missions: keeping its own people safe. And the casualties are mounting every day. For example. a U.S. military officer overseeing sexual assault prevention at Fort Hood in Texas is under investigation for his sexual assault of soldiers. The officer in charge of the Air Forces sexual abuse prevention program was recently arrested for groping women. We need to end the culture of tolerating the abuser and punishing the victims. We created a database for them to report in. but they wont report because they are afraid of retaliation. Too often theyve seen if youre a woman whos been raped and abused. then youre told to be quiet. If you report it. youll be punished. but if youre the abuser. you might end up in charge of the sexual abuse prevention program and get a promotion. The strongest military in the world has got to learn how to protect its own soldiers. Its got to keep them from being wounded by rape and sexual assault. We need to stop this. allow an open rule. and allow amendments on this important protection of our soldiers.