macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1995-11-17
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to the rule and the budget reconciliation and the conference report. Today we are considering a bill with all of the wrong priorities. It includes cuts in education. investment in our future. deep cuts in programs for seniors. especially Medicare. The Republican majority cuts $270 billion in Medicare. while enacting a $245 billion tax cut. We can balance the budget and make Medicare solvent without deep cuts in senior citizen health care and without these tax breaks. The Republicans $270 billion cut is three times larger than what the Medicare trustees requested. In act. there is a $36 billion hole in this budget that is a line item that just says failsafe. That is the amount that will be cut from hospitals and providers if these other reforms do not work. If the Republicans left out their tax cuts. they would not need the budget gimmicks like this fallsafe to make their numbers up. We need to oppose the rule. the conference committee report and let us balance the budget. whether it is in 7 years or not. witho ut cuts in Medicare. and without cuts in taxes.
Date: 1995-11-17
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to this extreme reconciliation budget. Like my colleague. the gentleman from Oklahoma. I would like to have a balanced budget in 7 years. but we need to talk about it without the $245 billion tax cut. and without the extreme cuts to Medicare and education. The Republican budget has its investment strategy backwards. It pushes tax cuts more than it pushes the balanced budget effort. It sets priorities wrong. We need to support a balanced budget. but not to the extent of the cuts in education. In the Republican budget. and my chairman of the committee was right. we are only cutting student loans $4.9 billion over the next 7 years. That is too much. We need to not take away from our future. Education is our future. If we cut education funding. then we are taking away the future of our Nation.
Date: 1995-11-17
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong opposition of the Republicans Balanced Budget Act for fiscal year 1996. The Republican budget is a noncaring budget. it has no compassion for the American people and is one that the American people cannot be proud of. It not only balances the budgeton the back of the disenfranchised. the measure is nonresponsive to the housing. health. education. environment. and employment training needs of the American people. The Republicans budget reconciliation holds our elderly hostage to their compromised health care condition and economic status. we need a budget that treats the elderly with the dignity and respect that they not only deservebut have earned. We need -adequate funding that provides for the older Americans programs including essential nutrition programs. lowincome homeenergy assistance. and assisted housing. And of course we must ensure that Medicare is preserved. The lives of more than 2 million Medicare seniors in Texas would be dramatically impacted. and by the year 2002 each Medicare senior in Texas would be asked to. pay an additional $1.122 outofpocket expenses. Each would be forced to pay $4.000 more for fiscal years 1.996 through 2002 to make up for the cuts. We want the future to be free but not on the backs of seniors and those most vulnerable. The Republicans budget proposal which forces ourelderly to choose between food and heat. does not improve their quality of life. We need a budget that is kind to our Nations chil:dren.including those yet to be born. And one that provides adequate funding for �healthy start. child care. and Head Start.- Our children are our future. .They have placed their future .in ourhands. we cannot sacrifce the trust In addition. we need a budget that strengthens support for higher education. student aid. trio. education for the disadvantaged. school reform. biomedical research. and community infrastructure. I have heard the voice of the American people and they want us to respond with a sound budget that is fair. responsible. and overturns the Republicans assault on our Nations most vulnerable citizens--the children. the elderly. the veterans. and hardworking families.
Date: 1995-11-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased that the National Highway System is finally being approved. This bill will create for America in the 21st century what the interstate system has done for America In the 20th century. As a Texan sitting on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am particularly supportive of this legislation because it recognizes the importance of Interstate 35 as a highpriority corridor. 135 is the only interstate in our Nation that connects Canada. Mexico. and the United States. 135 is particularly vital to my home of Dallas and the entire State of Texas because it serves as our main corridor of trade with Mexico. With the passage of the North American FreeTrade Agreement (NAFTA] in 1993. trade with Mexico is expected to double by the end of the century and quadruple between the United States and Mexico within the next 25 years. The responsibility of Congress did not end with that historic vote. Passage of the NHS is a continuation of developing an infrastructure that maximizes the benefits of this agreement. The NHS represents some of our Nations most heavily traveled byways. containing 40 percent of total vehicle travel and 75 percent of heavy truck travel. More importantly to anyone who travels our roads. the NHS means safety for travelers. Improvement of shoulders. controlled access. and divided lanes will help reduce accidents and fatalities. However. while the focus of this legislation is to designate the NHS. it also has many provisions with which I do not agree. Unfortunately. this bill would repeal the Federal speed limit and allow States to have no speed limit at all if they wished. It would effectively repeal the motorcycle helmet requirement for individuals under the age of 18. I believe that these provisions seriously threaten our Nations highway safety. I support this bill simply because it will bring the State of Texas approximately $455.792.000 and identifies 13.389 miles which will be the top priority miles for America as we move into the next century.
Date: 1995-11-18
Speaker: WADE PEEL (democrat)
Chamber: S

Belle Fourche School District 91. Belle Fourche. SD. DEAR MR. PEHL: I am certainly pleased to lend my support to the proposed acquisition of the Air Force Detachment 21 site in Belle Fourche by the Belle Fourche School District. The potential for public good is remarkable. Not only will it address certain critical facility needs of the .school district. it will provide badly needed moderate income housing for the Belle Fourche community. I am especially pleased with the cooperative spirit that has been evident in this project between the various local governments. it is this type of cooperation that will provide innovative solutions to many community challenges. You and the entire board are to be commended for your creativity in this matter. Please be assured that you have my wholehearted support in this undertaking. If I may be of further assistance. please do not hesitate to contact my office. Sincerely.
Date: 1995-11-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the leader in the Senate is named DOLE. The majority is Republican. Do not come to me telling me that the Democrats are holding it up.
Date: 1995-11-29
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I was not planning to follow the other speaker. and I appreciate the changes that my Republican colleagues have made in the education funding. because they have come a long way. He is right. There have been some funding cuts restored. but the House Republicans do not deserve the credit. The Senate Democrats and Republicans deserve the credit for insisting that House Republicans not decimate education funding. We have an opportunity over the next few weeks to work bipartisanly on a balanced budget bill. We have a responsibility to make sure the values and the priorities of the American people are maintained and that we balance the budget while protecting education. and Medicare. the environment. and veterans. Our priorities should be. No. 1. to protect Medicare and Medicaid. We must maintain the high quality of health care we currently enjoy. No. 2. protect students and children. We must maintain current levels of education funding so that students. including those from Aldine High School in my congressional district who are here today from the Closeup program get the education they need to succeed in the 21st century. It is our obligation to make sure that those students have the opportunity to obtain a student loan or Pell grants. They are the future of our country and have a responsibility to make sure they are prepared. Finally. we need to protect tax fairness in the tax system. We do not need to punish lowincome Americans by increasing their taxes. I hope we will give serious consideration to a bipartisan effort to balance the budget. The time has come to get our fiscal house in order while maintaining the values and priorities most important to the American people.
Date: 1995-11-29
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague from Rhode Island with whom I enjoy serving on our committee. Mr. Speaker. I will just sum up what he said and what the concern a lot of us have is that balancing the budget requires tough choices. but we should not let the majority balance the budget on education. The proposed budget cuts make only a tiny part in the size of the deficit. Yet they have a tremendous devastating impact on the future of Americas children. I yield to the gentlewoman from California . We serve together on the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities and we actually sit together and have gotten to know each other over the last 3 years serving on that committee.
Date: 1995-11-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Let me express my appreciation for the sponorship of this hour. I will not dwell on the history of Texas because we 911 know it. But I want to dwell on the present. We have encouraged our children and our grandchildren that this democracy is worth dying for. We have said that this is our country. and we are going to fight for this country. that this is the greatest country in the world. But they do not understand that. when you follow the rules. get education and training. that the opportunities are different for you.
Date: 1995-11-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I believe strongly that I have represented the district that I was elected in as well or better than any previous elected official. I have answered mail. I have never referred to my constituents as "you people." I have been responsive. I have not just sent form letters. I have researched the issues. And I try very hard to come before them to listen. I have learned a lot by listening.
Date: 1995-11-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Yes. the representation from my area and for me meant seeing my elected official once every couple of years at some of the churches or buying a ticket or a table to a church or the NAACP banquet. That was my representation.
Date: 1995-11-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

When I look out for corporate opportunities. for research and development. rarely are those large businesses owned by people that look like me. But I believe strongly that. when we have a strong business community and lots of research to look out for the future. that it is good for all of us. But all of us then must have some opportunity in it. We will fight the wars. We will help to do things. But when we are treated as invisibles or unwanteds. then it does not encourage my children or my grandchildren to go to college. to go to training. to be well equipped. because they see parents are having a struggle after they have done it. They do not know whether there will be an opportunity. There is no understanding in my community why the district that I represent is being attacked. Because. you see. it is less than. 50 percent AfricanAmerican. and we have districts in Texas that are 88 and 90 percent Anglo. but they are constitutional. I do not understand that. Are they unconstitutional because it happens to be a few more that the incumbents allowed me to put in a district. because our efforts in Texas were to preserve the incumbents?
Date: 1995-12-05
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to voice some concams with H.R. 2684. the Senior Citizens Right to Work Act. Although I will support the bill on final passage. I am concerned about the effect that some of the more obscure provisions in the legislation may have on the rights of senior citizens. Included in this bill are provisions which remove the Social Security Administration from the process of payment of attorneys fees. Currently. the Social Security Administration [SSAJ approves the fees that an attomey may charge to represent a person in administrative proceedings. usually related to a denial of disability benefits. When the applicant is successful. SSA withholds the lesser of $4.000 or 25 percent of the benefits to pay the attorney. H.R. 2684 would change the law such that SSA would no longer be involved in the process and attomeys could negotiate fees up to a $4.000 limit. This portion of H.R. 2684. while seeming sublime on the surface. may result in attorneys choosing to stop representing disabled individuals in their administrative proceedings. Since the fee would no longer be withheld. attomeys are fearful that they may not be paid for the service they provide. and thus may choose to avoid this type of representation. While I will support the legislation. I regret that the leadership has chosen to bring this legislation to the floor in such a fashion so as to preclude amendments. and I hope to work with the Senate and the White House conceming the availability of competent representation for Social Security claimants.
Date: 1995-12-06
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the President has made a fair compromise offer to our appropriations woes. President Clinton has offered to sign all of the outstanding appropriations bills if we agree to restore $6.8 billion from the $222 billion extreme cuts in those spending bills. The administration wants to restore funding for education. for veterans. and for environmental efforts. Mr. Speaker. this is a hopeful sign. The administration has signaled their effort to compromise and get the issues of the remaining appropriations bills dealt with so the taxpayers do not have to spend another $850 million to give our Federal employees a paid vacation. It is time to compromise. The American people have signaled they believe these Republican appropriations bills cut too much. too fast. They want to restore funding for education. veterans. housing. and environmental programs. and then get about the business of setting the priorities for a balanced budget. With the bipartisan success we saw in the lobby reform bill. the increase in Social Security earnings limits yesterday. and the gift ban last week. I believe we can work together for the good of the American people and pass some commonsense appropriations bills that fund these important programs and cut where needed.
Date: 1995-12-06
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for yielding time to me and for allowing me to rise in support of not only the rule but the bill. The question before our House today is a very basic one. Will we act in an affirmative manner and support the continued existence of the U.S.-flag merchant marine by passing H.R. 1350. the Maritime Security Act of 1995. I for one strongly urge this needed measure because I believe that the continued existence of our U.S.-flag merchant fleet is of utmost importance to our Nation. both in our economic terms and our defense terms. The Port of Houston is in my congressional district and is the largest port for foreign tonnage. Throughout this last century. the Nations Chief Executives and Congress have recognized the American merchant marine as a national asset. When the prosperity of the American shipping industry was at a low ebb. there was a general recognition by the President and Con-. gress that it should not be allowed to be a wasted asset. Today our U.S.-flag merchant fleet is indeed at its lowest point. One can say that it is a fading asset. However. the enactment of H.R. 1350 will prevent it from becoming a wasted asset. one which we as a nation cannot afford to loose. As the health of our U.S. merchant marine steadily became less robust. this body in a bipartisan effort overwhelmingly enacted maritime revitalization legislation in the last several sessions. Unfortunately. the technical considerations in the Senate precluded passage in that body. It is therefore imperative now that we enact H.R. 1350 to provide the wherewithal to reverse the downward spiral in the Americanflag fleet itself. This bill and rule deserves our overwhelming support. Positive and pragmatic action is need to nourish and sustain the growth of our maritime assets. We cannot afford to have any more U.S.-flag vessels exit the American flag. If this legislation is not enacted by this body. be assured that many vessels will leave the Americanflag. Is that what we want? I hope not I believe not. I. for one. wholeheartediy support the rule and H.R. 1350 and urge all my colleagues to also support it.
Date: 1995-12-06
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I also place in the RECORD a letter from the United States Conference of Mayors opposing this. The CommerceJusticeState appropriations conference report cuts 12 percent from the administrations request. This report eliminates the successful CopsontheBeat Program and replaces it with a block grant to States. We do not know that this block grant will provide more police on our streets. it could be used for many other purposes. In my district in Houston. our Mayor Lanier and Police Chief Nuchia have used the CopsontheBeat to add 376 more police officers on the streets of Houston. It is a success and yet the Congress wants to kill itI hope President Clinton vetoes this bill because we need to keep these 376 police officers on our Houston streets--not have them lost in the bureaucracy.
Date: 1995-12-07
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am glad to hear my Republican colleagues defending Speaker GINGRICH today. You heard that right. They are defending the Speaker they elected earlier this year. But that is not what I am here to talk about. I am here to say I am proud that the President vetoed the Republican budget yesterday with the same pen Lyndon Baines Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. because he believes that the deep and devastating cuts in Medicare. education. and tax increases on working families is not in line with the priorities that Americans have set. Thank the Lord he vetoed that bill. The budget made devastating cuts in Medicare and Medicaid in order to finance a tax break. a tax break before we even balance the budget. It was unacceptable and I am proud the President did that. Now that the budget has been vetoed. let us do what my colleagues said. let us get about balancing the budget in a fair way. Democrats and Republicans alike agreed in a continuing resolution to balance the budget in a way that protects Medicare. education. the environment. and working Americans. Let us do that bipartisanly and we can have a balanced budget for all of America.
Date: 1995-12-13
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on Friday. legislation temporarily funding the Government expires. and hundreds of thousands of Government workers may be given another paid vacation. Last month this cost us $800 million. Speaker GINGRICH and House Republicans have decided they want to use the threat of a Government shutdown as a leverage in the ongoing budget battle. flatly dismissing the importance of keeping many of our crucial programs up and running. Let us make it absolutely clear the Republicans cannot force these meanspirited cuts on the American people by holding the Government shutdown over our heads. They have targeted such programs as education cuts that help children. the COPS Program to help my Houston community hire over 375 new police officers. and veterans programs. which will result in 600 fewer VA medical center beds. 203.000 fewer inpatient visits. and 430.000 fewer outpatient visits at VA medical centers. The American people do not want a Government shutdown. Let us extend this continuing resolution and finish the job we should have completed 2 months ago. Let us not hold another shutdown over our citizens heads to try to pass these bills.
Date: 1995-12-14
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the stage is set for another Government shutdown tomorrow night. That means that citizens will not be able to apply for Social Security or veterans benefits. We find ourselves in this situation because the congressional Republicans have not sent a continuing resolution to the President. They are manufacturing another crisis because the President will not cut Medicare and education the way the Republicans want him to. This poster was given to me by a constituent of mine. a small businessman in the Houston Heights area of Houston. that he is worried about what is happening up here. and obviously he is a fan of the Speaker when he says the rich get richer. we see the end of a great Nation in Godnewtzilla: What he is worried about is we are seeing the destruction of our country by cutting most seniors and the education for our children. and yet he wants to make sure that he can earn his living as a small business person in Houston. Mr. Speaker. this crisis is contrived. and it is taking place because the Republican leadership has not been able to get their own appropriation bills to the President.
Date: 1995-12-19
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. congratulations on being named man of the year. The Speaker has had an impact on our country. but has the Speakers impact been good? The poll that accompanies this article. "The Man of the Year" article. appears to demonstrate that the American people do not believe the impact has been good. "Which descriptions apply to the Speaker." asked the poll. Listen to this. Only 24 percent described the man of the year -as someone they could trust. Only 26 percent describe him as someone they would be proud to have as a leader in Congress. Even worse. 63 percent described the Speaker as too extreme in his views. The Speaker has had a impact. He has had an impact on the country. but I hope and pray that cutting Medicare. cutting education funding. and cutting crime fighting funding to finance a tax break for the wealthy is not the way to become Time magazines "Man of the Year." nor do I believe that shutting down the Government twice to win concessions from the President. concessions which include severe cuts in Medicare. Medicaid. education. and crime fighting. while simultaneously providing extreme tax breaks before we balance the budget. is the most upstanding way to become "Man of the Year."