macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1984-03-14
Speaker: DS LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. very recently. a wire service story reporting on the Consumer Price Index began with this brief paragraph: I quote now-"Soaring food prices. caused mostly by unusually harsh weather. boosted consumer prices 1.6 percent in January. the biggest increase in 9 months. the Government said Friday." That ends the quotation. The story noted accurately that the increase it reported was due primarily to a combination of weather conditionsranging from last summers drought to the recent winter freeze. The January food increase was not due to farm price supports or to subsidies. It was not due to any of those things we get accustomed to hearing about from people who criticize farm programs. It was due. as I said. to unusual and temporary weather conditions. What I am afraid of. however. is that some Americans may tune out after the first few words of the wire service storythe words about "soaring food prices." Some people may forget the reason for that 1month bulge. And if that happens. they may come to some very badly mistaken conclusions about American agriculture. This Is why I am here on the floor today. Later this month. the country will be observing National Agriculture Day. And I want to remind the House and all Americans that farmers are doing a magnificent job of feeding this country at prices that have generally H 18s" been aore Ue fair to Weo aeage consumer. Mr. Speaker. I. intend to m*ke a series of short speeches on this uAblect for the information of my colleague in the House and. hopefully. for the attedtlon of many other Americans. Today I want to cite Just a douple of facts that deserve our attention. The Agriculture Department reports that in 1983. the retail cost of food in a typical consumer market basket went up slightly. but the farm value of that market basket went down by 2 percent. The Departments records show that the farmers return for the market basket last year was down to the lowest level since 1980. On top of that. the farmers share of the consumer food dollar last year was down to the lowest level in at least 20 years. Those are just a few of the facts I think We should keep in mind about the farmer and our food prices. I hope we can look at more of those facts later.
Date: 1984-03-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. and I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman. before we proceed any further on this amendment. I think it might be well to recite a little history. And the gentleman. my colleague from Ohio. has made a preface that we should have a broad. general type of amendment. We did. that is why I need to explain. I think it should be made explicitly clear that we were forced into this situation. It is of national significance. but: First. there was a broad economic impact disaster loan. It did not work all that well. and there was even some accusation that it was misused. Therefore. the intent was to narrow the scope of that amendment. Hence a group. including myself. decided that we needed to define narrowly the area that we wanted to have an economic disaster applied. Now. the gentleman from Ohio says that this is for a narrow group of a few people. Not so. Mr. Chairman. We do not manufacture what we sell in the retail establishments on the border. Those items are manufactured in Ohio. in Michigan. in Illinois. in New York. in Massachusetts. in New Jersey. in Delaware. So your unemployment in many parts of Ohio is linked to whether you sell or do not sell the item in McAllen. Tex. We do not manufacture anything of what we sell there. Then we add to that an extension of our country. Unfortunately. the river. the Rio Orande or the Canadian border. that is not the end of the market. The market extends on either side of the border. And in our situation on the Mexican border the market extends the breadth and length of Mexico. So it is important to us to have stability in Mexico. yes. It Is important for us to have a strong peso. But sihould it falter for no cause of our own. It impacts on our retailer. on our wholesaler who sells items manufactured away from the border. the tractors. the cars. the retail items. the medical supplies. clothing. none of that Is manufactured in our area. Now. I wanted to make something else very clear: We narrowed it down for one reason. so that you would not have the broad economic impact. economic distress for everyone who felt that he was economically distressed. We now have a situation in our area. we had the general recession. then we had the peso devaluation. then we had a freeze. There is a New York Times article "Bad Goes to Worse for the Farm Workers in the Rio Grande Valley." If you would permit me to cite: The official unemployment figure for Starr County in January was 50.6 percent. Hidalgo County was a little better. 25 percent unemployed. Cameron County. 16 percent. But if farmworkers were included. it would be 30 percent. Now I want to make this very. very clear. we defined it so it would not be used except in narrow circumstances. That we tied to the peso in the contignous country does not mean that it is not of national significance. We do that all the time. I will tell you that we passed a jobs bill here recently. last year. we passed a Jobs bill. That jobs bill had 52 weeks of unemployment compensation. This was for our friends in the industrial North.
Date: 1984-03-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

That is what I am getting at. That is what I am getting at. That is what I am getting at.
Date: 1984-03-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

We passed this jobs bill. all the discussion here was for steel. shoes. clothing. cars. it was for our friends in the Northeast. We went along.
Date: 1984-03-14
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for his kindness and generosity. And I know of no special virtue by which to pass legislation except to speak the truth always. And this is what I try to do. I would hope that the distinguished gentleman would consider withurawing his amendment because it is not right. It is not fair. The gentleman really does damage to what we could do together for people in other areas. people in need. I think that the gentleman. as conscientious and as objective as he is. I think. has taken the wrong step in this case because it is not selective. it is not parochial. Everything that we are trying to keep in place is manufactured some other place. We are only trying to keep the small businessman. the few jobs. working in that area and having the jobs in the gentlemans area and throughout the Northeast where the items are manufactured.
Date: 1984-03-20
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the Senate bill to extend the expiration date of the Defense Production Act of 1950. with a Senate amendment to the House amendment thereto. disagree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment. and request a conference with the Senate thereon.
Date: 1984-03-21
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 5174. One of the important aspects of this bill is the inclusion of amendments relating to grain storage facility bankruptcy. I appreciate greatly the cooperation of the distinguished chairman of the Jidiciary Committee. Mr. RODINO. in agreeing to include these amendments in the bankruptcy bill. As you know. this matter has been of great concern to the Committee on Agriculture and to the farm community. Early last year I appointed an ad hoc subcommittee on grain elevator bankruptcy to conduct oversight hearings and make recommendations concerning the problems caused by the financial failuire of grain warehouses. The ad hoc subcommittee was chaired by DAN GLICKMAN who also is a member of the Judiciary Committee and consisted of the following members of the Agriculture Committee:
Date: 1984-03-21
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gent leman for yielding. I have received a let ter from a U.S. district judge in Texas stating that by reason of tire Marathon case that some bankruptcy cases. about 5 percent of them. can only be decided by a lifetenured article 3 judge. I understand also that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts filed a report which substantiates that figure. Is t hat a correct statement?
Date: 1984-03-22
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr BHYANT. Mr. Swia. Mr ArKitNIAN. Mi HAWKINS. Mr MAV t R1929 ansla.rs Mr Wi. Mr -miin of Plorlda. Mr Mounixon of oncticut. Mr MOAZRH. Mr KATEUmmmrIo. Mr Woamiy. Mrs. BcUms. so. Mr MAcKAY I Hk 6017 Mr (AnA. Mr. PontrrArA. Mr tinA. lbS. Mr HOVER Mr LHNAn of Plorida.
Date: 1984-03-27
Speaker: NICK TES (democrat)
Chamber: S

The Santor ntioned 57 percent. Is that 57 pecit of the product ion or 57 pi rent of Ihe reserves?
Date: 1984-03-28
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the bill providing for an improved program for wheat. with Senate amendments thereto. disagree to the Senate amendments. and request a conference with the Senate thereon.
Date: 1984-03-28
Speaker: RALPH M. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 5154. the NASA fiscal year 1985 authorization bill. I want to congratulate the leadership of the Committee on Science and Technology for bringing such a good bill to us today. In this. of course. I include Chairman FUQUA and his colleagues. Mr. WINN. Mr.
Date: 1984-04-02
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the distinguished chairman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker. I would like briefly to discuss a matter of Jurisdictional Interest to the Committee on Agriculture relating to H.R. 4707. This bill has been referred jointly to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. The bill contains socalled releasesufficiency language which relates to the management of areas in the national forests with which the bill is concerned which are not designated as wilderness. In order to expedite consideration of this bill. I do not object to its being taken up on the floor of the House without consideration by the Committee on Agriculture. I take this position without in any respect waiving Jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture with regard to the releasesufficiency issues as addressed in this bill or in similar bills. If the provisions of H.R. 4707 relating to matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture should become an issue with the Senatein the event that the bill passes the HouseI intend to request that the Committee on Agriculture be represented in any conference which may be held. I appreciate this opportunity to make clear the jurisdictional interest of my committee in the releasesufficlency issues that are present in this bill and in most bills designating wilderness areas in the national forests.
Date: 1984-04-02
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the managers have until midnight tonight to file a conference report on the bill to provide for an improved program for wheat. that it may be in order to consider the conference report on Tuesday. April 3. 1984. or any day thereafter. and to waive all points of order against the conference report and its consideration. except under clause 4. rule XXVIII. and that the conference report be considered as read when it Is called up for consideration.
Date: 1984-04-02
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it has been cleared. We are in agreement. and it has been cleared with both my ranking minority member. the gentleman from Illinois . and the minority leader. the gentleman from Illinois .
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished majority whip and vice chairman of the committee. the gentleman from Washington .
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Cotton. Rice. and Sugar. the gentleman from Louisiana .
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself 2 minutes to reply to the preceding speaker . First. this legislation does not deal with the domestic dairy program or the cheese giveaway. Second. the gentlemans complaint is raised about an unlegislatable issue which is the human element. We can legislate until the end of time and there will be the person who cheats. the person who lies. the person who does not abide by the law. Third. we did have an attempt last year in the dairy compromise legislation to try and reduce production. It is working. We are reducing production. The farmers. themselves. are paying into a fund used to pay for the reduction. So it is not like nothing has been done. We are working on it. Do not confuse the issue. this bill does not relate to any of the items the gentleman
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Yes. we will be happy to. whenever we have legislative hearings in that area we will be very happy to listen to the gentleman and work with him to the extent possible. Mr. Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa .
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan . a very valued Member of the House relating to agriculture.
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. let me inform the House the Senate has already adopted this conference last night on a voice vote. Should we not adopt it. we would have to start all over again with the House. with the Senate. Mr. Speaker. this bill includes wheat. corn. feed grains. cotton. rice. agricultural credit. agricultural exports. export credit. and foreign donations. it has consumer protection. stability for the consumer. hopefully stability for the farmer. I agree with everything that has been said pro and con here this afternoon. My only caveat is that this is the best we could do. This is the only thing we had the votes for. If you do not have the votes. you are not going to get what you want. This is the final version. This is the final vote. We did what we could. We brought you what was possiblewithin the art of the possible. I think at least that should merit your support.
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: BE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report on H.R. 4072 Justagreed to.
Date: 1984-04-03
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the reauthorization of bilingual education. Como se sentiria si fuera ustbd un joven en este pals quien queria aprender. pero a~in no podia comunicarse bien en ingles? How would you feel if you were a youngster in this country who wanted to learn. but you could not yet comnmunicate well in English? You would probably feel pretty frustrated. Over 3.6 million children in this Nation are limited in their English proficiency. This covers a range of youngsters whose native language is one other than English to individuals who are American Indians or Alaskan natives or in an environment where a language other than English has a significant impact on the level of English proficiency. According to data from the Department of Education. twothirds of limited English proficient children receive no special language assistancenothing. Therefore. it should not come as a surprise that these children have a high dropout rate and that their educational attainment rate continues to plunge. When considering the recent national reports on the condition of Amercan education. consider this: Limited English proficient children have been found to be one of the most undereducated of all groups of American children. I urge you to give serious thought about what the real issue Is before us. This goes beyond any debate regarding the extent to which we want to become a bilingual societythe issue is whether or not we. as leaders in this country. are going to take the responsible action of seeing to it that all of our children are given a chance to be educated. The reauthorization of bilingual legislation would significantly Increase the amount of data on limited English proficient children. and provide additional information about the programs and about the outcomes of the same. Research and evaluation in this field needs to be strengthened to better identify and promote those programs and instructional practices which result in effective education. How can we expect these 3.6 million children of limited English proficiency to assimilate into our culture here in the United States. if they cannot communicate properly? Todays children are tomorrows adults. If the opportunity for improvement through education is withdrawn. what can we expect of these future adults? What chance will they have to participate normally in our society if they are handicapped by their lack of competence in English. Let us give these 3.6 million children a chancethis is an issue that affects us all.*
Date: 1984-04-04
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I would like to again. as others have done. thank the gentlemen from Louisiana . from Texas H 2342 CO
Date: 1984-04-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman. first let me say I think we should commend everyone who has worked on the budget process. all those who offered the alternative measures. whether they would be adopted or not. including the President. and I think that all should be commended. I feel confident that the system and the process is working. But what I would like to say briefly. my colleagues. is that in spite of the fact that agriculture is in very difficult circunistances. In spite of the fact that we have very difficult times in agriculture. I would like my colleagues to know that the Committee )n Agriculture has fulfilled its responsibility. The Jones proposal asked us to save $2.5 billion. The Latta proposal asked us for $2.9 billion. And I would like the House to know that your Committee on Agriculture in a responsible manner has fulfilled that requirement. And the legislation which you so graciously helped us pass a couple of days ago. gives a saving of $2.9 billion from the agriculture sector. I might say. from the farmers and the people in rural America. We have fulfilled that. We will be able to comply with the reconciliation. as much as I disagree with the process. But again I would tell you that in the process. as I find myself. responsibly speaking for the committee. the Jones proposal allows us a wee bit of leeway in what we had already saved. Therefore. I would recommend and urge that the Jones proposal be adopted in order that we might have. in the agricultural sector. a little bit of play. inasmuch as we have fulfilled that requirement which was imposed on us.
Date: 1984-04-05
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a result of an illness in my family. I was forced to miss rolleall votes Nos. 62. 63. and 64 on Tuesday. April 3. 1984. If present and voting I would have voted "yea" on rollcall No. 62. the conference report on H.R. 4072. Wheat Improvement Act of 1983. I would have voted "yea" on rollcall No. 63. H.R. 4707. Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984. Finally. I would have voted "yea" on rolleall No. 64. H.R. 5026. Truth in Lending Act amendments.
Date: 1984-04-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I call up the conference report on the Senate bill to extend the expiration date of the Defense Production Act of 1950.
Date: 1984-04-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I want to urge strongly that Members vote "aye" on the conference report on S. 1852. the Defense Production Act Amendments of 1984. The conference agreement represents a reasonable and workable accommodation by the conferees on two very different approaches to the use of the title III financial incentives. The agreement addresses the concerns of each body. and provides a mechanism which will permit DPA title III programs to go forward. The Senates concern was that under existing DPA provisions. financial assistance for industrial capacity expansion projects could be providcd without adequate opportunity for congressional oversight and review. The Houses concern with the Senate amendment was that we could find ourselves bogged down in detailed. microlevel management of these projects. no matter how small. The conference agreement establishes a procedural mechanism for title III programs to be funded through the appropriations process unless a programs cost would exceed a "threshold" amount. In that case. specific. advance authorization will be required. By including certain accountability requirements throughout the process. the agreement makes adequate provision for congressional review of the merits of each program before any funds are obligated. The conference agreement also extends the authorities of the DPA to September 30. 1986. As Members know. those authorities expired on March 30. This is an importance statute. Mr. Speaker. and it is vital that its authorities be reinstated. The Senate has already approved the conference report. and I urge my colleagues in the House to support the conference report so these important programs can proceed. At this point. I would like to commend the conferees. but in particular the subcommittee chairman. Mr. LAFALCE. his ranking minority member. Mr. SHUMWAY. and all of the conferee members of the subcommittee on the House side worked very diligently on this. They effectuated a compromise. It has been a long time in coming. I think we can all say "Amen" that the end has come and be grateful to the Members who worked so diligently on it
Date: 1984-04-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York . the chairman of the subcommittee.
Date: 1984-04-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota . a very distinguished member of the subcommittee. and. as has been stated. one who has made very great contributions in this process.
Date: 1984-04-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker. I move the previous question on the conference report. The previous question was ordered. The conference report was agreed to. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Date: 1984-04-11
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to introduce today a joint resolution that would proclaim July 1984 as National Ice Cream Month and July 15. 1984. as National Ice Cream Day. The resolution would honor an industry that produces a product enjoyed by many millions of people in the United States. Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food of which over 887 million gallons were consumed in the United States in 1983. Apart from the reputation ice cream enjoys as a dessert and snack food. the production and distribution of this product contributes substantially to the economic wellbeing of the dairy industry and provides jobs to thousands of other people. According to recent statistics. the ice cream H 2560 coN industry makes use of nearly 10 percent of the milk produced by dairy farmers in the United States and the sales of ice cream now total approximately $3.5 million annually. I urge the Members to join me in cosponsoring this resolution so that it may be considered in the House at an early date.