macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Chairman. trust between law enforcement and the public that they are sworn to protect is not just important but essential to safe. collaborative. and constitutional community policing. Trust promotes healthy relationships and interactions that are in the best interest of the both the public and the police. Unfortunately. the publics trust in law enforcement has eroded in many communities across the country. including my own. The Federal Government needs to make targeted investments to ensure that law enforcement has the tools to rebuild and strengthen that trust. which is the cornerstone of successful policing. That is why I am so proud to introduce this bipartisan amendment. along with my colleagues Congressman MURPHY and Congressman BLUMENAUER. to add $2 million to the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act programs. These programs provide a broad range of services. including crisis intervention training for State and local law enforcement agencies to identify and improve responses to people with mental illnesses and substance abuse issues. Crisis intervention training can help prevent injuries to officers. deescalate potentially dangerous situations. and alleviate harm to the person in crisis. Interactions between the mentally ill and law enforcement too often end in tragedy. Since the beginning of the year. 385 people have been shot and killed by police. and about a quarter of these individuals have been identified as mentally ill. The more training we can provide law enforcement to improve their skills to interact with the public. the more likely crises will be resolved peacefully. And the more nonviolent peaceful interactions police have with the public. the more we can strengthen trust between police and the public that they are sworn to protect. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. and I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Chairman. I want to thank my colleagues for working so diligently on this very important improvement to public safety and police training. and I encourage all Members to vote in favor of this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from New Mexico
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. on June 2. 2015. I was unavoidably detained and missed four votes. Had I been present. I would have voted "no" on rollcall No. 270. "yea" on rollcall No. 271. "yea" on rollcall No. 272. and "no" on rollcall No. 273.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. this amendment takes $9 million out of the DEAs $2 billion salaries and expense budget and redirects it toward deficit reduction. as well as underfunded State and local programs to help children who suffer through child abuse. domestic abuse. and sexual assault. This amendment has been scored by the CBO as reducing budget authority by $2 million and reducing outlays by $6 million in fiscal year 2016. In the face of overwhelming support for lessening restrictions on marijuana. the DEA still spends over $18 million a year on domestic marijuana eradication programs. This simply takes some of that money away because some States have legalized it. making some of these eradication programs no longer necessary. and it redirects the money-$2 million to lowering the deficit. $3 million to the Victims of Child Abuse Act. which supports justice and support for victims of child abuse. and $4 million to the Consolidated Youth Oriented program. which helps victims and the services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives. With that. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor Officer Gregg Benner of the Rio Rancho Police Department. who was killed in the line of duty on May 25. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer Benner as they mourn the loss of a husband. father. grandfather. and friend who was taken from them far too soon. Officer Benner dedicated his life to protecting his community and his country. From his career in the United States Air Force to his last 4 years serving as a member of the Rio Rancho Police Department. Officer Benner put his health and safety on the line to make us safer. The same was true last week. When most of us were settling down after a long Memorial Day weekend with family and friends. Officer Benner was doing his duty to protect the people of Rio Rancho. When he didnt return that evening. Officer Benner left behind a legacy of valor of service. The loss of any police officer is a painful reminder of the dangers that they face each and every day. While we are shaken by Officer Benners loss. we can take comfort in the memories that he left behind for all who knew him and the example that he set for all those in the community. Rio Rancho is a tightknit community. and while a tragedy such as this is unexpected and shocking. the response has brought out the best of its residents. who have displayed an outpouring of support and sympathy. My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Benners family. friends. fellow officers. and the entire Rio Rancho community. and I hope that they find peace in this most difficult time. Officer Benner. thank you for your service. and may you rest in peace.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: DAVID SCOTT (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

It is important because it is the CFTC that must determine if another nation. one of the eight top foreign nations. has an equivalency of a strong regulatory regime as does the United States. then certainly we can do business under their regime. but as long as we dont pass this legislation. the CFTC doesnt have that. Finally. on all the crossborder situations. we need a definition of what a U.S. person is. and we need to give some backbone to our CFTC Commission to say: Look. why should the United States have to treat a foreign entity in a manner and with the respect that that foreign nation does not treat our industry? Mr. Speaker. this country. the United States. is losing a tremendous amount of our prestige and our leadership on the world stage. and nowhere is that being pronounced more than in our financial system because for 3 years we have had this laid on the table. I urge a positive vote for this rule. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding me the time.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the gentlewomans motion to recommit because there are children out there who need to be saved. They are waiting to be saved. This motion provides additional funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children program. a national network of 61 coordinated law enforcement task forces investigating and prosecuting those who sexually exploit our most vulnerable constituents. our children. With the proliferation of the Internet and wireless technology. online child pornography has become an epidemic. And lets not forget that these are not just heinous images. They are crime scene photos. The ICAC needs resources to go after these criminals now. According to estimates. half of these arrests lead us to the door of a handson offender. and that is a child waiting to be rescued. Yet in one recent year. the ICAC only had the resources to investigate a mere 2 percent of all leads. Previous increases in Federal funding have directly resulted in thousands more arrests. contributing to many more thousands of children who are outright rescued or who will be spared contact with an abuser. Lets take this opportunity to help the ICAC rescue more children. Please. think about these precious babies being victimized. Lets rescue as many of them as possible. If you are a parent. God forbid it was your own child. I urge Members support for the motion to recommit. and I thank the gentlewoman for her commitment to making sure that we can rescue Americas victimized children.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Chair. I rise to offer an amendment to invest in transportation infrastructure for the 21st century. The transportation funding in this bill is woefully insufficient to meet our countrys infrastructure needs. The cuts to the TIGER program are particularly egregious. TIGER. formally known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery. is a competitive grant program that creates jobs by funding investments in transportation infrastructure. This bill cuts TIGER from the 2015 level of $500 million down to a mere $100 million in 2016. America needs new infrastructure for the 21st century. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the public infrastructure of the United States a grade of Dplus in 2013 and estimated that we will need to invest $3.6 trillion by 2020 in order to improve the conditions of our infrastructure. Indeed. TIGER needs to be expanded. not cut. The President requested $1.25 billion for TIGER in the coming fiscal year. as part of an expanded TIGER program that will create jobs. encourage innovation. and modernize transportation infrastructure for the 21st century. Earlier this year. I sent a letter to the Appropriations Committee urging support for the Presidents request. and 144 Members of Congress signed my letter. Our economy is still struggling to recover from the recession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. our Nations unemployment rate stands at 5.4 percent. Furthermore. unemployment among Hispanics is 6.9 percent. Among African Americans. it is 9.6 percent. and among teenagers. it is 17.1 percent. An expanded TIGER program will create meaningful employment building safe roads. bridges. and public transit systems in communities throughout the United States. My amendment increases TIGER funding to $1.25 billion in order to fully fund the Presidents request for this critical program. Madam Chair. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina .
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Well. you have accurately and appropriately identified the need for the program. based on those applications. Not only is it a very popular program. it is a program that creates jobs. and our local communities need this very much. and they are strong advocates for it. I would hope that my colleagues here in the Congress. on both sides of the aisle. who have benefitted from the TIGER program. would see the need and remove all obstacles. support this program. and let us move forward with getting the infrastructure repairs and the building that we need to do.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Chair. I rise to offer an amendment to restore some of the transportation funding that was cut drastically in this bill. This is my second of two amendments to increase funds for the innovative TIGER transportation grant program. This amendment increases fiscal year 2016 TIGER funding to $500 million. thereby restoring TIGER to the 2015 level. States. local governments. and transit agencies depend upon the TIGER program to finance projects to repair aging infrastructure and develop new highway and transit systems. A safe. efficient. modern. and accessible transportation system is vital for a growing economy. Madam Chair. we cannot afford to cut TIGER below the current funding level. and I am here this evening to urge my colleagues to vote for my amendment and invest in infrastructure for the 21st century. I recognize that a point of order has been raised on this issue. but I also recognize that what I am advocating is vital for this economy and for this country. I would hope that somehow we would be wise enough. creative enough. and caring enough to dispense with the rule. as it has been identified on my first amendment. and move forward in a very creative way to do what is necessary to help our failing infrastructure in this country. The stories about the failing bridges. the stories about the unsafe highways. the stories about the need for transit system improvements are stories that we hear. day in and day out. Given the information that has been made available to us about the needs for infrastructure repairs. I would hope that we would not simply treat this in such an ordinary fashion and apply the rule that basically says: Well. if I did not find the money to fund it. then somehow it cannot be in order. Certainly. this amount of money is not easy to locate. certainly. I do not have an answer to where this money would necessarily come from. but I would hope that my colleagues would take into consideration again the desperate need of our economy and our communities and not rule this out of order. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I ask that the amendment be considered as read. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman?
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise tonight in support of the people who make it possible for us to be here. Of course. I speak of those persons who go to distant places. those persons who serve us in our military who dont always return the same way they left. I rise tonight because we have had a successful program. The HUD VASH program has been successful. and it has contributed to the decline in homelessness among those persons who make it possible for us to be here. who make real the great and noble American ideals: liberty and justice for all. government of the people. by the people. for the people. Mr. Chairman. homelessness has declined 33 percent among our veteran population since 2010. and this is because the President made it a priority. President Obama indicated that he would reduce homelessness among veterans. and he had 2015 as a targeted date. I am proud to say that in my city of Houston. Texas. our mayor. Annise Parker. had an event just recently with three HUD Secretaries. and it was announced at that event that in Houston. Texas. the resources were available to accommodate a veteran in need of a place to call home. Tonight. Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment that would accord $75 million to the HUD VASH program. This $75 million would be used to make sure that what we have done we will not only continue to do. but we can do even better. I believe that the people who have served us and who find themselves now living on the streets of life should have a better quality of life. For this reason. I will promote this amendment tonight. understanding that a point of order has been made. but also understanding that it is necessary for us to continue to remind ourselves that we have people who are willing to make the sacrifice and that we should make sacrifices for them.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I thank the chairman and I thank the Congress of the United States of America because Congress has appropriated money for these VASH vouchers. this program. I have always tried to get more because I think our veterans deserve as much as we can give them. but I am appreciative for what Congress has done. and I am appreciative for what the chairman has done. So tonight I will withdraw my amendment. Mr. Chairman. but I do so with the understanding that as we move forward. knowing that we have done a great job. the President has done well. that the cities and municipalities have worked well with the President. this has been an integrated system. holistic approach to ending homelessness among our veterans. but I still believe that we cannot allow ourselves to relax. We must never assume that we have done enough for those who are willing to do all for us. With that. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered as read. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. let me please start by acknowledging the Honorable MAXINE WATERS. What I present tonight is an amendment that she actually authored. and I would like to present it. In so doing. I want to remind us that this amendment deals with two programs that are near and dear to my heart. the affordable housing trust fund and the HOME program. These programs are near and dear to my heart because the greatness of a nation will not be measured by how we treat people who live in the suites of life. how we treat the well off. the well heeled. and the well to do. The greatness of a nation is often measured by how we treat people who live in the streets of life. those who are too often among the least. the last. and the lost. This amendment seeks to provide aid and comfort for those who. but for the grace of God. could be you or me. but those who find themselves living in the streets of life. This amendment. in dealing with the affordable housing trust fund. will restore it. The current bill would actually eliminate the affordable housing trust fund. This amendment provides some degree of aid and comfort for those who are living at 30 percent of the area median income. wherever they happen to live. In Ms. MAXINE WATERS district. this would mean an annual income of $20.200 for a family of four. I would dare say that there are few among us who would dare attempt to live off of $20.200 as an individual. This helps a family of four with $20.200. This is what the affordable housing trust fund does. It helps people who are extremely low of income. My hope is that we will be able to prevent this elimination of the affordable housing trust fund. and this amendment does it. This amendment also will help those who can benefit from the HOME program. The HOME program can serve a family of four that earns up to $53.900 per year. This program is a partnership. if you will. between State. municipal. and Federal Government. It has been a program that has been of great benefit across the length and breadth of this country. There is not a State in the country. I would dare say. that has not benefited from the HOME program. It is my hope that we can meet the Presidents request for the HOME program. Right now. it is about $293 million short of the Presidents request. This amendment would add that $293 million that the President has requested. I started by indicating that these are two programs that are near and dear to me. Mr. Chairman. I believe that Ruth Meltzer was right when she indicated that some measure their lives by days and years. others by heartthrobs. passions. and tears. but the surest measure under Gods sun is what for others in your lifetime have you done. These programs afford us an opportunity to do for others. to be a blessing to those that have not been as blessed as we. My hope is that we will find a way to salvage both of these programs. restore the HOME program to what the President has requested. and prevent the affordable housing trust fund from finding its way to the ash heap of history. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. on the point of order. understanding the rules. I still would beseech us. Mr. Chairman. to give some consideration to the salvation of these programs. Perhaps I will be able to work with the chairman and in some way help those who are not in a position to help themselves. The Acting CHAIR. The Chair is prepared to rule. The gentleman from Florida makes a point of order that the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas violates section 3(d)(3) of House Resolution 5. Section 3(d)(3) establishes a point of order against an amendment proposing a net increase in budget authority in the pending bill. As persuasively asserted by the gentleman from Florida. the amendment proposes a net increase in budget authority in the bill. Therefore. the point of order is sustained. The amendment is not in order. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will read.
Date: 2015-06-04
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. imagine that your loved one was diagnosed with terminal leukemia on January 1. They will undergo chemotherapy. need daily medical care and attention. and be unable to work. Without any income. they apply for Social Security disability insurance benefits and are quickly approved. However. due to an archaic. bureaucratic law. your loved one will have to wait 5 months before receiving any benefits. If you were diagnosed with a terminal illness on the first week of the new year. you wouldnt receive disability benefits until this week. the 21st week of the year. Mr. Speaker. I wish this was just a hypothetical example. but this happened to an Albuquerque resident and my friend. Jeremy Sanchez. who had to wait months before receiving the benefits that he earned. after being diagnosed with leukemia. That is why I. along with my colleague Congressman ISRAEL. am introducing the SanchezYoung Social Security Disability Insurance for the Terminally Ill Act. which would repeal the 5month waiting period for the terminally ill and ensure that SSDI protects the most vulnerable recipients when they need it most. I urge my colleagues to support this sensible bill.
Date: 2015-06-04
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I rise to offer an amendment that removes the exemption that the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles currently has from the requirement to have a resident of public housing or Section 8 on its governing board. I am offering this amendment because I have learned that HACoLA is not in compliance with requirements outlined in this exemption. which has directly resulted in a lack of meaningful engagement by residents of the housing authority on important policy issues affecting the effectiveness of the programs that it administers. In 1998. Congress passed a law requiring that the governing body of a public housing authority must include at least one member who is directly assisted by the housing authority. This provision was an important recognition of the need for the perspective and participation of tenants in the governance of public housing authorities. It is as simple as that. Mr. Chairman. I ask for an "aye" vote. and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California .
Date: 2015-06-04
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor Officer Gregg Benner of the Rio Rancho Police Department. who was killed in the line of duty on March 25. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer Benner as they mourn the loss of a husband. a father. grandfather. and friend who was taken from them far too soon. Officer Benner dedicated his life to protecting his community and his country. From his career in the Air Force to the Rio Rancho Police Department. Officer Benner put his health and safety on the line to make us safer. and he leaves behind a legacy of valor and service. The loss of any police officer is a painful reminder of the dangers they face. While we are shaken by Officer Benners loss. we can take comfort in the memories he has left behind for all those who knew him and the example that he set. While a tragedy such as this is unexpected and shocking. the response has brought out the best of the residents of Rio Rancho who have displayed an outpouring of support and sympathy. My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Benners family. fellow officers. and the entire Rio Rancho community. I hope they find peace in the most difficult time. Officer Benner. may God bless you. and may you rest in peace.