macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-09-08
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. and I thank all of our colleagues who have debated this important issue this morning. I would like again to also thank the two Senators from Louisiana. Senators LANDRIEU and VITTER for their joint bipartisan statement where they say that Congress will have ample time to thoroughly investigate this event and that they plan. as many of us do. to play a major role in those important investigations. but they continue saying. please do not make the citizens of Louisiana a victim once again by allowing our immediate needs to be delayed by partisanship. Now. we have heard a number of ideas today brought forth. really for sweeping policy changes. They definitely should be considered. And perhaps many of those ideas will become law. But today what we need to do is what we are doing. We are getting the assistance and we are increasing it to those who are in desperate need. So. Mr. Speaker. I would urge my colleagues to support this rule that brings forth four pieces of assistance. legislation for assistance to those in desperate need. and would also urge. obviously. favorable consideration of the underlying pieces of legislation that we are authorizing being considered today.
Date: 2005-09-08
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I would like to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman NEY). Is it the gentlemans understanding that Congress should and will continue to assess and address ongoing problems with the National Flood Insurance Program?
Date: 2005-09-08
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. as the gentleman knows. this legislation will allow FEMA to provide muchneeded relief to the residents of th6 Gulf Coast as they rebuild their homes and their lives. as well it should. However. many residents in my district are still struggling to rebuild following Hurricane Isabel which struck Virginia in 2003. Some are still living in FEMA trailers and many have been shattered to learn that the flood insurance will not cover their losses. I have spoken to many misled policyholders who have had their claims mismanaged by the National Flood Insurance Program. I would like to work with the gentleman to see that my constituents are treated fairly and to fix the system so that victims of Katrina do not have the same problems that we have seen in my district and other districts across the country.
Date: 2005-09-08
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Ohio. and I look forward to continuing to work with him on issues related to the National Flood Insurance Program.
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise to praise the people of Texas who have gone to great lengths to assist those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In my Third District alone. there are shining examples of selflessness. sacrifice and service. The City of Allen schools have enrolled over 100 evacuees. Plano has enrolled over 500. And in Wylie. a volunteer in a shelter helped a 15yearold evacuee separated from his family find them in Houston. and then more volunteers drove him down there. In McKinney. volunteers turned an old WalMart into a shelter for 300 people. and within 48 hours they added showers. decorated play areas. created medical facilities. and even made Internet connections. One sign said it best. "Howdy. Welcome to Texas. yail." For these people who have volunteered their time. money and talents. God bless you and God bless America. It is people like these who make Texas and America great. I salute all of America.
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I move. to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and encouraging all Americans to observe that day.
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which. to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res.
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in very strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 240. This resolution expresses the solidarity of the House of Representatives with the people of the Gulf Coast whose lives have been lost. uprooted. and otherwise changed forever because of Hurricane Katrina. On August 29. Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane. It left almost the entire city of New Orleans under water and ravaged numerous other Gulf Coast communities. Hundreds of people were killed and millions forced to evacuate for an indefinite period of time. Katrina was one of the most destructive natural disasters that the United States has ever endured. The entire Nation has been. grieving for more than 2 weeks. President Bush proclaimed this Friday. September 16. to -be a national day of prayer and remembrance for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. On behalf of all Members. I commend the President for this proclamation and urge all Americans to keep the victims of this storm in their prayers. As a Floridian. I can particularly empathize with the people of the Gulf Coast. First. it is important to remember that before the hurricane gained power ahd hit Louisiana. Mississippi. and Alabama. Katrina - also struck south Florida as a Category 1 storm on August 25. killing 11 people. And last summer. in just over a onemonth period. three- devastating hurricanes. Charley. Frances and Ivan. destroyed neighborhoods. churches. businesses and communities throughout the State of Florida. These storms killed nearly 100 people and caused billions and billions of dollars in damage. Hurricane Katrina has proved to be even more costly. and that is why I know I speak for all Americans when I say that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the victims of this onceinalifetime storm. Mr. Speaker. the Committee on Government Reform. of which I am very proud to be a member. will hold its first oversight hearing on the Federal governments overall response to Katrina tomorrow morning. The committee. led by our very distinguished chairman. the gentleman from Virginia
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. regardless of what denomination one belongs to. we all know the power of prayer. and that is one reason why I am sure that my colleagues will join me in supporting the National Day of Prayer for Hurricane Katrina victims. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me this time. As the person who represents the area that Jessica Lunsford grew up in and knowing her family very. very well. all of America was focused on Jessica when she turned up missing. Then we found out that she was the victim of a predator. a very. very sick. depraved man. Jessica is no longer with us. and I commend the Members of Congress. including yourself. Mr. Speaker. with whom I have worked very closely. and certainly the gentleman from Wisconsin . the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. in putting together the Childrens Safety Act. No parent should worry when their child is at a playground whether or not a sexual predator is nearby. There were many loopholes in the various State laws in Jessicas case. The perpetrator came into Florida from Georgia. He registered at one point but then transferred his address. The probation officer never knew that he had a prior offense of violating children. Had that probation officer known that. he never would have allowed the offender anywhere near a school. � That is but one of the very excellent facets of this bill in addition to having the nationwide registration and availability on line so that parents. so that grandparents. so that anyone can go and find out who the offenders are in their neighborhood so that every family member can have a modicum of safety in knowing who is nearby. It also. as I mentioned. does allow for probation officers to know about a prior offense. Now. why is that important?. I firmly believe. Mr. Speaker. that Jessica Lunsford would b.e here today had the probation officer known that. Additionally. the bill also picks up on some language that I had in the Jessica Lunsford Act. and part of this bill is named after her. that provides for more frequent contacts. a mailing or random mailings to the sexual offenders so that they have to report. If the mailer is not returned. if they do not fill out the form and send it back. at that point police will be alerted to be on the lookout for them because they are not at their last known address. With all of the various facets of the bill. many Members who are concerned. who have lost children to these offenders. to these violators of our most innocent children. every single Member who put a bill in and those. who signed on as cosponsors realize the importance of protecting our streets. of protecting our families. of protecting our children from these lowlifes who prey on our most innocent young children. I certainly support the bill. I want to make sure that the rule is adopted so we can go on. pass this bill. send it over to the Senate. and. hopefully. they. too. will see the need. the absolute.imperative need that America ha in demanding that this bill pass so that our children will be protected.
Date: 2005-09-14
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise and applaud the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman SENSENBRENNER) for this reasonable approach to volunteers who are trying to help people. This is an amazing debate that is taking place today because. last week. we were concerned about people dying. getting help to them. providing all the assets we could provide to save lives. Now. think about the people in the construction industty who want to dogood. The people after 9/11. some of them were sued because they volunteered to go help prior to contracts being let. There were no government contracts being let. They wanted to volunteer. They might have provided an excavator. a grader. a backhoe. a dump truck. Let us say someone in New Orleans happened to own a boat. and.he wanted to go. help people. He went to pull somebody into his boat to save them. and they slipped. broke an arm. a total accident. Some trial lawyer says. hey. we can make you rich. Let us sue the guy who brought the boat. Somebody is out there trying to help people. There is a dirt road that needs grading. and the guy volunteers to go out there with his blade. regrade the road. somebody walks across it afterwards. slips. and some trial lawyer says. hey. we can make you a fortune. You just slipped on something somebody did.. and we will hold the contractor liable because they volunteered to do good. We have construction expertise in this country that is sorely needed during times of disaster. We cannot continue to allow a message to be sent to those volunteers. I became a general contractor in my early 20s. I have been in the business for over 35 years. There are many good people out there who work very hard. earn a good living. and they want to give a little back to their country and to the people who they have benefited from through volunteering in a time of disaster when they know they can do good. they can make things better. and they can save lives. The argument I heard today was quite the opposite. Last week. we had a hearing in Financial. Services talking about all the people who are living in football stadiums and warehouses. We have to get those people out of there. get them to some home to live in. some safe environment. Now. a person goes out there who owns a motor home. decides to haul a bunch of people from a stadium. somebody trips getting in their motor home and gets sued. Is that reasonable or fair? No. If there is negligence on the part of the individual who volunteered. hold them accountable. But the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman SENSENBRENNER) is not for holding anybody unaccountable for gross negligence or violating the law. But if you volunteer to help in a case like this where people are dying. all of a sudden trial lawyers are more important than the people we are trying to save during a disaster.
Date: 2005-09-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. it is a curiosity to see how our friends on the other side of the aisle have now discovered. it seems like they discovered the Mediterranean today when they say that independent commissions in their view. socalled independent commissions. are not political. It is not by chance. Mr. Speaker. that the first article of the United States Constitution created the Congress. article I created the Congress. Among the duties of the Congress. constitutional duties of the Congress. is the responsibility of oversight. When a socalled independent commission is created. we have to ask ourselves. who funds the independent commission? Congress. created by the first article of the Constitution with the duty of oversight. Who appoints. Mr. Speaker. the socalled independent commissions? Congress or if Congress authorizes the President. the President authorizes. The decision is ours. Ours is the duty under the Constitution to investigate. Ours is the duty to carry forthwith oversight. What we are doing today is trying to do our duty in creating a bipartisan committee of this House with the solemn obligation of investigating -this tragedy. this ongoing tragedy that is going on now in the gulf States. and to do so as soon as possible. I am proud of the fact that the House is bringing forth this measure today. proud to support it. and I ask all of my colleagues to do so as well.
Date: 2005-09-20
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Madam Speaker. I rise today to express my solidarity with the courageous women of Afghanistan. This past weekend. Afghani women once again made history as their country held their second round of free and fair elections to select a national parliament and provincial assemblies. Despite threats of retaliation and retribution. 580 women stood for election. These 580 women have risen up to be leaders of their land. in a country that just 4 years ago prohibited women from participating in national life. Just as significant. many men for the first time voted to support female candidates. While skeptics on the left and in the media said it could not be done. this is an unmistakable victory for forces of democracy in our battle .against tyranny and oppression. The Afghan election demonstrates that we have learned the lessons of history: if women are not allowed to participate in the decisionmaking process. if women are deprived of rights to run for elective office. and if women are barred from determining their own future. then those women will suffer oppression and human rights violations. September 20.. 2005 Afghani women no longer have to fear the terrible cruelty of their past -because they now control their own future. With our support. these women -will continue to fan the flame of democracy and build a brighter future.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8501 Philatelic Driye in Spring Hill. Florida. as the "Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer Post Office Building".
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3703. I introduced this bill to honor the life of fallen U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer. On July 25 this year. while fighting extremist forces in Afghanistan. Sergeant Schafer made the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation that he loved so dearly. I sincerely appreciate leaderships willingness to schedule this legislation for consideration today. I can only hope that with the enactment of H.R. 3703.- Michaels widow. parents. and -family will be comforted by this. small token on behalf of a Nation that is eternally grateful for Michaels service. Michael Schafer. a native of the beautiful -town of Spring Hill in my district. answered the call to service by enlisting in the Army in 1998. At the age of 25. Michael had already served tours of duty in Kosovo. Iraq. and Afghanistan. He became the team leader of the Chosen Company. 2nd Battalion. 503rd Regiment. 173rd Airborne Brigade: In addition to being an excellent soldier. he was a model citizen. a dutiful son. and a very caring husband. Tragically. enemy combatants ambushed Sergeant Schafer and his squad in Oruzgan. Afghanistan. on July 25. 2005. They fired shots at the American forces. One shot struck Sergeant Schafer. Although wounded. he still managed to alert the rest of his team to the imminent danger and ordered them to evacuate the area. However. another shot then killed him. The Army posthumously awarded Sergeant Schafer the Silver Star and Purple Heart. The Army recognized that his last act saved the lives of at least two of his own soldiers. I am deeply humbled by the brave and selfless actions of this young hero. I urge my distinguished. colleagues to join me in honoring the sacrifice made by Michael Schafer to defend the freedom of our great Nation. and I thank the gentleman from Virginia for making possible House passage of this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 57 West Street in Newville. Pennsylvania. as the "Randall D. Shughart Post Office Building".
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 2062 honors a soldier of the highest distinction. Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart of the U.S. Armys Special Operations Command. Along with my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley. California. as the "Maudelle Shirek Post Office Building".
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 438 would name this post office building after longtime Berkeley. California resident Maudelle Shirek. The author of this legislation is the gentlewoman from California
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and expressing the sense of Congress that Congress should raise awareness of domestic violence in the United States and its devastating effects on families.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. . Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 209. This concurrent resolution. introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Texas . supports the goals and ideals of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the American Bar Association. nearly one in three women experience at least one physical assault by a partner during their lifetime. Consequently. in October. 1981. the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence found a way to connect both victims of domestic violence with battered womens advocates by instituting a National Day of Unity. The establishment of this day of recognition involve community activities at the national. State. and local levels. The program was successful in heightening awareness and empowering women in violent relationships. In October. 1987. the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. Because of this national wovement. the first national tollfree hotline was created. In 1989 legislation commemorating "Domestic Violence Awareness Month" was first adopted by Congress and has been adopted every year since. This. recognition has helped to bring domestic violence to the forefront of public debate. The awareness has contributed to the expansion of public education campaigns. victim services. recognition activities. and community outreach programs. I certainly hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing victims of domestic violence through the adoption of this concurrent resolution. Mr. Speaker. I congratulate the distinguished gentleman from Texas for authoring this thoughtful resolution. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania . another cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 209.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H

6f Florida. Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington . the former sheriff of King County. who knows a great deal about combating violent crime.
Date: 2005-09-27
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Many law enforcement officers will tell us that responding to a domestic violence call is one of the most dangerous crimes to be called to investigate. My husband was a law enforcement officer for 20 years. and they were the calls that he felt threatened by and that he always felt so sorry for the family members involved. and certainly for the children. I have served on several boards of domestic violence shelters. and I know how important it is to shine that light. the public light of scrutiny on the victim. to bring information about victims. how they are abused. and also. the perpetrator. so that by shining this light on domestic violence and having Domestic Violence Awareness Month. that the public will be better informed. and that we will continue to see a reduction in the number of abusive situations. Mr. Speaker. I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 209.