macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-02-07
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I have got some very important visitors in my office at this time. but I mentioned to them. and I know they understand. that I wanted to come down to speak a minute on someone who has long been south Floridas treasure and really became the -national treasure. Max Mayfield. who has saved countless lives. And with his demeanor and professionalism even in those extraordinarily tense moments. Mr. Speaker. when storms are approaching or have arrived. Max was that great sea of tranquility that helped our communities wherever those storms were approaching through those tense moments. And he is really an extraordinary human being with a wonderful team. So my heart goes out to that team that he helped build and is. still there doing great work. And to Max. as he begins this new chapter in his life. Godspeed. with our profound gratitude for having helped so many for so many years with your very important work. Max Mayfield.
Date: 2007-02-07
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I yield myself 30 seconds. We do a lot of important work in Congress. and we pass a lot of good resolutions for good people. but rarely can you actually say that here is a person who has saved thousands upon thousands upon thousands of lives in his work. He is truly a fine. wonderful public servant. and it is wonderful to beable to have the opportunity to now support and vote on this fine resolution. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-02-07
Speaker: MARIO DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from Florida. Mr. KELLER. I want to thank all of those colleagues who have spoken here today. On behalf of my brother. Congressman LINCOLN DIAZBALART. who is actually now in a committee and cannot be here. I want to particularly thank Congressman KENDRICK MEEK for this profound and deep honor. Congressman MEEK. I have to tell you. there are not a lot of secrets in this process. but somehow you kept this a secret. and I am not quite sure how you were able to do this. because both my brother and I didnt know about this until very. very recently. That is something that is frankly unusual. for anything to be kept a secret in this process. I particularly want to thank the sponsor of this resolution for. again. this honor to our grandfather and our family. our entire family. that this House is giving all of us today. But when I think of families who have public service in their background. our dear friend Congressman KENDRICK MEEK comes from a family of deep service to our country. As I said recently in a public meeting in Miami. the matriarch of the Florida congressional delegation and particularly the South Florida Members congressional delegation is Congresswoman Carrie Meek. who was not only a fine Member of this institution and also was a member of the Florida legislature for many years. but she is an icon in the history of our Nation. She is one of those who has broken through. her entire life. that glass ceiling. not once. not twice. but many. many times. Then. of course. her son. KENDRICK. who is a tough fighter for issues that he believes in and for the people he represents and who I am honored to call a dear friend of mine. So I am deeply honored. Congressman. I am deeply honored for all of this. On behalf of the DiazBalart family. I just want to thank you for this deep honor. this deep privilege. It is a day that we will not soon forget. Again. just thank you all very. much.
Date: 2007-02-08
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman. almost every day I stand down here and I encourage Members to sign on to my bill that Congress should not be above the law. While this debate was going on. a constituent called and said. why dont you amend that bill to also say that Congress should not be above coach or firstclass travel? Mr. Chairman. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia .
Date: 2007-02-08
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Chairman. after the technologies are developed that are needed to transport safely ultralow sulfur diesel company products. we need to have a followup here. The implementation will be slow without some sort of incentive to do so. My amendment is very simple: It directs the Secretary of Energy to provide a report to Congress within 1 year. with recommendations for Federal incentives to implement the technologies developed through this program. Mr. Chairman. it is no secret that Congress is slow at improving programs that we create and helping the markets in which they would thrive. Hopefully. this amendment will make it a little bit faster. and I urge all Members to support the amendment.
Date: 2007-02-12
Speaker: MCMORRIS RODGERS (republican)
Chamber: H

Like many of the counties in Oregon. I would say we face a similar situation in Washington State. And .these are counties that do not want to be dependent on the Federal Government. They would prefer for the Forest Service to be managing these lands in such a way that would actually produce more timber receipts and result in a healthier forest so we do not continue to see these devastating fires every year. and they are getting worse every year. But. unfortunately. that is not what is happening. In the meantime. we really do need to reauthorize the secure rural schools. That is so important to our local communities that are surrounded by these National forests. It provided the funding for schools and roads. and right now is ensuring that our rural communities survive these difficult times. I thank. you for the opportunity to speak.
Date: 2007-02-14
Speaker: TIM MURPHY (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

a new war. a war with Iran. ed the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: On Sunday. we had unidentified I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the sources saying that the highest levels United States of America. and to the Repub- of the Iranian Government have diic for which it stands. one nation under God. rected use of weapons that are killing ndivisible. with liberty and justice for all. UNi U.S. troops. No information was provided to substantiate the charge. adWELCOMING PASTOR CARL TOTI ministration officials yesterday de( flected requests for more details. even
Date: 2007-02-14
Speaker: TIM MURPHY (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Mr. Speaker. an estimated 2 million seniors suffer from a depressive illness. and another 5 million may have depressive symptoms. The risk for depression doubles when a person has a chronic illness such as heart disease. stroke. diabetes. cancer or Parkinsons disease. People with mental illness can get better with the right treatment. but Medicares current policy discriminates against mental health by charging 22 times more in copayments than for any other outpatient health care treatment. Seniors who receive necessary mental health services reduce their hospital costs. One hospital offered mental health services for elderly patients with fractures. and reduced the length of stay by 2 days and hospital costs by over $160.000. I will be reintroducing legislation to end Medicare discrimination for mental health services by adjusting copayments. and I ask my colleagues to cosponsor it. Learn more about how we can make health care affordable and accessible by visiting my Web site. Murphy.house.gov. We need patientcentered health care for patient quality. patient safety and patient choice.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I will make a statement later. but right now I would like to introduce Congressman GEOFF DAVIS from the State of Kentucky who was in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served this Nation as an. assault helicopter flight commander in the 82nd Airborne Division. which is where I went through jump school. too. and I think he is well qualified to discuss this issue. I would like to recognize the gentleman for 5 minutes.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. at this time I would like to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico. who was a pilot in the United States Air Force. serving in the Philippines. received a Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal before returning to the United States.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. PAUL GILLMOR. who is a United States Air Force veteran. And he was a judge advocate. so he knows some of the legal problems involved in this thing. I .would like to yield him 5 minutes.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to yield 5 minutes to DAVE CAMP. a fellow Member of Congress from Michigan. and a fellow member of the Ways and Means Committee. one of the ranking members.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to yield 52 minutes to the great Congressman from the State of Minnesota. an exMarine.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. at this time I would like to yield 3 minutes to Representative JOHN SHIMKus from Illinois. He is an exArmy Academy graduate and served in the United States Army and still is in the Reserves.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I just would like to correct something. We are not occupying Iraq. We are helping the Iraqi government. who has complete control over there trying to win this battle. Mr. Speaker. I yield 5 minutes to our new representative from Colorado
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would like to yield now to the chairman of our Republican Study. Committee. Mr. JEB HENSARLING from Texas. 5V2 minutes.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. at this time -I would like to yield 4 minutes to Mrs. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO of West Virginia.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. at this time I would like to yield 42 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio. Mr. JIM JORDAN.
Date: 2007-02-15
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. in closing. we have heard a lot of excellent presentation points today. I might just clarify the fact that the study grojup did recommend a surge in one part. and the President has eliminated the rules of engagement that we had laid on our troops over there. so we have a way to make this thing really happen. I really want to know. if the Democrats insist they are supporting our troops. why they would not let me introduce my measure that mandates that Congress would support and fully fund the men and women in uniform. I am positive that Democrats will attempt to cut funding as soon as the spending bills come up this spring. and maybe earlier. because there was a press conference earlier today that indicated exactly that. I fear what that means for our troops on the ground. for their morale. The reality is that President Bush realized he needed to change the course in Iraq. and that is why he worked with folks on the ground in Iraq to hear fresh ideas and came up with a new plan. The President wants change and that is why he changed the rules of engagement. enabling our guys to shoot at any suspected terrorists. The President wants change. That is why he removed political protections of all insurgents. so all of the bad guys could be brought to justice regardless of who they knew or who they worked for. These ideas are huge breakthroughs and real solutions. These ideas represent fresh starts and new plans. What is the Democratic plan to move forward and win? They do not have one. Thirtysix hours of political grandstanding. nonbinding resolutions and petty posturing. they are not proposing solutions. They are not even encouraging new ideas. In fact. they stop them like when they squashed my amendment. Many hope that the troop surge is the beginning of the end. We should all want that if it gets the job done. Yet the Democrats just say no. You know. the time will come when you can put the money behind these nonbinding resolutions. You better believe we will be watching and calling for those funding cuts loud and clear. America needs to know. cutting funds for our troops in harms way is not a remedy. It is a ruse. Madam Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. and yield the balance of my time to the next moderator. Mr. SAXTON.-
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker. unfortunately. this vote and the debate that we are having is about politics and providing some political cover. It does nothing to help our soldiers win. Remember. it is a nonbinding resolution. What does that mean? It means that we could talk. as my mother used to say. until the cows come home. It has absolutely no effect. It has no power. no teeth and absolutely. no effect. To be more specific. there is not one single mention in the Democrat resolution of how we will send more body armor for the troops. not a single mention of new tools -to detect lED explosives. not one word dedicated to uparmored Humvees. Mr. Speaker. there is not one mention of the method to fund the health care needs of the veterans who come home. Not one mention. And this is important to remember: It has absolutely no mention of sending one soldier. let alone the 20.000 additional who are going over there or our fine young men and women who are already there. when they are going to come -home one day sooner. In my district. Floridians have seen through this nonbinding resolution. The headline of the Orlando Sentinel calls it an "empty measure." It says. "The pointless House resolution on Iraq fails to set goals." The editorial goes on to say that the resolution "isnt thoughtful policy. its political cover." It is not just me saying it. This is certainly not a conservative newspaper. the Orlando Sentinel. My constituents know over the past few days we have debated a resolution with no teeth. no enforcement. delivered in a way that has no guts. no character and provides no leadership. Need to hear more? The Veterans of Foreign Wars said that. "Other generations have learned the hard way when military decisions are secondguessed by opinion polls or overruled by politicians." The VFW and the American Legion know what happens when politicians play politics with war. Our veterans message to Democrats is to support the surge and give our soldiers a chance to win. That is really what they want. They want to win. In closing. I must echo the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars with the words that ring in the hearts of veterans everywhere: Give our sons and daughters in this fight the chance to win. That. Mr. Speaker. is exactly what they are asking for.
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. due to my recovery from a medical procedure. I regret that I am unable to participate in the debate on the resolution that is before the House of Representatives today. The Iraq War Resolution offered by the Democratic majority is nothing more than a political exercise. and does nothing to support our troops or help solve the issues that we are facing in Iraq. The resolution offers no solutions or recommendations. but instead criticizes an action that is already underway. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Readiness in the House Armed Services Committee. I am open to supporting legislation that actually presents solutions to stabilizing Iraq. Unfortunately. this resolution does not provide anything other than criticism. and I would have opposed this resolution if I had been in Washington. DC for the vote.
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. on rollcall No. 99. H. Con. Res. 63. I was unable to vote due to medical reasons. Had I been present. I would have voted "nay."
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my friend from New York for the time. and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 161 provides that it will be in order at any time on the legislative day of today to consider H.R. 976. the Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007. under a suspension of the rules. The passage of these tax cuts for small businesses across the country is very important. Small business. Mr. Speaker. is the engine that drives our economy. Small businesses employ over half of all privatesector workers and pay approximately 45 percent of all United States private payroll. Over the last decade. small businesses have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs each year. Hispanic small businesses now number over 2 million. Mr. Speaker. and their number has been growing at three times the average of nonHispanic businesses. But we -must not take the extraordinary performance of small businesses for granted. They still face considerable hurdles. so it is appropriate that steps be taken to ensure that small businesses are able to continue to grow and employ more and more Americans. The Small Business Tax Relief Act will provide extraordinary savings to small businesses in the United States through targeted tax cuts. The bill increases the amount that small .businesses will be able to deduct for equipment purchases and extends the deduction to the year 2010. It also extends the work opportunities tax credit for another year and expands three categories of the eligible workers to encourage employers to hire disabled veterans. highrisk youth. and individuals with disabilities. Under this legislation. Mr. Speaker. businesses will be able to use their FICA tax tip credit against their regular and. AMT liability. saving small businesses over $500 million over 10 years. The Small Business Tax Relief Act also allows spouses who operate a business together to file as a sole propri-. etorship. without penalty. It allows both spouses to claim Medicare and Social Security taxes. This is an important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker. It will help our small businesses continue their admirable growth and job creation. I would like to commend the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Mr. RANGEL. and the ranking member. Mr. MCCRERY. and all of those who. in a bipartisan manner. have worked to quickly bring this important bill to the floor for debate. I look forward to the debate on H.R. 976. However. Mr. Speaker. we could have done more. On Wednesday. at the hearing of the Rules Committee and the markup of this rule. Mr. SESSIONS. my dear colleague from Texas. the gentleman from Texas. offered an amendment to the rule that wouldhave allowed us to consider H.R. 60 under suspension of the rules today. H.R. 60. authored by our colleague.
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. at this time. I yield 4 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Florida. who has worked so hard to make the sales tax a deductible and who is obviously extremely concerned about the fact that we cannot vote on it today. Ms. BROWNWAITE.
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker. the deductibility of sales tax is so important to so many people. It makes a big difference. There are those of us. long of tooth. who remember when you used to be able to deduct both State and local sales tax on your Federal income tax. I remember when I lived in the chairmans State. in New York. and we could do that. where I would saye up all those receipts. And I was darn sure that I spent more money on purchases than what the maximum amount deductible was. But in the mid 1980s. they eliminated the deductibility of sales tax on your Federal income tax. What did this do? What it meant was that States that did not have an income tax were at a very distinct disadvantage. citizens who lived in those States. So a few years ago we remedied that by saying you could deduct either the State and local sales tax on your Federal income tax or at the State income tax. whichever was higher. So you had that opportunity. It certainly doesnt put my colleague from New York and those people who are still left in New York -at a disadvantage because they can still deduct the State income tax. States that dont have a State income tax have been put at a disadvantage. I know that the good gentleman from Florida did try to put this amendment on. and it Would make a lot of sense. It expires this year. We need to continue to have the deductibility of the State and local sales tax for residents of States that do not have an income tax.
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I have the pleasure of yielding 5 minutes to my colleague. who. in the Rules Committee. made the motion for us to debate today the sales tax deduction to allow us to consider legislation by Mr. BAIRD. a Democrat. Unfortunately. the majority of the Rules Committee did not allow that motion to go forward. voted it down. that amendment. But it is my pleasure to recognize for 5 minutes not only a distinguished member of the Rules Committee. but a great leader in this House whom I am honored to serve with. Mr. SESSIONS.
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: ment

which is so very important. And. Florida. I reserve the balance of my third. and what is certainly not least. time. we win the support. as I said. of the
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: employers

to hire individuals from targeted Florida. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the bal- groups that frequently experierrce barriers to ance of my time. workfor one year and expands it to cover
Date: 2007-02-16
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank everybody who participated in this debate and all of those who worked so hard to bring forth this legislation in a bipartisan fashion. I will be asking for a "no" vote. Mr. Speaker. on the previous question. so that we can amend this rule and allow the House to consider H.R. 60. a bill by our colleague. Mr. BAIRD. under suspension of the rules. As I stated before. Mr. Speaker. Congress passed last year the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. which included State and local sales tax deductions. Over the last 2 years. the sales tax deduction has resulted in billions of dollars in tax savings to millions of hardworking taxpayers throughout the United States. These tax savings have meant a boost to the economy of seven important States affected by the deduction: Washington. Texas. Florida. Nevada. Tennessee. South Dakota and Wyoming. However. that important tax deduction will expire at the end of this year. Failure to extend the sales tax deduction will mean that our constituents may face an unfortunate tax increase. By defeating the previous question. we will give Members the ability. to vote on H.R. 60. Without passage of this important legislation that extends the sales tax deduction. millions in States without an income tax. Washington. Texas. Florida. Nevada. Tennessee. South Dakota and Wyoming. will face a tax increase. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment and extraneous materials immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.