macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

As I stated earlier. we debated these thoroughly in both committees. I cannot speak to every amendment that is being offered on the floor of the House. I understand the gentlemans concern. I know we will get debate on the motion to recommit. and weare debating it now. But I was also disappointed in not being able to offer some amendments. In addressing that issue. I think that is probably above my pay grade.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

I appreciate the gentlemans comments. and we did take some of his suggestions in the markup. The gentlemans testimony was not for naught.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. reclaiming my time. I include for the RECORD an editorial from the Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld. printed in todays Washington Post.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. by direction of the Committee on Rules. I call up House Resolution 249 and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. for purposes of debate only. I yield the customary 30 minutes to my colleague and friend. the gentleman from Texas . pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution. all time yielded is for purposes of debate only.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 249 waives clause (6)(a) of rule XIII requiring a twothirds vote to consider. a rule on the same day it is reported from the Committee on Rules. The rule applies the waiver to a special rule reported on the legislative day of May 22. 2003. providing for consideration or disposition of the bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201 of the concurrent resolution. any conference report thereon. or any amendment reported in disagreement from a conference thereon. This rule is the starting block to allow the House to consider legislation that will infuse our economy with jobcreating tax relief. investment incentives. and overall economic growth. The House initially passedthe Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Tax Act earlier this month. and with todays action we can demonstrate our continued commitment to spurring economic expansion and providing stability to American workers. businesses and families. Our economy needs a healthy dose of meaningful relief. This Congress has once before exhibited the leadership and sense of purpose needed to create jobs and protect workers. If we delay. we put American jobs and the strength of our economy at risk. As we prepare to consider legislation extending unemployment compensation. I can think of no better complimentary action for Congress to adopt than legislation to boost employment levels. lower the tax burden. and grow the economy. It is imperative that we move forward at once. Thus. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this rule so we can proceed with a debate on this very important legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. we believe it is important to move this legislation forward to grow our economy. to create jobs. help people who do not have jobs find jobs. and we strongly support it and strongly support this rule. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. We are seeing a very clear difference in philosophy and opinion on the floor of the House today between the parties. It was said before by one of our friends on the other side of the aisle that when we cut taxes. when we reduce the burden of taxation on the American people. that that is an imposition. That was the word. We impose this. Congress. it was said. will impose a tax cut on the American people. We believe that when we relieve the tax burden on the American people. that that is not an imposition on the American people. We believe it is their money in the first place. and we are relieving the tax burden on the American people. We are imposing less taxes from Washington. So it is an interesting difference of opinion. and I think it is a fundamental difference of opinion. I think the American people are seeing it today. What we believe is that we should return as much as we can of the peoples money to the people. and that they are best suited and know best how to spend their own money. So it is a fundamental difference. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I have been hearing some interesting arguments today. I thought it was very interesting that one of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle said that by virtue of the fact that the tax cut is set to expire. or parts of it at the end of the year 2008. that that will diminish the incentive for people to invest in the stock market and have the stock market thus increase and contribute to economic growth. But what Was failed to be pointed out is that the opponents of the tax cut have so diligently fought the tax cut that they were able to reduce the amount of the tax cut for the American people. the reduction of taxes for the American people. and thus that portion will expire previously before we would have wanted it to have expired. I do not think it is logical to be able to say I am going to fight the tax cut. You reduce it. and then they say since it expires sooner than it was meant to. then its effectiveness is to be questioned. Wait a minute. do you want the tax cut or do you not want the tax cut? In a sense I thought that was somewhat incoherent. that argument. but of course there is a right to make any argument in this wonderful body.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Yes. there is no doubt about that. But what I was pointing to was that the argument was made that the incentive to invest in the stock market is reduced by virtue of the fact that that tax cut. that tax incentive. is sunsetted. What I am saying is it is people who oppose the tax cut. from whatever party. and the argument was made against the effectiveness of the tax cut with regard to the dividends part by my distinguished colleague who is a Democrat. I was pointing out that I think it is inconsistent to want to have it both ways and then to say it sunsets. so it is not effective. I thought there was an inconsistency there. and some incoherence.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

But the gentleman is right. there are Republicans in the other body that are responsible for reducing the effectiveness of what we are talking about. But what we strongly believe and what we want to do. and we are doing it to the best of our ability. is to. reduce the tax burden on the American people. The gentleman from Texas pointed out previously that the debt burden may be increased. We want to reduce the debt burden by incentivizing economic growth which will not only create jobs now. but also lessen the debt burden in the future. That is what I was pointing out with regard to the point on the effectiveness of the dividend part. If you are against the tax cut. but then say it sunsets. so it is not effective. I thought that was an incoherent argument.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

I am not sure if it is. What we are doing with this rule is making possible for us to have that debate today. and obviously the people who have been involved in the. negotiations will explain the details of what they ultimately end up with. We are trying to have that debate today. and that is why we have this rule. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. we believe it is very important to be able to get to this debate. We need to pass this rule. and then we will debate this matter further. It is obviously a fundamental matter. We believe that we need to do everything that we can to incentivize economic growth and job creation. That is why we are bringing this matter to the floor today. The material previously referred to by Mr. FROST is as follows:
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. by direction of the Committee on Rules. I call up House Resolution 248 and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. for the purpose of debate only. I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts . pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution. all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 248 is a closed rule. providing for the consideration of H.R. 2185. an extension of the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Program. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate. evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule also provides one motion to recommit. with or without instructions. This is a fair rule and one that will expedite the debate of this important extension so that we can provide needed economic security to the unemployed. H.R. 2185 will provide for a 13week extension of benefits for the unemployed. This legislation once again provides a total of 26 weeks of benefits to those in designated "high unemployment" States. The extension of benefits under the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Program is set to have expired at the end of this month. I am pleased to bring this rule to the floor as this House responds to those who are without work. With passage of this bill. we ensure there is no break in essential benefits to families across the country. H.R. 2185 provides over $7 billion in extended Federal unemployment benefits in addition to the S16 billion that this Congress has previously approved for both State and Federal unemployment. With the original legislation in March of 2002 and the first extension in -January of this year. Congress has succeeded in assuring those families in need will have the funds precisely to put food on the table and pay for child care so that they can focus on becoming employed once again. In fact. this extension will help 2.5 million people in addition to the 5 million that have been helped through previous extensions. I would like to highlight the previous work by this body to not only provide Federal unemployment benefits but also $8 billion to the individual States for use in their individual unemployment programs. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman THOMAS) for his leadership and the gentlewoman from Washington for sponsoring this important legislation. H.R. 2185 is important legislation. important to the continued economic health of families in all of the 50 States. Mr. Speaker. hopefully this should be a bipartisan effort to provide benefits to the unemployed. and this rule allows this Chamber to consider it and consider it today. Accordingly. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I just want to reiterate and make clear that the legislation before us that we are bringing to the floor with this rule will provide for a 13week extension of unemployment benefits in the Nation. and the legislation once again provides a total of 26 weeks of benefits to those in designated highunemployment States. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. it is wonderful to see the imagination on the other side of the aisle. In case somebody is watching this debate or listening to it. I would like to get us back to what we are debating. H.R. 2185 will provide for a 13week extension of benefits for the unemployed in the United States. and the legislation once again provides a total of 26 weeks of benefits to those in designated highunemployment States. I recall the debate we had last week when the "theme du jour" was that these unemployment benefits were going to expire before the end of May. Well. we are acting today so that they will not expire. and there will be another 13 weeks of benefits. plus 26 weeks in the highunemployment States that are designated as such. So that is what is before us today. It is an important piece of legislation. That is why I will continue to urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserving the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California . the chairman of the Committee on Rules.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. -simply to reiterate what we are about today. we are extending unemployment benefits for 13 weeks throughout the Nation and for 26 weeks in the States that are classified as highunemployment States. We have also provided previously $8 billion to the individual States for use in their individual unemployment programs. and almost $6 billion of those $8 billion that the Federal Government has provided to the States are still available to the- States for use for their unemployment programs. It is important to realize what we are talking about today with this legislation. this is not theory. We have legislation before us. we are bringing to the floor legislation to help 2.5 million unemployed people in this country. And we think that is an important piece of legislation. and we think that it should be passed. And that is why we seek to bring it forward with this rule. And that is why we urge support for this rule and then for the subsequent underlying legislation. to get that aid. that continued aid to 2.5 million people in this country. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. today we are extending the unemployment benefits for 2 million Americans. and in doing so this Congress is appropriating $7 billion for that purpose. Again. it is 2 million Americans who are unemployed that this legislation will help. That is in addition to the $16 billion that we have appropriated before for that purpose. This is important legislation. It is to help people who need help. and I feel proud to have brought forward this rule. I urge support for the rule and that then we get to the underlying legislation and that we pass the underlying legislation to get extended unemployment benefits to 2 million people in this country. The material previously referred to by Mr. MCGOVERN is as follows:
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. and I rise to offer an amendment to authorize the establishment of a Human Capital Performance Fund. a fund* that would enable agencies to reward their highestperforming and most valuable employees at various and sundry GS levels. This is a commonsense idea that the current civil service laws prohibit. In his fiscal year 2004 budget submission to the Congress. the President proposed the creation of a Human Capital Performance Fund that would provide for a base pay increase of up to 10 percent to individual employees based on exceptional employees contribution to an agencys mission. H.R. 1836. the Civil Service and National Security Personnel Improvement Act. which the gentleman from California and I introduced last month. included this language that I am offering here today. In addition. the Human Capital Performance Fund was approved by the Committee on Government Reform during its consideration of this legislation. The.incentive payments paid to employees from this performance fund would be. number one. in addition to an employees current salary and general schedule grade. second. continuing rather than just a onetime bonus. and. third. part of a base pay for purposes of retirement and other benefits. This amendment would authorize $500 million for the fund for fiscal year 2004. in which 90 percent would be available to the agencies. The other 10 percent would be used to train Federal managers on how to effectively manage and evaluate employee performance. To qualify for funds from this fund agencies must submit a plan demonstrating its performance management system supports its strategic goals and performance objectives and is able to make a meaningful distinction in individual performance. In addition. the Committee on Government Reform included additional requirements that agencies must certify that their agency plans contain certain elements that are essential to a good performance management system. such as adherence to merit principles. transparency. employee feedback. and sufficient training. Thd statement of administration policy strongly endorses the authorization of the performance fund. I believe it will go a long way toward moving the governmentwide human capital management agenda forward. I urge adoption of this amendment. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. not only are we for it. there is language in this underlying legislation that calls for pay parity to the maximum extent practicable.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 15 seconds. Let me assure the gentleman from Maryland that this is in addition to. This is supplemental to what would ordinarily be paid. The underlying legislation speaks *to that. This is a half billion in additional compensation to Federal employees. and I want to put that on the record. Mr. Chairman. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania .
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank the gentleman from Maryland for some of the clarifications he brought forth. It is very clear that underlying pay parity is something I feel strongly about. That needs to be in the record. In addition. this bonus builds for calculations for retirement. something that current bonuses do not. Pay parity has been an issue not just with this administration but with previous administrations. and we have Joined together in a bipartisan way to overturn those. and will be fighting that battle again this year.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. hopefully this bonus pool will reward hardworking Federal. employees who exhibit great merit. I urge adoption of the amendment.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. this amendment was offered and rejected in the Committee on Government Reform. The gentleman is right. it was 100 years ago. and today we are in an information age when terrorists move information at the speed of an email. money at the speed of a wire transfer. and people at the speed of a commercial jet liner. But the Department of Defense is still bogged down in bureaucratic processes in an industrial age that goes back 100 years. Now. we preserve the rights the gentleman talked about. and he alluded to the fact. I am holding up the bill and ask you to read these. This section 9902 has 10 pages of fundamental employee protections. We include Chapters 33 and 35 of title V. which cover veterans preferences with nonwaivable chapters.
Date: 2003-05-22
Speaker: MARY SCHMITT (republican)
Chamber: H

Acting Chief of Staff. Joint Committee on Taxation. Washington. DC. DEAR MS. SCHMITT: Enclosed are the combined comments of the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department on the seven provisions from the House and Senate markup of H.R. 2. the "Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003." that your staff identified for complexity analysis in their May 22. 2003 telephone calls to the IRS Legislative Affairs Division. Our comments are based on the description of those provisions in the enclosed analysis. Due to the short turnaround time. our comments are provisional and subject to change upon a more complete and indepth analysis of the provisions. Sincerely.
Date: 2003-06-02
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I rise this evening to honor Charles "Bo" Harrison. who this weekend became the first Pasco County Deputy to be killed in the line of duty since 1922. On behalf of the Pasco County Police Force. I extend my deepest condolences to his friends and family. and want to take a moment before this body to honor his service and his life. Deputy Harrison was a 31year veteran of the Pasco County Police Force and was the highest ranking African American on the force. He was a Vietnam veteran and a former Army Ranger. and was slated to retire later this month. Sometime around 2 a.m. Sunday morning while doing surveillance work outside a night club. Deputy Harrison wa. shot. His colleagues heard the shots fired and found Deputy Harrison in his squad car. Thinking that he had a heart attack. they tried to offer CPR. but realized upon removing his shirt that he had been shot in the back. Then he was rushed to the hospital. where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The people of Pasco County will remember Deputy Harrison as a loving father. a family man. a softball coach. an active community menber. and an upstanding citizen and friend. He will be sorely missed by all those who loved him. and his honor will forever remain with the Pasco County Police Force.
Date: 2003-06-03
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the gentleman from California made the statement. and it is true. that during our Civil War flag desecration was regarded as treasonous and punishable by death. Ii4828 Todays resolution brings to mind when I was a POW in Vietnam. All they told us was that there were demonstrations here in this country. that people were burning our flag. that people were against the war. And you know what that did for our morale? Nothing. It was bad. We need to stop that. I well remember when. at our homecoming. which was the day the longestheld prisoners left Vietnam for America. and I was part of that group. I remember cheering when we got out over the water. And looking out the window of our C130 as we got in to Clark Air Base. guess what we saw? The American flag. the flag of the United States of America. with all the people on that base out to welcome us waving those flags. Not one of them was burning it or desecrating it. They were draped on the hangars. they were draped on the buses. What I remember most was how happy everyone looked. including those of us who were returning to this country to see the American flag hanging from a hangar. We are truly blessed to call America the land of the free and the home of the brave. and I do not think we should disrespect all she stands for and all those who have fought for her. We need to protect this great flag. Vote for this amendment.