macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Vermont and I rise as chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer/Employee Relations which has jurisdiction over ERISA. and a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce with jurisdiction over age discrimination issues. I am also a member of the Committee on Ways and Means which also has jurisdiction on pension issues. Despite some assertion made recently by the gentleman from Vermont
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may coisume. The complexity of cash balance plans has been the subject of study of both the Clinton and Bush administrations. and there is no Federal agency in any .administration that found that cash balance plans discriminate on the basis of age. By its own admission. the Internal Revenue Service is trying to clarify some of the ambiguities under its own notice 968. The passage of this amendment. in our view. would prevent the IRS from modifying 968. a circumstance which could cause significant harm to many workers. So I would say that this amendment simply bars the administration. which started under Clinton and now continues under Bush. from trying to -fix some of the problems that occur with our pension system. Mr. Chairman. I reserve. the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York . a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota . a member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. both the Department of Labor and the Treasury Department are trying to examine the regulations and their effect on cash balance plans. The recent DOL Inspector Generals report indicates there is confusion on the part of employers as to the rules to be applied to distributions from cash balance plans. The two Departments need time to develop rules that are both understandable to employers and not harmful to workers benefits under these plans. Congress must not impede the normal regulatory process of the agencies by removing the flexibility they presently enjoy to craft rules in the pension area. The Congress -should be trying to encourage the growth of employersponsored pension plans. and passage of the Sanders amendment will have a chilling effect on cash balance plans. The Federal Government should promote policies that will encourage employers. particularly small businesses. to sponsor pension plans. As the baby boomers age. we need increased pension plan coverage. Passage of this amendment will impede that growth. I recommend a vote against this amendment.
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to give my wholehearted support to H.R. 4965. the PartialBirth Abortion Ban Act" of 2002. The partialbirth abortion procedure is a brutal and a violent act performed on an innocent victim. We cannot continue to discuss this issue in the sterile language of the right to choose. We must call partialbirth abortion what it is. the murder of a baby during delivery as he or she fights for their first breath of air and struggles. to survive. We have to come face to face with the cruel injustice of lives quickly and callously ended. I will also note that there is an appropriate choice for these growing children. the choice of allowing them to be raised by a loving. adoptive family. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has stated that a partialbirth abortion is never medically necessary to protect a mothers health or her future fertility. On the contrary. this procedure can pose a significant threat to both. In fact. were the same child at the same stage of development outside the mothers womb. he or she would be provided lifepreserving care and continual medical attention. But if that same child is deemed unwanted by the mother. its life is violently ended. I say to my colleagues that this makes no sense and it is time. for Congress and the President to act to end this madness. Mr. Speaker. the argument has been made that this bill is somehow unconstitutional and that the Supreme Court will strike it down like it did the Nebraska partialbirth abortion ban. I will note that I trust the expertise of the Committee on the Judiciary in crafting a bill that will pass muster with the court. But even if it were certain that this legislation as soon as it was passed would be struck down by an imperial judiciary. we must. as Members of Congress. discharge our duties to at least attempt to protect the civil rights of the most vulnerable. those least able to protect themselves. I am proud to be a cosponsor and to support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Date: 2002-07-24
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker. I rise today also in support of the partialbirth abortion ban of 2002. We have been accused of being political with this piece of legislation. We have been told that this is an infringement on womens rights. and I will tell my colleagues that what this is is an infringement on a persons right who is too young to speak. certainly too young to vote. I believe the life of the unborn child begins at conception. and I do believe that every time an abortion occurs. a life is lost. Each .year over a million babies are slain at the hands of doctors performing abortions. Some doctors willingly and routinely kill babies during the second and sometimes third trimester. We have already heard that this is an excruciatingly painful procedure where the doctor violently manipulates the babys position.. creating a breech delivery. and then mercilessly stabs through the childs skull to remove the babys brain with a vacuum. This procedure is appalling and disturbing. and I feel it is nothing short of murder. In response to the Supreme Courts split decision in the StenbergCarhart ruling. this will help give clear guidelines to what is considered constitutional and prohibited.
Date: 2002-07-25
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. onr rollcall No. 348. I was detained from returning for the vote. Had I been present. would have voted "Yea."
Date: 2002-07-26
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. let me just add. this is not. the end of the legislation. This bill goes to conference. The House vote on this is important in terms of the message it says to conferees. and I think to dispel it is not appropriate. I also commend my colleague for her work and her courage in standing up to leadership on this particular issue. as she has done so many times during her career. Like her. I have a number of Federal employees and union members in my Congressional district. and I believe strongly that the traditional Federal workforce protections need to be applied and extended to Federal employees as they are transitioned into the new Department of Homeland Security. But I differ with her on this amendment for this reason: The ufiderlying legislation gives the employees the traditional rights they would enjoy in being able to transfer from one agency to this new agency. The amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland gives them additional rights that they currently do not enjoy under Federal law. and it gives them additional rights at a time when we are at war with global terrorists. where the President has come to us saying this is the organization he needs to be able to win the war on global terrorism. and we are taking away the Presidents flexibility to deploy people that he enjoys in the Department of Defense. in the FBI. in the CIA and every other Federal agency. So they are treated under this the same way as they are in those other agencies that help us fight wars. and if this amendment passes. it basically creates a twotier system and a lot of potential for inequities. For example. at a time of crisis. the President would not be able to treat Department of Justice. CIA. in the same manner as he treats employees at the Department of Homeland Security. That does not make any sense. Mr. Chairman. section 7103(b) of title IV represents a finely craftedbalance between the rights of employees and the duty of the President to act in exceptional times. in exceptional times. Rarely used. in exceptional times with exceptional action. We are at war now. and certainly these are exceptional times. In my view. we should enact the legislation and give our CommmanderinChief the tools he needs to enact the war on terrorism.
Date: 2002-07-26
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. the concept of contractor indemnification. which is core to the term. is not a new plan. It has been around since the 1950s under Public Law 85804. And so Members understand. less than $100 million has been paid out over the course of 45 years because the discretion that the agencies have in exercising that. and also because under this. it would also be subject to OMB approval. In order to get protection under either the Turner plan or the Armey plan. the contractor has to acquire insurance to fully protect to the extent the risk is not covered by insurance. And if supplier technology engages in willful misconduct or displays a lack of good faith. neither plan saves it. The solutions proposed differ. but I think each represents a viable solution to the dilemma faced by the Nation. Our committee liked the indemnification plan because it was written into current law. The Armey plan. though. has been the policy of the House as we have moved legislation forward. I thank the gentleman from Texas for working with us on this language in the committee. I appreciate what the gentleman has done on this.
Date: 2002-07-26
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. let us set the record straight. The Secretary. based on current facts. says that they are unable to make these deadlines without us giving them a billion dollars more. I know the contract is with BoeingSiemens. I have talked to those people. They can do it by the end of the year. but only to have the machines by the end of the year. That does not mean they are in the airports. I am concerned that. worstcase scenario. the Transportation Security. Agency is going to be unable to train personnel and install necessary equipment to meet this deadline. Under the bestcase scenario. I am concerned that TSA will meet the deadline but only by implementing an ineffective and outrageously expensive temporary solution. Either way. the safety of our air travelers and the security of our system will benefit from giving TSA flexibility to focus on a longterm. permanent solution and not a quick fix. Unfortunately. only 75 percent of our airports are going to be able to make that December 31 deadline. These are the smaller airports that are going to rely on the ETD for their longterm solution. They are going to be using primarily small machines. It is no longer feasible to meet the December 31 deadline for larger airports. especially like my hometown DFW. Since they submitted their plan in March. they still have yet to hear back from the TSA to find out if they have been approved and are on the right track. For larger airports like DFW. it is impossible for them to be ready by the end of the year. Have we not provided enough bureaucracy? It is ridiculous that opponents to this commonsense measure would rather have airports miss the deadline altogether. This is not a onesizefitsall solution.
Date: 2002-07-26
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that my time be equally divided between myself and the gentleman from Virginia .
Date: 2002-09-04
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would also like to point out that the gentleman keeps talking about deficits. I recall when I first got into this Congress they were huge. and it was a Democrat controlled Congress at that time. Right now. I believe we are at war. We are spending money on defending this United States. the freedoms that we represent and the freedom all over the world. We are working to put in place a homeland defense. I will tell my colleagues right now. if it costs money to protect America and protect our freedoms. I do not think any of us should stop it.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 516) congratulating the Valley Sports American Little League baseball team from LouisVille. Kentucky. for their outstanding performance in the Little League World Series. Th6 Clerk read as follows:
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 516.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. this resolution extends heartfelt congratulations from the House of Representatives to the Valley Sports American Little League baseball team from Louisville. Kentucky. for winning the Little League World Series. On August 25. 2002. the Valley Sports American Little League team won the 56th Little League Baseball World Series title by defeating the team from Sendai. Japan 10. Mr. Speaker. the Valley Sports American Little League team is the first team from -the United States to win the Little League World Series since 1998. The following is a description of the team from Louisville. Kentucky. as described by Little League Baseball: "They may not have been the most talented team in the tournament. They may not have been the biggest or the strongest 11- and 12yearolds in Williamsport during the last 9 days. but they had worked the hardest. dedicated themselves in ways others could not. and now the Valley Sports American Little Leaguers from Louisville. Kentucky. are the best in the world." Coaches and players alike have achieved something very few have. This is an accomplishment that will be with them for the rest of their lives. and it is in the finest tradition of Kentucky baseball. Perhaps one of these days one of these young players will follow Kentuckys Hall of Famer. Jim Bunning. and serve in the House and the U.S. Senate. But I am sure that they will all be a credit to their country. to Kentucky. to Louisville. and to their families. They have started out well. Mr. Speaker. it is appropriate that the House recognize the dedicated work and outstanding accomplishments of Valley Sports American Little League .Baseball team from Louisville. Kentucky. The Louisville teams performance demonstrates to parents and communities throughout the Nation how athletic participation builds character and leadership in their children. Mr. Speaker. I ask all Members to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I would like to join my colleague from Illinois in commending all of the little league teams around the country. As a former little league team mom. and my husband being a little league manager for many many years with our two sons. it is a great pastime. It is a great opportunity for our young boys and girls to participate in little league. I would like to commend my colleague. the gentlewoman from Kentucky . for introducing this legislation to commend our little leaguers from Kentucky and to salute all of our little leaguers around the United States and the world. Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 380 Main Street in Farmingdale. New York. as the "Peter J. Ganci. Jr. Post Office Building."
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 5336. introduced by our distinguished colleague from New York . designates a post office in Farmingdale. New York. as the Peter J. Ganci. Jr.. Post Office Building. Members of the entire House delegation from the State of New York are cosponsors of this legislation. Mr. Speaker. on September 11. immediately after a jet struck the first tower at the World Trade Center. Peter Ganci. chief of department for the New York City Fire Department. rushed to the scene from his command post in downtown Brooklyn and started the rescue effort. He was in the basement of Tower One when it collapsed. Miraculously. he survived. dug himself out of the rubble and went back to work. It then became apparent that the second tower would fall. Ganci. as the highest ranking uniformed officer on the scene. directed everyone to clear out of the area. but Ganci did not himself leave while his men were inside the tower. Ganci said. "Im not leaving my men." and advanced toward the towers to continue his lifes work of saving and protecting others. Chief Ganci was in the basement of the second tower when it collapsed. Prior to joining the New York City Fire Department. Ganci served in thi Farmingdale Fire Department as a volunteer and in the 82nd Airborne Division. Ganci served in the New York Fire Department for 33 years and was decorated repeatedly for bravery. Ganci is survived by his wife. Kathleen. his sons. Christopher and Peter. and his daughter. Danielle. His son. Peter Ganci. III. now serves with Ladder Company 111 of the New York City Fire Department. Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of H.R. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York . the author of this legislation.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleague for introducing this legislation to honor the chief of the New York City Fire Department: As the wife of a professional firefighter for almost 30 years. I know the bravery that these firefighters have. and I have had people tell me why they let chiefs send men in there to their deaths. and I have told them quite clearly. if he would not have sent them in. I know the firefighters would have gone in. anyway. That is just the type of bravery they do have. and again. I thank my colleagues. and I urge adoption of this resolution. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 265 South Western Avenue. Los Angeles. California. as the "Nat King Cole Post Offlee."
Date: 2002-09-09
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 4797. introduced by the gentleman from the State of California
Date: 2002-09-11
Speaker: JEFF MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. today marks the oneyear anniversary of the most horrendous act of terrorism ever perpetrated against any country. Our nation will never be the same after nineteen terrorists took thousands of American lives and declared war on our great nation. Since the infamous day last Fall. an outpouring of patriotism and love for this country can be felt in cities and towns from coast to coast. The symbol of America. our flag. can still be seen flying with dignity and honor outside homes and businesses. displaying the true pride this nation has in its freedoms and unwavering principles. As we look back at the tragedy of that day. I know that everyone will remember where he or she was on September 11th. 2001. I am sure we have all contemplated the frailty of life and that God has never promised anyone a set number of days. It is my hope that the citizens of the United States will use this time in our history as a catalyst to advance the nation and to return to the roots to which it was established. faith in God. democracy and patriotism. Terrorism is still a threat to the civilized world and must be destroyed before it spreads. The primary weapons of terrorism are violence and fear. Those who have no respect for human life and seek terror through these means have no place in civilized society. and must be eliminated. As President Reagan has said. "We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared. so we may always be free." Let us keep the families that lost loved ones in our prayers and continue to support our deployed military personnel who courageously protect our liberties and freedoms. They are the true patriots. I praise my colleagues and the President for the courage and resolve they have displayed during these trying and difficult times. May God grant us the wisdom to lead this country forward in a manner that would please Him and may He look favorably upon our great nation.