macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-02-04
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman and Members. I would simply like to point out that Mr. MULVANEY just continued in the vein that Mr. LUETKEMEYER started out in. obscuring the real point of this bill. They are going to keep telling you it is all about Choke Point. What they are not going to talk about is taking away the Justice Departments ability to use FIRREA to go after these banks that are committing crimes. I dont want the Members to be misled. Ask them why they are refusing to talk about the main point of this bill. I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota .
Date: 2016-02-04
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chair. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington . a valued member of the Committee on Financial Services.
Date: 2016-02-04
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the gentleman from California who has shown his concern about the Choke Point provisions of the bill. He is absolutely right. Both of these issues are in this bill. We cannot divide it in the way that we are moving forward. And it means that if this bill passes. no matter what the concern may be. the overriding concern must be about stripping the Justice Department of its investigatory power and its subpoena power. It must be about undermining the Justice Departments ability to hold these big banks accountable. I dont think you can divide this. This is one bill.
Date: 2016-02-04
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. Mr. GOSARs amendment is a dangerous amendment to an already highly problematic bill. As the OCC deputy comptroller noted in 2015 testimony before our committee: "In the rare cases where a customer has engaged in suspected criminal or other illegal activity." the OCC "may order the bank through an enforcement action to terminate the customers account." H.R. 766 creates a national security exception for customer notice. but it leaves the term undefined in a case where the illegal activity does not pose a threat to national security. Mr. GOSARs amendment would potentially force banks to tip off someone engaging in criminal activity. frustrating regulators oversight of Federal antimoney laundering laws.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3016. "Veterans Employment. Education. and Healthcare Improvement." I support this bill because it will benefit our veterans who have suffered debilitating injuries to their lower extremities as a result of their service to the United States. Specifically. this bill clarifies the role of podiatrists in the Department of Veteran Affairs and increases their pay grade to match other VA physician compensation. There is a need in the Department of Veteran Affairs to classify podiatrists as physicians. Our veterans continue to suffer from a variety of foot and lower leg conditions as a direct result of their honorable service which can result from both traumatic and progressive etiologies. A growing number of our veterans have diabetes. which puts them at risk for other disorders and even amputation. The VA Podiatry Program Office spends a great deal of its time collaborating with a number of other programs developing and implementing initiatives relative to the prevention and treatment of diabetes and disorders related to diabetes. Houston. Texas is home to the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. in one of the nations greatest medical centers. the MEDMC has 837 medical providers. but no board certified podiatrists. Our veterans need and deserve specialized treatment and assistance for foot injuries. My congressional district is home to over 25.000 veterans and as an avid supporter of Veteran Affairs I strongly support this bill. As a supporter and cosponsor of numerous bills to assist veterans. such as H.R. 90. the Healthcare Improvement Act. I strongly believe it is our duty to give our veterans the best care when they return home. It is important we recognize podiatrists. who change the lives of our veterans. to be defined as physicians by the Department of Veteran Affairs. and increase their pay grade to reflect other VA physician compensation.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on Crime. Terrorism. Homeland Security. and Investigations. I rise in support of H.R. 2360. the "CareerReady Student Veterans Act of 2015." This bill encourages new criteria for state approval of applications by educational institutions providing veterans with nonaccredited courses. H.R. 2360 respects the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance. provides specific instructions for when the VA can waive requirements by the bill. and instructs the VA to submit to Congress notice of. and justification for. a waiver within 30 days of issuance. The bill clarifies specific circumstances for when the VA shall disapprove a course of education and when a course shall not be subject to disapproval by reason of this Act. Specifically. H.R. 2360 achieves these goals by: 1. Requiring programs designed to prepare individuals for state licensure or certification to fulfill any state instructional curriculum licensure or certification requirements 2. Providing conditions for the Department of Veterans Affairs to refer to when waiving requirements or disapproving a course of education Finally. H.R. 2360 facilitates the approval of certain programs of education for the purposes of enhancing educational assistance provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs. I am pleased that H.R. 2360 aligns with the significance of legislation I have introduced in the past. I introduced H.R. 76. Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity for Veterans Transitioning from Battlespace to Workplace Act Of 2015. This bill also enhanced the educational options for veterans by focusing on the necessity to establish opportunities that facilitate the transition for veterans from the hostile armed force environment to school or workplace. I introduced H.R. 78. New Chance for a New Start in Life Act of 2015. This bill addresses financial awareness pertaining to grants. and employment training programs to assist longterm unemployed persons to reenter the workforce in areas projected to have the highest rates of demand. Pertaining to educational institutions providing veterans with nonaccredited courses. enforcement of the criteria for state approval of applications allows veterans to benefit from the improvement of the approval process. H.R. 2360 is the first step toward enforcing this implementation strategy and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the "CareerReady Student Veterans Act of 2015."
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 677. the "American Heroes COLA Act." This bill requires that. whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under title II (Old Age. Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase by the same percentage the amounts payable as veterans disability compensation. H.R. 677 does the following: 1. compensates for dependents 2. a clothing allowance for certain disabled adults 3. compensation for surviving spouses and children This bill requires that veterans are given the correct percentage and benefit amounts from the Social Security Act. Retired military veterans. VA rates for compensation and pension for disabled veterans and surviving families will be effective December 1. 2015 and will be reflected on the first check to be paid on December 31. 2015. Congress enacted the COLA provision as part of the 1972 Social Security Amendments. and automatic annual COLAs began in 1975. Before that. benefits were increased only when Congress enacted special legislation. COLA impacts benefits to about 59 social security recipients. 1.96 million military retirees and 4 million disabled veterans. This increase in benefit amounts will help alleviate financial stress that millions of our disabled veterans have. As the sponsor of H.R. 76 "the HERO Transition from Battlespace to Workplace Act." I strongly support our veterans and any bill that helps mitigate soldier to citizen transition. As Abraham Lincoln stated. "Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere. who bravely bears his countrys cause. Honor. also. to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves. as he best can. the same cause." H.R. 677 is a positive step forward in increasing in benefit amounts payable as veterans disability compensation. I strongly support this bill and urge my colleagues to join me and do the same.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3234. the Failing VA Medical Center Recovery Act. I support this legislation because it would establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of Failing Medical Center Recovery. and the position of Under Secretary for Failing Medical Center Recovery to head the Office. The Office shall carry out the managerial and daytoday operational control of each VA failing medical center. The bill directs that the VA shall: publish in the Federal Register and on a publicly available VA website a compilation of key health metrics for each VA medical center. certify semiannually that each VA medical center ranked as "failing" is subject to managerial and daytoday operational control by the Office. revoke the certification of a VA medical center as a failing medical center if it achieves a ranking of "satisfactory" or better for three consecutive fiscal quarters. submit to Congress a quarterly report on the Office. including actions taken by the Under Secretary regarding covered failing medical centers. and transfer each covered failing medical center from the direct control of the relevant Veterans Integrated Service Network to the direct control of the Under Secretary. The bill also ensures that the Inspector General of the VA will prioritize investigations relating to covered failing medical centers. and the Office of Accountability Review will prioritize investigations of whistle blower retaliation relating to such centers. Mr. Speaker. the reason this important legislation is needed is illustrated by the tragic and heart breaking cases of thousands of veterans who were left waiting for care for serious medical conditions. In the State of Texas we have 1.099.141 Veterans under the age of 65 and 590.618 who are over the age of 65. There are over 1.689.759 veterans living in our state. The 18th Congressional District has 20.607 under age 65 and 9.844 Veterans over the age of 65. The Michael E. Debakey Veterans Hospital Center. located in Houston Texas serves the health care needs of thousands of veterans and their families. The Debakey Veterans Hospital Center provides support to veterans and their families who are amputees. cancer. spinal cord injuries. traumatic brain injury. and have visual impairments. The Medical center provides family support services through its Fisher House that provides living suites at no cost to family members of hospitalized Veterans and military members. Today. with our vote on H.R. 3234. we can renew our commitment to our nations more than 2 million troops and reservists. their families. and the 22 million veterans who served our nation. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 3234.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a proud cosponsor I rise in strong support of H.R. 2915. the "Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act." which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement mental health care and suicide prevention programs and identify metrics that are effective in reducing the incidence of suicide among female veterans. Over the last decade suicide has become a major issue for the military. but the research has been predominantly focused on men and too much remains unknown about the cause and frequency of suicide among female veterans. Mr. Speaker. several recent studies show that. unfortunately. female military veterans commit suicide at nearly 6 times the rate of other women. The suicide rate among female veterans is so high that it approaches that of their male counterparts. a finding that surprises researchers because men generally are far more likely than women to commit suicide. The highest rates of suicide are found among young female veterans. ages 1829. who are 12 times more likely to commit suicide as their civilian counterparts. This is heart breaking. but perhaps not unexpected. since reports indicate that 10% of women serving on active duty are victims of rape and another 13% were subjected to other unwanted sexual contact. Mr. Speaker. in every other age group. including women who served as far back as the 1950s. suicide rates for female veterans are between 4 and 8 times higher than that of their civilian counterparts. These trends are so disturbing that it has earned the sobriquet from the Houston Chronicle as "The Silent National Epidemic." The Texas Department of State Health Services lists a decedents military experience in his or her death record. regardless of whether the deceased was serving in the armed forces at time of death. While it is not clear what is driving the rates of female veteran suicides. the consistency across age groups suggests that a statistically significant correlation exists between gender and military service but the sad truth is that we lack sufficient data to generate externally valid inferences about causation. In the general population. women attempt suicide more often than men but succeed less because women usually use pills or other methods that are less lethal than firearms. Female veterans. however. are more likely than other women to possess firearms. and more likely to use a firearm to commit suicide (40% compared to 34% of civilian women). H.R. 2915 is intended to make progress in identifying the causes and reducing the incidences of suicide by female veterans. The bravery and devotion of female veterans. who have provided heroic service to our nation. often at great personal costs. is unquestioned. We owe it to them to be there when they need our help just as they were there to answer the call when their country needed them. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 2915. the "Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act."
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3984. legislation requiring military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense required by law to report suspected instances of child abuse and neglect to do so promptly and directly to State child protective service agencies. I support this legislation sponsored by Congresswoman TULSI GABBARD of Hawaii. a good friend and veterans of the Armed Services. because no child should have to bear the pain and suffering of abuse or neglect alone. Mr. Speaker. the reason this important legislation is needed is illustrated by the tragic and heart breaking case of Talia Williams. an innocent and loving 5year old girl who was beaten to death by her father. an activeduty infantryman stationed in Hawaii. After investigation and through subsequent legal proceedings. it came to light that before being murdered. precious Talia had suffered through months of torture and abuse by both her father and stepmother. Even worse. Mr. Speaker. it was revealed that multiple federal employees. including military police and workers at her onbase child care facility. failed to report suspected signs of Talias abuse. But the shocking case of Talia Williams is not isolated. it is estimated that more than 29.000 children have been abused in military homes over the past decade. The system failed Talia Williams but it is not too late to save other children at risk by passing H.R. 3894. Under current law. Family Advocacy Programs operated by the Armed Forces are to identify individuals who are mandated to report known or suspected cases of child abuse to designated "points of contact." who then are to conduct an assessment investigation into the reported abuse and to communicate with State child protective services agencies. H.R. 3894 amends current law and requires DoD professionals who come into contact with children such as physicians. psychologists. social workers. and teachers to report suspected instances of abuse or neglect directly to the State child protective services agencies in addition to Defense Department points of contact or chain of command. H.R. 3894 also requires these "mandated reporters" to receive training in accordance with state guidelines in order to improve their ability to recognize evidence of child abuse and neglect and understand mandatory reporting requirements imposed by law. Mr. Speaker. it is too late to save Talia Williams but out of the horrific tragedy that claimed her life. it is possible to identify and save other children from a similar fate. H.R. 3894 will help ensure that instances of child abuse and neglect are recognized and reported immediately by empowering appropriate military and civilian personnel in the Department of Defense with the skills and training need to recognize evidence of child abuse and neglect and to place on them an affirmative duty to report instances of suspected abuse or neglect promptly and directly to child protective agencies. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 3894.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you. Representative GARAMENDI. for your work on clean water and for highlighting this issue in Flint. as well as in communities across America. I sit on the Oversight Committee. On February 3. we held a hearing on the Flint water crisis. Based on the information presented. it is clear to me that what happened in Flint was a crime of epic proportions. Tens of thousands of women. children. and men were poisoned when lead leached from lead pipes into the drinking water. Those who were most responsible know who they are. They should resign. Some of them should be prosecuted. We need to make sure that we do what is right for the residents of Flint. as well as other communities across America. and make sure this never happens again. It is clear that this is not an issue just in Flint. but the problem with toxic water is an issue across our Nation. Washington. D.C.. had elevated levels of lead in 2000. Sebring. Ohio. now has elevated levels of lead. And there was a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council in 2011 that showed 19 cities had toxic issues with their drinking water. There are a variety of solutions. First of all. we need to fund the CDC lead abatement program that had been cut by the Republican legislature in 2002. We need to restore funding and fully fund that program. We need to also make a strong investment in improving our water infrastructure. I sit on the Budget Committee. I will be putting in amendments to make sure that we increase funding to water infrastructure across America. And we need to look at alternatives to lead pipes. An article in Salon noted that we have many cities across America now using PVC pipes. also known as plastic pipes. as an ecofriendly alternative. Canadian and American cities have had success with these pipes. They last longer than metal pipes. over 100 years. They do not corrode. They do not leach. and they do not contain lead. What is happening in Flint. they are looking at a shortterm solution. which is to recoat their lead pipes. I believe that is not acceptable. I believe the Governor needs to come in and replace all the lead pipes with a nonlead alternative. The mayor of Flint has called for full replacement. I support that. I know Representative GARAMENDI and others support that. I want to give great credit to the great work by Representative KILDEE for his constituents in Flint. I also want to note that if we dont do something now. who knows whether your children or your grandchildren will be poisoned by lead in your drinking water. It is very important that we make enormous infrastructure investments. and the time to do that is now. Thank you again. Representative GARAMENDI. for highlighting this issue.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

You made some very good points. And. as you know. America is the leading economy in the world. Our GDP is greater than the next two countries combined. We certainly have the resources to make sure we dont poison our kids with lead in their water or other toxic material.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you for raising that issue. I will absolutely look into it. I am glad you brought it up. So let me look into that issue. I do want to say something about what Representative TONKO mentioned. which is the hundreds of water main breaks we have daily. That just shows a crumbling infrastructure. In America. in the 21st century. that should not be happening. What we saw in Flint and we are seeing in other cities across America is a result of disinvestment in our government. in cities and municipalities. You get what you pay for. and right now. we are getting children that are being poisoned with lead. So we need to increase investment. I will look into the issues you raised. Representative GARAMENDI. Thank you for highlighting these issues.
Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Thank you. I look forward to working with you and Representative TONKO and others to make sure we invest in America.
Date: 2016-02-10
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise to highlight the success of the Affordable Care Act. The numbers are in and. once again. millions of Americans signed up for quality affordable health coverage. More than 12.7 million Americans selected plans through the health insurance marketplacesA million. or 42 percent. of whom were new customers this year. People want coverage. And. thanks to the ACA. millions can now have the security of knowing they wont go bankrupt if they get sick or have an accident. cant be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition. and have access to preventative and primary care services at little to no outofpocket cost. In the 29th District that I am proud to represent. 55.000 residents fall into the expansion gap and have no insurance because States havent expanded Medicaid. It is time for Texas and other States to do the right thing and recognize that health care is essential for some of our poorest families by expanding Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. I hope Congress will move past repeal attempts and start talking about how we can make the Affordable Care Act work even better for the American people. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on this critical issue.
Date: 2016-02-10
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act and am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. which will strengthen public notification requirements in the event of lead contamination. The situation in Flint is unacceptableit is a violation of the right to clean water and a breakdown of the basic responsibility of government to its citizens. And it was completely preventablewe know the damaging impacts of lead and we know how to protect people from lead poisoning. We need an aggressive response. both for the people in Flint and for every community that faces lead exposure. Todays bill is just a first step to address this problem by ensuring that when contamination occurs. communities will be informed of what is happening and what will be done to fix it. We should follow this action with support for the Flint community and robust funding for lead poisoning prevention and clean water programs. I look forward to our continued work to protect children and communities from the dangers of lead.