macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1998-03-04
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. it was so ironic when the President made this speech about characterizing our efforts to rein in the IRS as somehow irresponsible. it is important to note where he made the speech. I do not want to malign the group he was before and speaking in front of. but it was a special interest group of a particular group of individuals who are involved in a certain aspect of financial institutions. But that really illustrates what is sick about tax policy in Washington in the first place. You stand in front of the interest group that happens to be in town for one week or another. tell them what they want to hear about their little part of the Tax Code. and that. over time. if you look at it in reverse. is how the Tax Code was created to be the way it is now. why it is so ridiculous. I think what brings us all here together as Republicans tonight is that we want to put the average American taxpayer first. We have spent a considerable amount of time traveling around our districts listening to real people who do not care about this loophole or that loophole or that advantage or this disadvantage in the Tax Code. They want the entire program reined in. They want us to exercise our authority and provide the oversight and demand the accountability that we ought to do. and they want us to focus on liberating the American public so that this Tax Code. which now represents -about 20 percent of the burden just in Federal income tax to the average American family. is reduced. Is that what you are hearing in your part of the State?
Date: 1998-03-04
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

The Tax Code keeps cash out of the hands of families who might want to put their kids into a higher education setting or some other academic setting that would make them more marketable and more profitable in the job market. and these regulations that we talk about with respect to education drive up effectively the cost of education for all of our children throughout the country. The gentleman from Missouri is a former college president.
Date: 1998-03-04
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. you are in the chair and cannot join us in the discussion. but also a Member of the freshman class the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Prrrs) has led the way in urging this Congress and our Federal Government to put more cash into the classrooms and basically starve the bureaucracy back in Washington and put children first. And it is a project that we are all very happy to be a part of and be supporting and we commend him for his leadership. The gentleman from Pennsylvania
Date: 1998-03-04
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

I have a question I would like to pose to my four colleagues. and that is with respect to this issue of reining in government and the success we have seen at the State level. what the President is criticizing. trying to rein in the IRS through sunset provisions is not new throughout the country. I am curious how many of my colleagues States have sunset provisions that we deal with at the State regulatory level. Are any of my colleagues States involved in those back home? There are several States that do. I will give an example out in Colorado. Pennsylvania does. In Colorado. if we look at every regulatory agency in our. State laws. at the end of the statute there is a termination date. The Public Utilities Commission. by way of an example. Eight billion dollars worth of commerce and industry is regulated by that agency in my State. At the end of the act. if we open up the law books. it says this agency expires and terminates. goes away effectively on. and it will say June 31 in some year out in the future. 5 or 10 years out in the future. What these sunset dates do. and many people do not understand this. this does not mean the agency goes away. but what it does do is it shifts the burden away from the government and it takes the advantage away from the bureaucracy. away from the status quo. and gives all of the advantages for reform to the taxpayers and the people. That is what would happen if we sunsetted the IRS. and the reason we are pushing so hard for it. Getting any incremental change in that act is so difficult here because we have to get 218 majority votes here. another majority vote in the Senate. we have to compromise it. too. and somehow find a way to get the President to sign it. That is a tall order. But if we shift the burden and say we must come up with majority agreement in all three. the House. Senate and the President. or else the whole agency expires. well. I think people will start negotiating a lot more seriously. They start putting the taxpayers ahead of the bureaucrats. they start putting real reform ahead of status quos. And that is why sunset dates are so effective. They are responsible. They are done in several States and done so quite effectively. And I think we ought to take a lesson from the playbook from many States and employ sunset dates. not just on the IRS. although that is the best place to start. but in several regulatory agencies.
Date: 1998-03-05
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I was going to ask the gentleman if he could translate what the gentleman from Massachusetts said. Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentlemen. Between the two of them they have hit every segment of the American educational level. We appreciate that. However. I have to admit I understand him better than I do you. He speaks English. The cellular telephone industry is growing rapidly. As we know. there is currently about 56 million Americans that use cellular phones today. One of the things that Thomas Jefferson said early on was there are three things we ought to do in America. One is take care of our foreign affairs. two is deliver the mail. and three is protect this Nation and the general welfare. That is precisely what this bill does. protects our people. this great America. against intrusion by anyone. I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana for coming to the telecommunications corridor in Richardson. Texas. which is just north of Dallas. As my colleagues know. every company. just about. is represented there. I would invite the gentleman from Massachusetts to accompany the gentleman next .time. I tell my colleagues. the advance of technology is such that something has to be done to protect the American people. If Members recall. last week. the gentleman from Louisiana has already discussed it. Congress outlawed equipment that allows criminals to steal telephone numbers and run up bills to unsuspecting users. Today we are protecting the right to private conversation over cel.lular phones. If I am talking to my accountant. my banker. my wife or my children. I want to have the security. that no one is recording my call or putting it out on CNN. This bill does that. and it protects private conversation between two people. That is what America is all about. The gentleman mentioned it. the freedoms that we enjoy. that our servicemen have fought so long and so manyyears over to protect. Now we are adding one more protection. I thank the gentleman from Louisiana and the gentleman from Massachusetts for their bill. I hope it will pass overwhelmingly.
Date: 1998-03-05
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. Rocky Ford. Colorado is one of the greatest places on earth. Rarely do great families. prosperous entrepreneurs. genuine leaders and - abundant agriculture coexist in such prodigious pioportions as they do in Rocky Ford. Rocky Ford was doubly blessed recently to receive an important private grant which promises to move a signiflcant community project closer to completion. The objective of my remarks is to highlight this event and the people of.Rocky Ford and to further call the Nations attention to this great city and to the foundation which has made the municipality even greater. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate Colorados Boettcher Foundation. which has consistently improved the lives of Colorados residents through grants for community projects and scholarships for students. The State of Colorado has clearly benefited by the work of the fine men and women of the organization and we all owe them a great debt of thanks. Today along with my constituents in Rocky Ford. I applaud the foundation specifically for its generous gift to the city and its people of funds to expand the Rocky Ford community center. The funds donated to the city have allowed for a very special addition to the center. In order to complete the project. the city submitted a proposal and now that it has been approved. the grant will be sufficient to complete the new center. joining the new and old centers via a construction passageway. I join the city of Rocky Ford in extending our warmest thanks to the Boettcher Foundation. Furthermore. I would like to offer my thanks to the Boettcher Foundation as a whole. The grant awarded my constituents in Rocky Ford is one of many that have aided projects across the State. Thanks to the foundation. dozens of Colorado programs serving thousands of its citizens have received funding. These programs range from athletic opportunities for disabled youth to housing services to community buildings. Every corner of our great State has at some point been aided by the helping hand of the Boettcher Foundation. We are all the better for it. As we recognize the Boettcher Foundation and its many contributions. let us remember that it is individuals and groups such as this one that cause America to thrive. Their generosity and good deeds are a credit to the State of Colorado and to the Nation. Again. Mr. Speaker. congratulations to the good people of Rocky Ford and our friends at the Boettcher Foundation.
Date: 1998-03-09
Speaker: L UGAR (republican)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I would like to announce that the Senate Committee on Agriculture. Nutrition. and Forestry will meet on the following days: Thursday. March 12. 1998 at 9:00 a.m. in SR328A. Tuesday. March 17. 1998 at 9:00 a.m. in SR328A. The purpose of these meetings will be to examine reauthorization of expiring child nutrition programs.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. heroin has claimed another young life in my hometown of Plano. Texas. A total of 13 young people have died from heroin there within the past year. The local police are doing their very best to stop drugs in our schools. but they are being stretched beyond their limits. They need our help now. I have been working with members of the North Texas delegation to have the DallasFort Worth area designated as a HIDTA. a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. but this administration has been dragging its feet. This is a real war. and we need the resources and armor of our Federal law enforcement agencies to stop drug flow now. I urge General McCaffrey to approve the HIDTA designation as soon as possible. Speaker GINGRICH said just yesterday our first goal ought to be to win the war against drugs. We must win this war. The survival of our children depends on it.
Date: 1998-03-11
Speaker: LINDA SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would first like to thank the gentleman from Illinois for his consideration of this amendment which is also cosponsored by the gentleman from New Jersey and the gentleman from Virginia . The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act already has in place specific eligibility requirements. and I am encouraged that certain protections for human rights are involved and in place in the bill. However. one condition is missing: ensuring the freedom of African people who are daily threatened by slavery. Today is March 11. 1998. Today. in America. we breathe freedom. but today. right now today in Africa. innocent men. women and children are violently pulled from their families by Arab slave raiders. One Sudanese woman witnessed all five of her children. late last year. tied to horses and screaming as they were taken away. Today. this amendment sends a strong message from this Congress that we will not turn a blind eye to this grieving mother or to these people. The value and dignity of all people in all nations will be honored and protected. Trade recognizes the value and worth of another nations economy. an economy built and sustained by the sweat and toil of its citizens. To advance trade without advancing the rights of a nations citizens rejects the principles of liberty and justice. Let us resolve today. by passing this * amendment. that human rights and trade are bound together and can advance the global cause of freedom. We must not veil freedoms light with the shadow of slavery. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 1998-03-11
Speaker: LINDA SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Chairman. there seems to be no problem with this amendment. Our State Department has said that there is a problem with slavery. and they have also stated we cannot allow countries to continue this practice. I would also like to submit for the RECoRD an article from the Chicago Tribune which illustrates how important this amendment is. [From the Chicago Tribune. Feb. 22. 1998]
Date: 1998-03-18
Speaker: BILL FRIST (republican)
Chamber: S

the Senator from Tennessee. is working with others to come up with a package on this very important cloning issue. I thought that deserved some thought and some concerns. especially when you have a doctor saying we will start cloning human beings. I dont know whether I am all that excited about that prospect. But. at any rate. I understand Senator DASCHLES position. He has to be responsive to his Members. and I have to be responsive to mine. We have to work together to try to find a way to get to a conclusion on the education savings account bill. with the additions. and also to begin to continue to have debate on the NATO enlargement. A lot of Senators want to talk about that. We understand maybe a Senator has a key amendment that he would be willing to offer this afternoon. I am not sure that that is true. but I think maybe Senator WARNER would be willing to go ahead and offer his amendment. which is one that is a critical amendment. on the NATO enlargement. So this time will not be wasted. This is good time. And I invite Senators to come forward to talk about and think about in a public forum with the American people this very important question of enlarging NATO. And by the way. with regard to doubletracking these issues. this is something that is done all the time. I used to watch Senator BYRD do it. Senator Mitchell dd it. Senator Dole do It. So the idea is. while we are letting the procedures go forward. we can take up azlother very important subject. So as a reminder to all Senators. under the provisions of rule XXH. all firstdegree amendments must be filed at the desk by 1 p.m. on Thursday and all seconddegree amendments must be filed 1 hour prior to the cloture vote.
Date: 1998-03-24
Speaker: LINDA SMITH (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Washington

Mr. Speaker. I am often asked what is the great secret in Washington States success. Yes. we have beautiful natural wonders and thriving hightech industries. and we are a great place to come and visit. Well. I want to tell my colleagues. even though we are beautiful in Washington State. it is really the people. Today. I want to tell my colleagues about the people in Washington State and what makes our thriving economy grow: small business owners. Mr. Speaker. 63 percent of all businesses in Washington are operated by sole proprietors and 97 percent have less than 100 employees. These men and women provide nearly 60 percent of all jobs in the State. and lead the way in new job creation. They are the leaders in our community. However. each year. massive amounts of paperwork are stifling their potential. job growth and productivity. For firms with fewer than 20 employees. these firms are paying $2.000 per year per employee that could go into salaries. jobs and others new sources of income for the communities. Today. I am proud to cosponsor the Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act. H.R. 3310. and I will be proud to vote for it this afternoon.
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. and I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. this evening the freshmen Republican class takes to the floor to spend a little time during tis special order to discuss various issues that we have been focusing on as individual Members and as a group. 34 Members strong. We spent a lot of time in our home districts holding town meetings. sur-. veying our constituents and focusing on the topics that we believe our constituents have sent us here to represent. Joining me this evening is the gentleman from New Mexico . who has been fighting very vigorously for some property rights issues in his district. At this point. Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize and turn some of our time over to the gentleman from the State of New Mexico to talk about his legislation. House Resolution 2538. which would establish a presidential commission to determine the validity of certain land claims arising out the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo from 1848.
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. reclaiming my time. I am curious just in terms of a 150yearold treaty that has come up now. what happened to it in those 150 years? Why were we not talking about the treaty 10 years. 20 years. 30 years ago? Why has it now become an issue that has come to the floor and we are considering legislation which is supported by a great many members of the freshman class and -other Members of the Congress. as well?
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

And what happened over that period of time. the Federal Government. as I understand. has come to lay claim to most of that land and manages much of the land today either under the Bureau of Land Management or through the Forest Service or other various Federal. and sometimes. I suppose. State and local entities. as well. are in possession of those lands today. How was it that the Federal Government became the primary manager of those lands today?
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Mr. Speaker. I would like the gentleman to talk if he would. if he would not mind answering more questions about the bill. because these are questions that I think occur to most folks who take a general look at the bill. Before I ask a couple of more. I would point out in my district in Colorado. Colorado State University is the largest higher ed institution in my congressional district. There is a professor there who has been holding seminars recently and giving public discussions about the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. We had contacted him recently and asked him just about your bill and about some of the events that are occurring. the Speaker of the House. for example. coming to the gentlemans district to talk with many of his constituents about this issue. The Speaker termed these events that the gentleman has initiated here in Congress as revolutionary. that was the word he had used. and spoke very clearly about the absolute validity of the treaty. Most of these lands are today managed by various public entities. primarily the Federal Government. sometimes other public entities. In some cases these lands are now owned by private landowners. That is the minority ef cases. but that does exist on some of these lands. How might the treaty affect those who are private landowners today and maybe purchased the land or obtained it legally in some way? How are they going to be treated as this bill moves forward?
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

For the gentleman and I who reside out in the West. these issues of property rights and public lands. lands management in general. public or private. are routine discussions. For those who are not familiar with the claims made under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and other debates and discussions that have ensued over the years. this may seem a new issue. It really is not as the gentleman has expressed. But it is a .relatively new issue In recent years for this Congress. In fact. the people of his constituency have been discussing the issues. a terribly important one politically. culturally and so on in New Mexico and throughout the West. not just New Mexico. It really was the gentleman from New Mexico who brought this issue to the attention of the full Congress and really revived this topic here in Washington. Mr. Speaker. I just want to take a second or two here and commend the gentleman for having the courage to stand forward and bring an issue to Congress that his constituents have been talking about and been concerned about for many. many years and for the right and obvious reasons. his constituents decided to send him here to Congress. I commend them for that as well. and have really empowered him to raise their voice here on the House floor. It is an issue that has not been raised for quite a long time. he has done it. I think it is a wonderful statement on behalf of the people in New Mexico and those in his constituency.
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

The gentleman has spoken in a very general and broad way about the whole issue. the history of the treaty and what has occurred since then. Let me go specifically to his bill. H.R. 2538. First. let me say the gentleman has worked tirelessly to describe the bill to Members of Congress. to make them familiar with it. make every Member of Congress familiar with the concerns of his constituents and the issue. This bill calls for more study. It does not answer the question on how to deal with the treaty just yet. It is obvious that it proposes some very perplexing problems in resolving many of these ownership and management issues. but his bill establishes a presidential commission to study the issue and make recommendations back to Congress on what to do next. Tell us a little bit more about just the process of what happens after your bill passes.
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

The Speaker was recently in your district talking about a number of issues and visiting town meetings and so on. but this issue came up quite a lot. What was the Speakers visit like?
Date: 1998-03-25
Speaker: BOB SCHAFFER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Colorado

Earlier today at one of the freshman Republican meetings. you brought the issue up again and addressed the class on the topic and also brought some of your constituents with you as well who are here from your home State working on the legislation. I want you to remind me who they were and tell our colleagues about those individuals and their work here in Washington and what they are trying to accomplish.