macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-06
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. today we act to restore the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program or SCAAP. to its original meaning. that which Congress originally intended it to have. Introduced by myself. H.R. 1512 will help States obtain- muchneeded reimbursement for the costg of detaining deportable immigrants charged with or convicted of certain criminal offenses. SCAAP was created in 1994 to reimburse States and localities for arrest. incarceration and transportation costs incurred in detaining- criminal aliens. From the programs inception until 2003. States were able to obtain reimbursement for the costs of detaining deportable illegal immigrants charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors. In 2003. however. DOJ reinterpreted the SCAAP statute to require that a criminal alien be actually convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors. Moreover. the reimbursement must be requested in the year in which thie conviction takes place. and is limited to that 1 year. regardless of how long the expenses are incurred. Not surprisingly. this novel reinterpretation. which contradicted Congress clear intent. as well as DOJs consistent interpretation. from 1994 to 2003. caused every States reimbursement to fall dramatically. H.R. 1512 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to return SCAAP to its originally intended meaning. States and localities would be reimbursed for the cost of incarcerating criminal aliens who are either "charged with or convicted" of a felony or two misdemeanors regardless of when the incarceration and conviction occur. H.R. 1512 corrects the current administrations errant reinterpretation of the law and provides States and localities burdened by the costs of jailing criminal aliens the opportunity to apply for and receive muchneeded reimbursement for the costs they bear from detaining deportable immigrants charged with crimes. The bill has broad bipartisan support and the support of many respected law enforcement groups. I would like to especially commend ZOE LOFGREN. Chair of the Immigration subcommittee and STEVE KING. the Subcommittee ranking member. for their leadership in helping bring this bill to the floor today. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-05-07
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. Id like to thank the chairman. BARNEY FRANK. for this outstanding piece of legislation. Let me quickly say that Hope Now is good. which is what my friend referenced. Hope Now is good. However. help now is better. We didnt give Penn Central hope now. We gave Penn Central a $7 billion bailout. Lockheed Martin got a $250 million bailout. Franklin National Bank. $1.7 billion bailout. Chrysler. $1.5 billion bailout. Continental Illinois. $4.5 billion bailout. Farm Credit System. $4 billion bailout. First Republic. $1 billion bailout. Major airlines. $5 billion bailout. Steel companies. $7 billion bailout. And Bear Stearns. if we talk about the bare facts. $29 billion. plus a $13 billion loan through J.P. Morgan. which makes a total of $42 billion. if we talk about the bare facts. This is a good piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker. This piece of legislation is voluntary. as has been indicated. But more importantly. it is a guarantee. not a loan. It does allow FHA to guarantee loans. about $300 billion. and thats going to help a lot of families to stay in homes. But it will also help this economy. This economy is right now in a credit crisis. And in this credit crisis weve got to realize that - there is interconnectivity. Theres an interconnectedness. that we are living in a world wherein we are related to each another in a certain way. In this crisis. Mr. Speaker. when one home in a community has a for sale sign up. it impacts other homes in the community. It impacts the tax base of the community. It impacts the lives of children who are going to school in the community. So this piece of legislation will help us to keep people in their homes. but it will help to maintain the community. We sleep in houses and live in neighborhoods. This legislation helps neighborhoods. I would also add that flippers dont benefit because you have to be a resident of the property. The government maintains a lien on the property. And theres an amendment in this bill. the WattVel6.zquezGreen amendment. which will help those persons who are being evicted. who happen to be tenants. Many persons who have their rent paid. their rent is paid. but theyre being evicted because the owner of the property was foreclosed on. This amendment will helpthem to stay in their homes. I ask that my colleagues please support this amendment. and please remember that we bailed out a lot of companies in this country. This is a hand up for a lot of people who are suffering and who may lose their homes. others who have their rent paid but who are about to be evicted.
Date: 2008-05-07
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you. Madam Chairman. I have to say this. I have to apologize to the gentleman. too. because for a moment. I thought I heard a disjointed syllogism because I couldnt make that connection. .This bill is needed by this country. This bill is going to help neighborhoods maintain their integrity. And I have to ask one question: Where was the moral hazards argument when Penn Central got $7 billion? When Lockheed Martin was bailed out? When Franklin National Bank was bailed out? When Chrysler was bailed out? Continental Illinois? When Bear Stearns received its $29 billion plus a $13 billion loan? .Where was the moral hazards argument? It seems that this argument surfaces whenever poor people or whenever people who are living in the streets of life. whenever people who have not found their way into the welloff. the wellheeled. and the welltodo. it seems that it tends to surface. I think that its time for us to do for others what we can do for these major corporations.
Date: 2008-05-08
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the chairman for the time. and I thank the chairman for his tireless efforts to bring this to the floor. I question this moral hazard argument. I question it because I have to ask myself. where was the moral hazard when we bailed out Penn Central? Penn Central got more than laissez faire. Penn Central got more than market forces. Penn Central got $7 billion in a bailout. - Where was the moral hazard when we bailed out Lockheed Martin. $250 million? Franklin National Bank. $1.7 billion bailout. For the good of the country. we bailed out Chrysler at the tune of $1.5 billion. Continental Illinois. $4.5 billion. Farm Credit System. $4.5 billion. First Republic Bank. $1 billion. Major airlines got $5 billion. the steel companies got $7 billion. Where was the argument about Bear Stearns that was never brought to the floor? I have heard about a letter that has been circulated. Why didnt you bring the argument to the floor? Lets talk about the Bear facts. the Bear Stearns facts. Bear Stearns got $29 billionin a bailout and a $13 billion loan. So if you really talk about the Bear facts. the Bear Stearns facts. you are talking about $42 billion. We live in a world where it is not enough for things to be right. they must look right. It doesnt look right for this country to continually bail out major corporations. When the American people. little people as we sometimes call them herethey are big in my heartbut the little person needs some help. we dont find it within our hearts and our power to help them. We have the ability to make a difference in the lives of people today. This is why I am encouraging my colleagues to vote for this bill.
Date: 2008-05-13
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I stand in strong support of H.R. 6022. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act. introduced by my good friend from Texas. Representative NICK LAMPSON. and Representative PETER WELCH. Todays rising petroleum and gasoline prices are set by a complex mix of factors. including global crude prices. increased world and U.S. demand. refinery capacity and maintenance schedules. gasoline imports. prescriptive fuel mandates. and geopolitical events. Most of these factors are out of our effective control. For those that arent. like the proper management of fuel supplies in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. .SPR. I believe Congress should do all we can to help reduce the cost of energy to American consumers. H.R. 6022 requires the Interior and Energy Departments to discontinue the acquisition of oil and shipments to the SPR until the end of this year. and permits fill to resume if the average price of oil does not exceed $75 a barrel. The bill also allows petroleum shipments ordered under existing Interior Department con-. tracts to be shipped to the reserve. This legislation is strongly needed because the current administration has also not been properly managing the SPR for American consumers. The SPR exists to protect us during an energy crisis. and is almost full to its 727 million barrels of oil capacity. But while the cost per barrel of oil continues to skyrocket. the administration continues to purchase highpriced oil off the market to put into the SPR. limiting the amount of oil available. When oil prices are very high. we should release SPR oil into the market to increase supply.. as the Department of Energy did in response to Hurricane Katrina. While not expected to significantly reduce prices. some studies suggest suspending the purchase of oil for the reserve could reduce gas pnces anywhere between 5 to 24 cents a gallon. Every cent helps. While there is no quick fix for gasoline prices. I hope Congress will also address Americas need to produce additional domestic energy. both conventional and renewable. to ensure the reliability and affordability of our Nations critical energy supplies.
Date: 2008-05-13
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1176) supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day.
Date: 2008-05-13
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 1176.
Date: 2008-05-13
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. let me reiterate that 50 years ago. EisenhoWer created a national highway system that changed America. Today we need to do the same thing with our rail system. and with this Amtrak reauthorization. were doing just that. The United States of America fised to be the first as far as passenger rail was concerned. And I say it over and over again. now we are the caboose. And we dont use cabooses anymore. The American people need and deserve better. Let me also mention that joining us on celebrating Amtrak National Train Day were 150 ladies from the Hope Chapel Church who rode from Jacksonville to Winter Park. And also. we had over 60 activities throughout the country. Participating in those activities were the Harlem Globetrotters and many Members of Congress. I. in closing. am very excited about moving this country forward as far as making sure that we are no longer the caboose. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-05-13
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 2054. the Universal Service Reform Act of 2007. My name was listed due to a clerical error.
Date: 2008-05-14
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I want to congratulate the chairman and the ranking member of the full committee for this conference report. Mr. Speaker. in addition to the important reforms and preserving the safety net and the commodity title as well as important increases in the nutrition and conservation titles. I worked with the chairman of the full committee during the House version of the markup to place an emphasis on beginning farmers and ranchers. This conference report includes a number of important provisions. including reauthorizing taxexempt bonds to provide lowinterest loans to beginning farmers and ranchers. increasing the loan limit for them from $250.000 to $450.000 and indexing that limit amount for inflation. There are also important provisions in the credit and research titles of this conference report for beginning farmers and ranchers. The energy title is another area that as Mr. HOLDEN. the chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation. Credit. Energy and Research. pointed out. the loan guarantees for advance biofuel production plants. reauthorizing the Rural Energy for America Program which provides the loans. loan guarantees and grants for producers to purchase and install onthefarm renewable energy systems. establishing a forest bioenergy program. and. of course. championed by the chairman of the full committee. the biomass crop assistance program. I encourage all of my colleagues for these reasons. as pointed out by many other colleagues. to support the conference report.
Date: 2008-05-14
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it doesnt really surprise me that our good friends on the other side of the aisle have yet another drilling solution to our energy problems. Because it seems that with every energy problem. they have never found an energy problem that drilling wont solve. When will our colleagues in the minority get it into their heads that we cannot drill our way out of our energy problems? What I think is amazing is that they have actually finally realized that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Some of them have finally acknowledged that global warming is a problem. But they still refuse to let go of the tired direction that they continue to want to travel in. which is to prop up their wealthy corporate interests. prop up the oil industry. which is the most profitable industry in this country. with billions of dollars in oil subsidies. And todays solution. in this motion to instruct. is that we should drill for more oil in a pristine environmental track in Alaska. go off the coast of Florida and the Outer Continental Shelf. drop some oil drills so that we can really severely negatively impact the tourism across the coastal regions instead of trying to make sure that we can truly invest in alternative energy research. Which part of "No. we need an alternative" dont they understand? Well. consistently the voters have said they want to move this country in a new direction. They want to make sure that we invest in alternative energy research and wean ourselves truly off of our dependence on oil. Not just hear more talk about it. Mr. Speaker. drilling is not the answer. It is inappropriate to suggest that we should have more drilling in ANWR. in Wyoming. off the coast of Florida. We need to make sure that we can finally step up and make a bipartisan commitment that we will invest in alternative energy research so that we can finally end this energy crisis that we find ourselves in. Im glad to see that the Republicans finally acknowledge its a problem.
Date: 2008-05-14
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I too rise to recognize the 60th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel. and to reaffirm the steadfast friendship between our two strong democratic nations. .Sixty years ago today. on May 14. 1948. the State of Israel declared sovereignty and independence as a homeland for the Jewish people. With little resources and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Israel has become a thriving and prosperous democracy. and has made worldwide contributions in technology. medicine. agriculture and environmental innovation. When we speak about Israel. too often we focus on Israels troubles and not on her beauty and her spirit. But what I want to focus on today is her resolve. Since independence. Israel has continually overcome every conceivable roadblock. She has beaten back hostile neighbors during war. and now endures terrible emotional and economic hardship from terrorist cowards who perpetrate hideous violence against innocent victims. As a critical partner in the fight against terror. and as the only democracy in the region. Israels strength and security is paramount. Therefore. I encourage this House to continue to pass bipartisan bills in support of Israel and her ability to protect herself from antagonistic neighbors. The blossoming of a nation that grew from desert sand into a thriving example of democracy. economic progress and cultural diversity is a magnificent achievement for this strong and vibrant country. I congratulate Israel on all she has achieved in just 60 years. and I look forward to a bright future for this extraordinary nation.
Date: 2008-05-14
Speaker: NANCY PELOSI (democrat)
Chamber: H

Clearly. there is something fishy in the farm bill. Now. we were told again that we wouldnt have these earmarks. this pork barrel spending that just kind of drops down from the heavens in these conference reports. We never had a chance to vote on this in the House. Madam Speaker. it just kind of drops down. And so for a Speaker who is supposed to lead by example. who tells the American people that she would just as soon do without earmarks. that she wants an open and ethical and transparent process to slip a $170 million fishy earmark into the farm bill. this is something the American people need to know. Why are their taxes being raised by $3.000 per family of four over the next 3 years? Well. part of the reason is. Madam Speaker. to pay $170 million for the salmon earmark in the farm bill. to help subsidize the Plum Creek Timber Company. to help the Bromley Ski Resort. So much for cleaning up the earmark process. You know. we were also told that there certainly wouldnt be any more secrecy in this earmaik process. You know. the former chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told us that. Yet. thats not the case. Let me quote from the New York Times. not exactly a bastion of conservative thought. on one of the bills that came to this floor last year. "Despite promises by Congress to -end the secrecy of earmarks and other pet projects. the House of Representatives has quietly funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to specific hospitals and health care providers." "Instead of naming the hospitals. the bill describes them in cryptic terms so that identifying a beneficiary is like solving a riddle. Most of the provisions were added to the bill at the request of Democrat law makers." "Some Republicans have complained about what they call hospital pork." This is the New York Times reporting this. This. from a Democrat majority who said there would be no more secrecy. And instead. out of all the hospitals throughout the Nation that Im sure can all use help. somehow the special privilege and secret pork barrel process practiced by the Democrat majority manages to somehow favor a special privileged few and does it in a cryptic secret manner. One more reason that hardworking. middleincome families who are trying to get that paycheck to go a little further are instead seeing that paycheck shrink to pay for more Democratic pork. And. Madam Speaker. Im very happy tonight that I am joined by one of the great leaders of fiscal responsibility in this House. one of the most principled Members. one of the most active Members. one of the most courageous Members that I have met in my congressional career. And I am proud that he is a fellow member of the conservative caucus. the Republican Study Committee. a man I am proud to call my friend. And at this time. I would be happy to -yield to the gentleman from Georgia.
Date: 2008-05-15
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank Chairman OBEY for his hard work in putting together this emergency supplemental and overcoming a number of challenges in readying the amendments the House is considering today. As chairwoman of the Economic Opportunities Subcommittee of the House Veterans Affairs Committee with jurisdiction over veterans education benefits. I am proud to support todays efforts to modernize the Montgomery GI Bill. Members of the subcommittee have worked diligently throughout the 110th Congress to understand how best to enhance education benefits and make them easier to access for our Nations veterans in the 21st century. My stepbrother. a 3rd Class Petty Officer in the United States Navy. next week deploys to the Persian Gulf on the USS Ronald Reagan. He. like so many thousands of brave and dedicated service men and women. stands to benefit from our important vote today. a vote to invest more wisely in these men and women who make the commitment to serve our country and keep us safe. a vote that reflects our priorities as a Nation to recognize their honored service. I urge my colleagues to support this muchneeded improvement in veterans education benefits.
Date: 2008-05-15
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Thank you. Chairman OBEY and Chairman MURTHA. As a solemn and distinguished body. we again stand ready to break with President Bush and demand change in Iraq. And again. we have a chance to do what is right after yeafs of pursuing the wrong strategy. a misguided strategy. that I saw firsthand and a battle my fellow paratrooperg are still fighting today. Today. we can come together to do what- is right. Today. we can change direction in Iraq. refocus on al Qaeda in Afghanistan and give our troops the GI Bill that they have earned. The question before us is clear: Do we proceed in a bipartisan way with the support of military experts and American families? Or do we continue to allow more political posturing and more of the same while American troops are stuck refereeing a religious civil war? That is the choice we all must make. And to those who stand in the way of change and accountability in Iraq. the American people are paying attention.
Date: 2008-05-15
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Speaker. I am proud to stand with those who want a change. I am proud to fight for accountability in our foreign policy and proud to fight until our brave veterans get the benefits that they deserve. A year ago. I called -on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to stand ready for change. I renew that same call today. Neither our troops nor our veterans can wait for us to change our foreign policy in Iraq. not until. next years sixth anniversary. or the seventh anniversary. or the tenth.