macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-12-01
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. lets not play politics with the health and compensation bill for the 9111 heroes and heroines. There are over 70.000 9111 first responders and survivors. the veterans of our war on terror. They come from every single State in the Union. and they are waiting to see if Congress will act for their health care. There is broad bipartisan. bicameral support for a permanent reauthorization. There are 259 House cosponsors. including 67 Republicans. Both Chairman GOODLATTE and Chairman UPTON. along with Ranking Member CONYERS and Ranking Member PALLONE. support this bill and want to pass it. There are just 7 legislative days left. This is something we all agree on. something that is clearly the right thing to do. I urge my colleagues. Mr. Speaker. to get this done this year. Lets keep our promise to the 9111 heroes and heroines. to the first responders. to the victims. and to the survivors. Lets pass this bill this year.
Date: 2015-12-01
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. first of all. let me say that I join my colleagues in asking for the James Zadroga bill to be passed in honor and tribute to our first responders after the tragedy and heinous terrorist act of 91 And then. of course. today is World AIDS Day. I want to congratulate my constituents. I join the city of Houston. Harris County. in honoring the Presidents 2020 initiative. which is to encourage all of us to surge back into education and prevention of HIV/AIDS. So many of us have lost too many. Today in my district as well. the Thomas Street Clinic and a number of other organizations will be acknowledging those who still live with AIDS. It is certainly our responsibility to fight to ensure the stopping of HIV/ AIDS in this Nation. I also rise to speak of the intelligence bill that will be on the floor today. What I would like to note is that I am glad that some of the issues have been resolved. Particularly. I am concerned and glad that it will provide critical resources for the fight against ISIL. emphasize collection to monitor and ensure compliance with the Iranian nuclear agreement. which some have been very concerned about. that intelligence is very important. and as well it promotes foreign partner capabilities such as helping our allies in France. Mr. Speaker. as I close. let me say my concern. however. still remains on the authority limited of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. It is a bill that we all should consider.
Date: 2015-12-01
Speaker: JUDY CHU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. this week something historic is happening. Leaders from 195 countries are meeting in Paris to discuss a global solution to a global problem: climate change. There is no denying it anymore. Climate change is real. Human activity is contributing to it. Without action. the results will be catastrophic. Yet. while the nations of the world gather in agreement and concern. what are the House Republicans doing? They are rejecting science and reversing what progress we have made. These disapproval resolutions effectively gut EPAs Clean Power Plan and carbon pollution standards for power plants. By attacking the EPA. Republicans are opening the smokestacks to release more of the dangerous emissions we know contribute to global warming. This is reckless. Not only do these resolutions ignore the warnings of the scientific community by reversing progress. they also block the EPA from issuing any standards in the future that are substantially similar. Republicans must accept that our country is evolving. In fact. many States are already running on an increasing amount of renewable energy. reducing energy waste. and decreasing carbon pollution. My own State of California has set a goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. and others are developing their own plans to meet pollution reduction targets. Each new goal towards a cleaner environment only encourages the investments and innovations that will help get us there. That is a benefit to our economy and our world. which is why twothirds of Americans support a climate change pact. It is time we listen to our constituents. to the vast majority of scientists and experts. and to the tens of thousands of world leaders. experts. and advocates who are seeking a path toward a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. I oppose these resolutions and these reckless attacks on our environment.
Date: 2015-12-01
Speaker: TED LIEU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I am Congressman TED LIEU from California. I rise in opposition to the Republican resolution opposing the Clean Power Plan. This is just another example of the Republican majority denying the urgency and severity of carbon pollution. At a time when the entire world is meeting in Paris to address carbon pollution. you now have the Republican majority doing exactly the opposite. Now. America is an exceptional country. the best in the world. One reason we got here is because we believe in science. We believe in facts. So if 9 out of 10 doctors said that your child is showing the symptoms of diabetes. would you ignore that and keep feeding your child doughnuts? No. You would go seek treatment. So listen to 9 out of 10 scientists that are saying carbon pollution is real and it is going to kill us as a species if we dont do anything about it. If you dont want to listen to those scientists. listen to some of the most conservative companies and organizations in America. Listen to ExxonMobil today. They say carbon pollution is real. it is being caused by humankind. and they support putting a price on carbon emissions. Listen to the U.S. military. I served in Active Duty. and I am still in the Reserves. I am very proud of our military. They take the world as it is. not as they think it should be. not as they hope it will be. but as it is. They rely on facts and science. They are telling us carbon pollution is a national security threat and it is going to flood our bases. it is going to cause more extreme weather events. and it is going to make it much worse for humanity if we dont do something about it. At the end of the day. America is going to lead and the history books are going to say we led the way in saving humanity and dealing with carbon pollution or there will be no history books.
Date: 2015-12-01
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this week. world leaders are meeting in Paris to address the serious threat of climate change. Across the globe and here at home. there is broad recognition of the need to act decisively to curb the climate crisis that threatens our communities. And yet today we are considering legislation that would allow continued carbon pollution. jeopardizing public health and the environment. The Presidents Clean Power Plan limits carbon pollution from new and existing power plants for the first time ever. It is a flexible. meaningful plan that will help states transition to clean energy sources and greater efficiency. It was developed with extensive stakeholder outreach. And it will create jobs. reduce the toxic pollution that is a leading contributor to climate change. and protect public health. The resolutions on the Floor today would stop this common sense plan and prohibit any similar measure. And Congressional Republicans are not offering any plan to replace it. They continue to deny the problem of climate change. even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence and the damaging storms. increased flooding. and drought that are already impacting our communities. They are ignoring the warnings from our Department of Defense. who call climate change a threat multiplier throughout the world. We have the opportunity to lead. to expand opportunities in 21st century energy. and to protect our environment for future generations. The world is watching. We must reject these shameful. regressive resolutions and act to prevent climate change.
Date: 2015-12-01
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise today in adamant opposition to H.R. 8. I dont have much time. so I cant go into all the terrible provisions included in this legislation. To be clear. there are many. I do want to address language that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. or FERC. what amounts to fasttracking power for pipeline approvals. Setting arbitrary deadlines for the studies. research. and public comment periods for dangerous and volatile pipeline projects. regardless of how complicated the proposal or how sensitive the land these projects cuts through. doesnt give us what my colleagues across the aisle call energy security. What it will do is put private. public. and protected land. clean water. and our environment at risk. In my district. where we are already fighting just such a project. my constituents will be the first to tell you just how preposterous a provision of this nature is. This bill deserves a resounding and unilateral "no." and I hope my colleagues will join me in defeating it.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to salute the remarkable young men of Chicagos Wendell Phillips Academy High School football program. their parents. administrators. coaches. and teachers. Last Friday. in a stunning 517 win against Bellevilles Althoff High School. the Wildcats won the 4A title for Public Leagues first football State crown since the playoffs began in 1974. completing an amazing 130 season. The 51 points scored by Phillips set a State title game record. The game featured recordshattering performances by a host of Wildcat players. including senior quarterback Quayvon Skanes. who rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries. passed for an additional 44 yards and another touchdownjust to prove that he could throw the ball. Quayvon is headed to the University of Connecticut next year. Other thrilling performances included Kamari Mosby. who ran for 151 yards and a score. Qadeer Weatherly. who pulled in Quayvons pass for a 36yard touchdown. Amir Watts. who returned an Althoff fumble for a 19yard score. and a 21yard field goal by Isaac Osei to demonstrate the Wildcats comprehensive offense. The Phillips football program. the second largest in the Chicago Public Schools. is a study of the potential and the problems of urban education. With more than 90 student athletes. the varsity team is led by 19 seniors. all of whom are on track to graduate. In an aftergame interview with the Chicago Tribune. Phillips Coach Troy McAllister noted: "When we go to practice. we go with footballs. There are no sleds. no chutes. no kicking nets. nothing like that. It goes to what our coaches have done and what these young men can do. "We have five stipends for coaches. Everywhere else it is 10 to 14. That makes a huge difference. but these young men have bought into what we are trying to accomplish. and they have done something that nobody else has done." These young men are not just athletes. They are also proud scholars and are members of a school which last year saw 100 percent of its seniors accepted to college. with more than $5 million in scholarships. In his aftergame interview. Principal Matt Sullivan summed it all up. He said: "It is fantastic. We want to be the beacon. the shining beacon in the Bronzeville community." Mr. Speaker. all of Chicago is thrilled and delighted by the performance of this team. I offer my congratulations to their parents. administrators. coaches. and teachers for going above and beyond the call of duty. I extend my congratulations to each and every one of those young men and wish for them continued success in everything they set out to do in the years to come.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate the University of Houston. one of our Nations leading public research universities. on its recent string of success inside and outside the classroom. The University of Houston was designated as a tier 1 research university by the Carnegie Foundation. making it only one of three tier 1 public universities in Texas and one of only three Hispanic- serving institutions that are also tier 1 in the entire country. For over 90 years. Mr. Speaker. the University of Houston has been providing affordable. worldclass education to the people of Houston and Harris County and students throughout the country who come to U of H for its renowned academic programs and professional training. Our Chancellor Khator is here today in Washington. Thanks to her team and our board of regents for their leadership. The University of Houston Cougars is one of the top college football teams this season with an 111 record. ranked number 17 in the country. and can win the American Athletic Conference and go to a New Years Day bowl game with a win this weekend. Mr. Speaker. as a native Houstonian and a graduate of the University of Houston. it makes me proud to see our university succeed and continue to be one of the most important institutions serving our State. city. and our country. Go Cougars. [ 1230
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about what the House will face on educational changes in bringing forward S. 1177. the Every Child Succeeds Act. which takes us away from No Child Left Behind. I am very delighted that the Jackson Lee amendment offered during the House consideration of the bill dealing with bullying is now in this bill. It is now the law of the land once we pass it. It supports accountability -based programs and activities that are designed to enhance school safety. which may include researchbased bullying prevention. cyberbullying prevention. disruption of recruitment activity by groups or individuals involved in violent extremism. and gang prevention programs as well as intervention programs. CNN had a report just last night. I believe. that talked about the extensiveness of cyberbullying. One in seven students in grades K12 is either a bully or a victim of it. 90 percent of fourth to eighth grade students report being victims of bullying. 56 percent of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying. 71 percent of students report incidents of bullying as a problem. 15 percent of all students who dont show up for school report they have been bullied. 1 out of 20 students has seen a student with a gun at a school. and 282.000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month. This is something that is a key part of education. To be in an education environment where you want to learn and where you are protected is key. Let me ask everyone to support this legislation. I am delighted that we have been able to come together in particular around this issue of preventing bullying and cyberbullying in our schools.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my support for the Every Student Succeeds Act. This bill is a muchneeded improvement to No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The fundamental purpose of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was created to ensure that disadvantaged children are provided a highquality education that allows them to compete on a level playing field with their moreadvantaged peers. I believe this bill is a step in the right direction. I believe No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is flawed and must be reformed. Reauthorization presents a tremendous opportunity to make muchneeded improvements and brings our education system into the 21st century. For too many years. Congress has stalled in updating the standards for our nations students. I applaud the efforts of this body for working across the aisle to make sure that every student has the tools they need to succeed. The Every Student Succeeds Act strengthens critical programs and uses funds for the promotion of innovation. increased access to STEM education. arts education. literacy. community involvement in schools. teacher quality. and other important programs. This conference authorizes the Preschool Development Grants program that will supplement existing funds to improve coordination. quality and access for early childhood education. I urge my colleagues to vote for the Every Student Succeeds Act and support reauthorization that restores our nations commitment to providing equal opportunity for all students regardless of their background and protect our countrys students including the most vulnerable. which was the intention of this landmark civil rights law.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Every Student Succeeds Act to finally address serious flaws in federal education law and reject the old "onesizefitsall" approach while continuing to hold states and schools accountable for the learning of every child. I thank Ranking Member Bobby Scott for his tireless efforts to support students in underserved communities and close the achievement gap. Todays bill provides needed flexibility in the classroom while maintaining "guardrails" to make sure that all students have the opportunity to succeed. It scales back the singular focus on highstakes testing with a broader and more representative accountability system that will help identify and address gaps. It includes evidencebased interventions for schools where students arent learning or arent graduating. And it targets resources to the students who need them most. The bill allows for funding for critical supports. including mental health. drug and violence prevention. and Youth PROMISE plans. There are resources for a wellrounded education. including arts. geography. history. and foreign language. Dedicated funding is preserved for Promise Neighborhoods and FullService Community Schools to coordinate services for children and families. and for afterschool programs to provide outofschool time opportunities. It will be critical to provide adequate funding for these priorities through the appropriations process. The Every Student Succeeds Act includes important funding for early childhood education programs that help provide a strong start for children. I strongly support efforts to provide universal preK. and todays bill is a good step to improving coordination of early learning opportunities. Todays bill is not perfect. but it is a strong compromise and a critical improvement over current law. As Congress has worked to rewrite this law. I am grateful to the teachers. parents. administrators. school board members. students. and many others in Maryland schools who have shared their experiences and input with me. I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that this legislation is implemented and funded in a way that works for our schools and students.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding to me. Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong support of the Tonko amendment and strongly urge its adoption. Section 1101 of this misguided energy bill includes a critical provision that I would like to highlight. This language would allow big energy companies to use aerial and remote surveying to circumvent key FERC environmental reviews. This troubling provision flies in the face of the rights of local governments and even private landowners to make decisions about the use of their own property. This provision allows Big Energy to bypass more comprehensive and appropriate ontheground surveys to assess the environmental impacts of energy infrastructure. Mr. Chairman. there is one such project that New Jerseyans know all too wellthe PennEast pipeline. PennEast is the proposed 108mile natural gas pipeline that would run from Pennsylvania. across the Delaware River. and terminate in Hopewell Township in my district. If built. this pipeline would threaten some of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the Delaware River Basin. farmland. watersheds. and uninterrupted natural areas. Virtually every local government along the PennEast route has officially lodged their opposition or disapproval. Concerned citizens have packed scoping meetings to make their voices heard to stop this pipeline. These are diverse communities across two States represented by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. Areas I represent. like Mercer County and Hopewell. and scores of private property owners have exercised their right to deny PennEast access to their property to carry out their surveys. Mr. Chairman. my constituents sent me to Congress to fight for the environment and to stand up against illconceived projects such as this one.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I offer amendment No. 9. and I ask unanimous consent that it be modified in the form I have placed at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. as modified. and report the modification. The text of the amendment. as modified. is as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title I. add the following:
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I include for the RECORD this letter from the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations of the State of Texas and the House Committee on Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. let me conclude by simply saying I thank both Mr. UPTON and Mr. PALLONE for joining in the unanimous consent to revise the amendment simply to say that this report on increasing methods to increase the electric grid resilience with respect to all threats. including cyber attacks. vandalism. terrorism. severe weather. will go to the Congress. I thank them very much. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment. as modified. offered by the gentlewoman from Texas
Date: 2015-12-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of title III. insert the following new section: