macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-07-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a senior member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4449. the "Human Trafficking Prevention Act." Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Chairman ROYCE and Ranking Member ENGEL for their stewardship in bringing this legislation to the floor and for their commitment to expanding the training and capability of Federal government personnel in detecting and combating human trafficking and assisting its victims. Throughout my tenure in Congress and a founder and CoChair of the Congressional Childrens Caucus. I have advocated on behalf of victims of human trafficking. especially children. who are the most vulnerable and innocent victims. I am also committed to ensure that law enforcement agencies have the tools. resources. and training necessary to identify. apprehend. and prosecute criminals who ruthlessly traffic in people. H.R. 4449 strengthens the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 by amending it to require training related to trafficking in persons for all State Department personnel. Specifically. the bill requires the following: 1. A distance learning course on trafficking in persons issues and the Department of States obligations under the Act to be completed by embassy reporting officers. regional bureaus trafficking in persons coordinators. and their supervisors. 2. Specific traffickinginpersons briefings for all ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission before they depart for their posts. and 3. Annual reminders to all such personnel and other federal personnel at each diplomatic or consular post of the Department of State located outside the United States of key human trafficking problems. threats. methods. and warning signs. This legislation does for the State Department what the Jackson Lee to H.R. 4660. "Commerce. Justice. and Science Appropriations Act for 2015." does for the Justice Department. That amendment. adopted earlier this year by the House. provides another tool in law enforcements arsenal to tip the balance in favor of victims by ensuring funding for the Attorney General to provide training for State and local law enforcement agencies on immigration law that may be useful for the investigation and prosecution of crimes related to trafficking in persons. Mr. Speaker. trafficking in humans. and especially child trafficking. has no place in a civilized society and those who engage in this illicit trade should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. To effectively combat human trafficking. we need to provide resources and training to government personnel to assist victims and apprehend criminals. By providing the necessary training and support. we will catch more human trafficking criminals and save lives. and prevent many other persons. including children. from becoming human trafficking victims. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4449. the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2014.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Chair. I ask my colleagues to vote for this amendment. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the ranking member for yielding. Taxbased aid represents more than half of all nonloan Federal support for higher education. giving tax policy a critical role in promoting college affordability. access. and completion. Although I strongly support improving the education credits for students and families. I cannot support the Republican piecemeal tax approach that would add $825 billion to the deficit and imperil our economic recovery and the wellbeing of our citizens. As partners in the Education and Family Benefits Tax Working Group. I was delighted to work with Representative BLACK and her staff from Tennessee. I want to thank her and her staff for a wonderful legislative experience. It was. indeed. a delight. I also want to commend Chairman CAMP for taking the bold initiative to put comprehensive tax reform in the discussion and on the table. Our bill represents a bipartisan compromise that integrates promising reforms to taxbased education benefits suggested to us by both conservative and progressive stakeholders. This bill simplifies our Tax Code and strengthens our investment in students and their families. expanding aid to the lowestincome students by modestly expanding the refundability of the credit. removing obstacles to claiming the credit. improving the coordination of tax and Pell policies. and indexing the credit to inflation. However. the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act was intended as part of comprehensive tax reform. Within a comprehensive package. policymakers are better able to pay for our tax cuts and ensure that groups of taxpayers who may lose out in one section are helped in others. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan way to improve education tax policy. but I oppose moving this bill in isolation of other education tax reforms and at the exclusion of other critical tax provisions that help the working poor. strengthen economically distressed communities. promote affordable housing. help cover public transportation costs. incentivize businesses to hire hardtoemploy workers. and assist teachers with classroom expenses. I dont think anything is much more important than education affordability. but I believe that first things come first. For me right now. before I would suggest spending any more money. I would suggest that we find a way to put an unemployment check in the hands of the 3 million people who are waiting in America. so they can live until they can get to college.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank my friend and colleague for yielding. I am honored to stand with him and all of us in solidarity with the people of the Netherlands and the families and loved ones of all the victims of that act of terror. We look forward to working together to make sure that this situation is resolved as quickly as possible and the perpetrators are held accountable. I know we all stand together on that as well. And I am grateful to my colleague from Michigan for bringing us together for this purpose.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. let me add my appreciation to Ms. BROWNLEY for her leadership on this issue and for the women that are on the floor who are members of the Veterans Affairs Committee and members of the Armed Services Committee. who really have led this issue. which I believe all of America understands. Let me thank Mr. LAMBORN. who is from Colorado and a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee. and as we debate this motion to instruct. a personal plea to Mr. LAMBORN. that this is truly a reasoned response to the heinous number of women and some men in the United States military who have experienced traumatic sexual assault and trauma. This is a simple motion to instruct. It asks us to cede to the provision in the Senate. which allows for the care. health care. under the veterans health care system. of those who have experienced sexual trauma. As Ms. BROWNLEY has indicated. I am a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee. and we address these questions through the Judiciary Committee on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault and find ways. of course. to be able to respond to women who have been victimized. We took a long time to pass the Violence Against Women Act. but the whole idea was to include an infrastructure to protect women who are frightened to come forward and to acknowledge the criminality of domestic violence and violence against women. Can we do no less for the women in the United States military who put on the uniform and took an oath to swear allegiance to the United States and to extend their bodies on the front lines to be able to protect this Nation. can we not do any less than to offer to them simple health care when they come forward on sexual trauma? Just a few years ago. I provided a PTSD center at one of my nonveteran or nonmilitary hospitals. It was overwhelmingly received by veterans who were off campus and wanted to go to a place that was not as congested as a veterans hospital. but I will tell you that PTSD is truly a health phenomenon. The distinctive sexual trauma that some of my colleagues have mentioned that women have hidden and never spoken about for years should not be rejected when they come forward finally because we have opened the system to be able to secure health care. They should not be. in essence. directed to a life of drug abuse and alcohol abuse because they are fearing. They should be able to get health care. So I ask my colleagues. 26.000 and growing and others who are also involved. this is an important motion to instruct. and I congratulate. again. Ms. BROWNLEY. My heart breaksas she served as the ranking member on the Health Subcommittee on Veterans Affairsmy heart breaks that when you are abused. when your face is abused. when your body is abused. that is a health crisis.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Having just come back from my community where two women and families have been killed through the violence of domestic violence. they live no morebut what about those who are soldiers who put on the uniform who are experiencing a lifelong experience of injuries and psychological trauma? Mr. Speaker. I ask my colleagues to support this motion to instruct offered by my colleague. Ms. BROWNLEY. What more can we do or how much less can we do for women and men who put on the uniform who are suffering from sexual trauma? It must be part of the Veterans Affairs health reform.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today. in my district. we buried Dr. Evelyn E. Thornton. the first African American to graduate from the University of Houston with a Ph.D. in math and a leader in civic matters and education. Because of my responsibility of speaking at this civic leaders funeral home going service. I missed the following votes. Had I been present. I would have voted as follows: On rollcall vote No. 442. I would have voted "no" on the motion on ordering the previous question on H.R. 4935 and H.R. 3393. On rollcall vote No. 443. I would have voted "no" on H. Res. 680. a rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 4935. Child Tax Credit Improvement Act. and H.R. 3393. Student and Family Tax Simplification Act. On rollcall vote No. 444. I would have voted "yes" on an amendment to H.R. 4984. Empowering Students Through Enhanced Counseling Act. offered by
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today. I was on official business in Houston. honoring the life of Dr. Evelyn Thornton. She was a great American. Dr. Thornton was the mother of two wonderful daughters: Yvonne Denise. a trained lawyer. and Wanda. an outstanding physician honored by all. Dr. Thornton. who lost an eye in her early twenties. went on to be the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Houston. a school that African Americans could not go to for many. many years. She was a member of the Links and Alpha Kappa Alpha. but what she was known for is 40 years of teaching. Evelyn was an educator who lifted the lives of young people at Prairie View A&M. She was a graduate of Texas Southern University. got married. had grandchildren. greatgrandchildren. daughterinlaws and a soninlaw. Russell. a leader in the community. What was most noted is the simplistic style that Evelyn had of humility and her willingness to serve the people. I would say that today we laid to rest in Houston a great American. Dr. Evelyn E. Thornton. whose contributions should continue to be remembered.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Thank you very much. I am pleased to be here to join you. Mr. POCAN. and other members of the Progressive Caucus as we talk about the real deal in terms of what it is that you do to reduce poverty. I read some of what we are talking about. and I really couldnt believe that that had anything to do with the reduction or any efforts to seriously reduce poverty. We have made some progress in the last 50 years. but it is unacceptable that 49.7 million people. including 13 million children. were poor in 2012. In my congressional district alone. 41 percent of children. or 67.000 children. live in poverty. It also is shameful that racial disparities remain in the experience of poverty. with child poverty for African Americans being 29.2 percent. in 2012. compared to 9 percent for their White peers. And so I welcome working with anybody that would like to reduce poverty. As a matter of fact. ever since I have been here. I have championed two of the chief proposals mentioned by the Ryan plan: expanding the earned income tax credit to childless and noncustodial parents. as well as reducing incarceration among lowrisk and nonviolent offenders. The earned income tax credit is one of the most effective antipoverty programs that we have. A Brookings Institution report highlights that the high rate of incarceration in our country exacts considerable cost from American taxpayers. especially from State governments and families. However. I am extremely concerned about the proposed way of paying for these programs. Rather than asking large corporations to pay their fair share of taxes or closing international tax loopholes that allow large. multinational companies to evade billions of dollars in taxes. the Ryan plan would eliminate or eviscerate many important programs like the Social Services Block Grant and the Economic Development Administration. So I dont know what Mr. RYAN is really talking about. It seems to me that he is talking the same talk we have heard so often.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

They didnt really deal with payfors. As a matter of fact. one of the reasons that many of us objected to the piecemeal way in which the Republicans are looking at what we call tax reform is we have been trying to move towards comprehensive tax reform where you look at all of the taxation that we are doing. And yes. there would be what is called some losers and some winners. but you wouldnt cherry pick and just give corporate giveaways and not do things like make sure that you have got the new market tax credits in. which are designed to help redevelop. restore. and reconstitute communities that are hurting. that are seriously underfunded and dont have things. Many communities in my district which were actually burned out by the riots after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King are still burned out.
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Lets say the majority on the committee made it permanent because we votedthat is. those of us who are Democrats voted against it. That is why I think it is so important that we are here this evening. I just simply want to again commend
Date: 2014-07-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I cant thank you enough for leading this Special Order. Again. the passion that you have shown in your service here in the United States Congress really speaks to what Americans send their representatives to the Congress for. to be problem solvers. I am going to use the word "pray." I pray that there is a reformed Chairman RYAN. Congressman RYAN. because I have come from my district. you go to your district. and we see the pain. I see the pain of those who have not been able to secure an unemployment insurance extension. I live with the value of the earned income tax credit. I am going to spend a little time on that. My son. some many years ago as a young man. volunteered with the HOPE Project. He went to New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina and was able to work with the victimsthe survivors. they like to be called. and they wereof Hurricane Katrina in applying for their earned income tax credit. It was a lifeline for people who had worked. So I just want to end on this note by thanking you. by saying that there are people who are waiting for the Congress to act. to pass the earned income tax credit. raise the minimum wage. extend unemployment insurance. pass the middle class package of the Democrats. and work on behalf of the American people.
Date: 2014-07-25
Speaker: JIM MCGOVERN (democrat)
Chamber: H

BARBARA LEE. and myself and our staffs to get this language so that we could debate it today. As James Madison said: "The power to declare war. including the power of judging the causes of war. is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature." Unfortunately. we in Congress have for too long abdicated our constitutional responsibility to authorize the use of military force. This began. for me personally. with my vote for the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq. which is one of the biggest regrets during my tenure of Congress in voting for that. With that vote. we gave up our constitutional authority on one of the most important decisions a Member of Congress can make: the decision to send American men and women into war to possibly die. Madam Speaker. it is my hope that one day. we in Congress will repeal the 2001 and the 2002 AUMF. Until that time comes. I believe that today represents a strong step toward reclaiming the constitutional power that we each have and are entrusted with. to make decisions about going to war or declaring war. I cannot emphasize enough that no decision is more important for a Member of Congress than a vote to send young men and women to fight and to die for our country. The main text of this resolution is simple. The President shall not deploy or maintain United States Armed Forces in a sustained combat role in Iraq without specific statutory authorization. Madam Speaker. this is what Madison meant when he said. "The power to declare war. including the power of judging the causes of war. is fully and exclusively vested in the legislature."
Date: 2014-07-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. as a senior member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 105. a resolution prohibiting the President from deploying or maintaining United States Armed Forces in sustained combat roles in Iraq unless specifically authorized by Congress by statute enacted after the date of adoption of the resolution. The war in Iraq caused a lot of unearned suffering in Iraq and here at home. This is the same war. Madam Speaker. whose proponents misrepresented to the nation would last no more than six months and likely less than six weeks. This same war in Iraq. we were led to believe by the Bush Administration. would cost less than $50 billion and would be paid out of the ample revenues from Iraqs oil fields. The war in Iraq. the American people were promised. should have ended years ago with Americans troops greeted as liberators by jubilant Iraqis throwing rose petals at their feet. As I and my colleagues in the Progressive Caucus and the Out of Iraq Caucus forecast at the time. the starryeyed. rosy scenarios laid out by President Bush. VicePresident Cheney. and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld would come to pass in fantasy land. but not in the cold. hard world of reality which they refused to live in. The war in Iraq lasted longer than Americas involvement in World War II. the greatest conflict in all of human history. But there was a difference. The Second World War ended in complete and total victory for the United States and its allies. But then again. in that conflict America was led by FDR. a great CommanderinChief. who had a plan to win the war and secure the peace. listened to his generals. and sent troops in sufficient numbers and sufficiently trained and equipped to do the job. As a result of the colossal miscalculation in deciding to invade Iraq. the Armed Forces and the people of the United States suffered incalculable damage. The war in Iraq claimed the lives of 4.484 brave servicemen and women. More than 24.600 Americans were wounded. many suffering the most horrific injuries. American taxpayers paid more than $800 billion to sustain this misadventure. The depth. breadth. and scope of the misguided. mismanaged. and misrepresented war in Iraq is utterly without precedent in American history. It was a tragedy in a league all its own. And it must never be repeated. That is why I strongly support H. Con. Res. 105 and urge all my colleagues to join me.
Date: 2014-07-25
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I join with dozens of religious. child. tax. and poverty organizations to strongly oppose H.R. 4935 because it would push an estimated 12 million people. including 6 million children. into deeper poverty. The child tax credit is one of the most effective tax benefits for families with children and is a shining example of smart Federal investment. The credit encourages work. raises millions of children from poverty. and helps grow economies and support businesses. Rather than strengthening this antipoverty program. the bill will take awayeviscerate. wipe outbenefits for the most vulnerable Americans. denying financial assistance for basic necessities. like rent and food. and eliminating an average of $1.800 from lowwage families per year. The child tax credit was designed to help hardworking. lowincome families meet the needs of their children. but this child tax credit bill harms these families and threatens the wellbeing of millions of American children. In reality. the bill does exactly the opposite of what the child tax credit was designed to do. In essence. you could really call it the "Reverse Robin Hood Child Tax Credit" billtake from the poor. benefit the more affluent. I urge that we vote "no."