macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-29
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of this muchneeded legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits through November 2010. Though we are showing signs of economic recovery. millions of Americans remain out of work through no fault of their own. Without this extension. an estimated 1.7 million individuals will lose their unemployment benefits by July 3. 2010. This legislation would help these individuals and their families by retroactively restoring the benefits that they began losing as early as the end of May. We need to help those families who are struggling to make ends meet. Protecting the middle class. rebuilding our economy. and providing job growth remains our top priority. While there has been five consecutive months of job growth. much more work needs to be done to make up for the 8 million jobs lost while we continue to rebuild the economy. We inherited an economic mess that favored corporate special interests at the expense of the middle class. And we are still cleaning up that mess. Extending these benefits is not only the right thing to do for these families. but at the same time it will help the economy as a whole. If individuals are unable to buy food and pay their mortgages or rent. the economy could slide back into recession. Mr. Speaker. we wouldnt be here if our Republican colleagues in the Senate had blocked previous legislation to extend unemployment benefits. I urge all my colleagues not turn our backs on those Americans who are out of a job and continue to struggle to find work.
Date: 2010-06-29
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 5618. Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act. If there is a single federal program that is absolutely critical to people in communities all across this Nation at this time. it would be unemployment compensation benefits. People cannot function without some means to subsist. while continuing to look for work that in many places in the country is just not there. Families have to feed children. Unemployed workers. many of whom rely on public transportation. need to be able to get to potential employers places of work. Utility payments must be paid. Most people use their unemployment benefits to pay for the basics. No one is getting rich from unemployment benefits. because the weekly benefit checks are solely providing for basic food. medicine. gasoline and other necessary things many individuals with no other means of income are not able to afford. Personal and family savings have been exhausted and 401 (ks) have been tapped. leaving many individuals and families desperate for some type of assistance until the economy improves and additional jobs are created. The extension of unemployment benefits for the longterm unemployed is an emergency. You do not play with peoples lives when there is an emergency. Unemployment is an emergency. Just ask someone who has been unemployed and looking for work. and they will tell you the same. With a national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. preventing and prolonging people from receiving unemployment benefits is a national tragedy. In the city of Houston. the unemployment rate stands at 8.3 percent. with more than 241.152 individuals remaining unemployed. Indeed. I cannot tell you how difficult it has been to explain to my constituents who are unemployed that there will be no further extension of unemployment benefits until the Congress acts. Whether the justification for inaction is the size of the debt or the need for deficit reduction. it is clear that it is more prudent to act immediately to give individuals and families looking for work a means to survive the hot summer of 2010only made more unbearable by this nonsensical approach to their plight. H.R. 5618 is just the right measure at the right time. The legislation will send a message to the Nations unemployed. that this Congress is dedicated to helping those trying to help themselves. Until the economy begins to create more jobs at a much faster pace. and the various stimulus programs continue to accelerate project activity in the economy. we cannot sit idly and ignore the unemployed. As such. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
Date: 2010-06-29
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 5611. the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010: Part II. This Act would extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund as well as extend authorizations for the airport improvement program. The Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) provides much needed funding to assist in our Federal commitment to the Nations aviation system. Such funding is necessary for the development of our nationwide airport and airway system as well as for investments in air traffic control facilities to meet the current and future projected growth in aviation. The Trust Fund provides 100 percent of the funding for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport grants. facilities and equipment. and research. engineering. and development. Allocations are also provided to the Airport Improvement Program (ALP). and Facilities and Equipment. (F&E) and funding from the Trust Fund also helps support basic FAA operations. I would like to emphasize that the AAFT trust fund was not created solely to finance aviation infrastructure. Throughout its history. it has financed a wide array of operations including administrative expenses. attributable to the administration of the airport improvement program and research and development. as well as general FAA operations. It is very important that this funding be continued. While the trust fund pays a large share of the bills for the FAA to operate the national airspace system. a troubling gap has grown between the revenue that comes in and what it costs to govern the FAA. This has sharply driven down the Trust Funds uncommitted balance. its surpluses from previous years. If this trend continues in our poor economic state where airlines are cutting benefits and increasing prices. the future of American aviation is grim. Mr. Speaker I am concerned for the future of American aviationespecially for the future of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport located in my home district of Houston. Texas. Current airport standards are not only threatened by decreased FAA funding but also by the proposed merger of Continental and United Airlines. the former of which is based in Houston. Should this merger be allowed. the future of American aviation in regards to customer satisfaction. safety standards. and general flight. would slowly decline. We cannot add to such destruction by denying the FAA appropriate funds through the AATF. As the airline industry continues to grow and serve more and more Americans. it is our duty to the American people to ensure that the future of airport security. infrastructure and improvement. research and development. continue to develop to better serve our needs. For these reasons Mr. Speaker. I support H.R. 5611. the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010: Part I1.
Date: 2010-06-29
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I wish to thank Congress members DAHLKEMPER. KRATOVIL and CHILDERS for introducing this important and muchneeded piece of legislation. The mortgage crisis continues to affect millions of Americans. and has greatly interfered with the American dream of home ownership. It is imperative that we help everyday Americans in their effort to remain afloat in light of the ongoing effects of the economic meltdown. For these reasons. I support the proposed amendments to this Act which will extend the closing deadline for the FirstTime Homebuyer tax credit to September 30. 2010. The housing market is an area that was. perhaps. the most largely affected by the economic crisis. As of January. 2010. there were 315.716 foreclosures on properties in the United States reported just within the month. Additionally. 1 in every 409 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in the same month. Texas received the sixth highest number of foreclosure filings in January. 2010. As of March. 2010. the foreclosure rate in Houston. Texas had increased by almost ten percent from the previous month. Although our economy appears to be on the path to recovery. these statistics are still cause for concern. The programs set in place to counteract the effects of the economic downturn have attracted many ordinary Americans who are desperate to keep their homes. The firsttime homebuyer tax credit. specifically. represented positive steps to guide ordinary Americans towards financial recovery. However. it is important to allow all who are eligible. and especially all who require the help. to benefit from the tax credit by extending the closing deadline. There has been a delay in processing due to all the new mortgages that have resulted from the tax credit. However. ordinary Americans who have attempted to obtain new mortgages. and are sincerely in need of the aid provided through the tax credit should not be punished for the backlog that resulted from factors entirely outside of their control. We are all familiar with the ongoing effects of the economic meltdown. Jobs have been lost. homes have been foreclosed upon. and many have been left with no source of income or livelihood. In addition. many Americans have been stripped of the ability to achieve a goal that they have. in certain instances. worked decades to attainowning a home. Extending the tax credit will provide everyday citizens with an opportunity to realize this dream. even in the midst of a recovering economy.
Date: 2010-06-29
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I was detained when my colleagues were on the floor of the House paying tribute to Senator BYRD and did not want this time to go without acknowledging my deep sympathy to his family and to my good friend from West Virginia and to acknowledge how special this man was to the institution we call Congress and to the freedom that this Nation stands for. I cannot account for my personal encounters with Senator BYRD. but I can tell you. as someone who respects and loves this institution. what a man who understood the Constitution and rules that were not for selfish reasons. to keep people from being in power. but really it was to empower people. He had no qualms in standing up against Presidential authority that was wrong in the Iraq War. He had no qualms in fighting to ensure that resources came to his great State. He loved the institution. He was a holder of knowledge. and what we will lose with his passing is that special sensitivity to the rules and to the responsibility we have to not play politics with this institution. We are here to serve America. and Senator BYRD did serve America. May God rest his soul and may he rest in peace. Senator BYRD. we will miss you.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I rise today to recognize and honor the life and service of Marine Corporal Kevin Cueto of San Jose. California. who was killed in action on June 24. 2010. in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He was 23 years old. Kevin was born in Santa Clara County. and grew up in San Jose. moving to Campbell while in high school to live with his dad. At Westmont High School. Kevin was a member of the football. baseball. and wrestling teams. as well as the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Following high school. determined to serve his country and his family. Kevin enlisted in the Marines. and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion. 7th Marine Regiment. 1st Marine Division. Marine Expeditionary Force. based in Twentynine Palms. California. Corporal Cueto served a tour in Iraq in 2009 before being deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year. Last week. he was tragically killed when his patrol was struck by a roadside bomb while conducting combat operations. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart. the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. the National Defense Service Medal. and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Corporal Cueto leaves behind his parents and a younger brother. I extend my sincerest gratitude to him and my condolences to his family. I ask every Member of the House to join me in honoring his service to our country.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. tell me its not true. Republicans again are attacking Social Security. Yesterday. our minority leader indicated that he wanted sweeping cuts in Social Security. Sounds like d6ja vu when the Republicans stood sidebyside saying "privatize Social Security." Can you believe that the Republicans are now standing with raising the age for retirees to get Social Security to age 70? Can you believe there will be a means test that you wont be able to get Social Security if you earn a certain amount? Can you believe they want to take this money to pay for the Iraq and Afghan war? Can you believe theyre fighting Democrats to not extend unemployment benefits? Can you believe that they are fighting us from creating jobs. as Democrats are doing. giving opportunities to small businesses. I really cant believe it. Mr. Speaker. Here we go againcutting our seniors again. raising the Social Security means test as a way of saving money. What are we going to do? Fight back as Democrats and stand with our seniors.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on rollcall Nos. 402. 403. 404. and 405. had I been present. I would have voted "yea" on each.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of taxpayers in California who will no longer be on the hook when Wall Street fails. This body has spent the last 3 years dealing with the fallout from the financial crisis. In my district in southern California. weve seen lost jobs. homes. businesses. and shattered dreams of financial security. These challenges were in large part the result of an ineffective. and in some places. nonexistent regulatory system. This encouraged risk and allowed financial institutions to operate in a lawless environment where there were no consequences for their actions. The legislation that we put forth today seeks to fix those failures and provide families nationwide with the security of knowing that future financial challenges will be the result of honest markets. not crooked traders. Honesty is what this bill is about. We all support a free market and the ability of each business to succeed or fail on its own merits. This landmark legislation allows that competition to take place on a level playing field. It will help prevent another crisis like the one were still recovering from. Im surprised that theres opposition to this legislation. After what our country has been through. how can anyone oppose bringing credit default swaps out into the sunshine? How can anyone oppose allowing shareholders a say on executive compensation? Or a framework that prevents future bailouts by allowing companies that deserve to fail because theyre engaging in risky practices to fail? Families in the 39th District of California will be more secure because of the action that we are taking today. I thank our leadership. Chairman FRANK. and the conferees for their hard work and urge my colleagues to pass this legislation.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. this is a very emotional time for many Americans as they look at pending unemployment. long months of addressing the question of how they pay their mortgage. and reflecting on how we got to this place. That is why I stand today to support the underlying rule and this financial accountability complex legislation that has taken many. many hours and days and weeks for us to come up with a way to say to America. We heard you. And so the first point of this bill is that there will be no taxpayerpaid bailouts. And then for the first time the consumers of America will have their own personal advocacy. They will have the Consumer Protection Board that will look at credit card increases and outlandish interest rates. They will have an oversight board that will look at how they address the question of banking loans. Small businesses will be able to access credit. There will be transparency and accountability. What is there to be opposed to? Those who happen to be included in minority- and womenowned businesses will for the first time not be stopped at the door to access credit. Then of course well be able to have an oversight board that will forever eliminate the words "too big to fail." Experts who will continuously look at the infrastructure of this financial system. We know that capitalism is strong. but it must be a strong system that has a heart. that can withstand the scrutiny of those who are seeking to find the weaknesses. We have to stand with the consumer so that the consumer does not fall victim to the too big to fail who were willing to take risks because they were padding their pockets. This is the right decision that is now being made. and this bill will provide you with the oversight and the protective coverage for the banking consumer. Support the underlying rule and this bill. Stand with the American people and make a difference.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the purpose of the Wall Street accountability bill is very clear: Never again should the American taxpayer be asked to foot the bill for bad bets made on Wall Street. Never again should millions of Americans have to lose their jobs because of reckless conduct on Wall Street. Never again will we allow the American economy to be held hostage to bad decisions on Wall Street and in the financial sector. Unfortunately. Mr. Speaker. our colleagues on the other side of the aisle havent gotten that message. Having stood in this Chamber and having voted to help rescue Wall Street and the financial sector. they are not there for Main Street today. I think some headlines are instructive. The Wall Street Journal. February 4. 2010: "GOP chases Wall Street Donors." "In discussions with Wall Street executives. Republicans are striving to make the case that they are the banks best hope of preventing President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats from cracking down on Wall Street." Roll Call. December 8. 2009: "House GOP meets with 100 Lobbyists to plot to kill Wall Street Reform." "In a call to arms. House Republican leaders met with more than 100 lobbyists at the Capitol Visitors Center on Tuesday afternoon to try to fight back against financial regulatory overhaul legislation." That is the story of this debate. and the choice is clear: Are we going to be on the side of the big banks. which held the American economy hostage. which resulted in the loss of millions of jobs. and which left the taxpayers on the hook. or are we going to stay on the side of the consumers. taxpayers. American workers. and small businesses? The choice is very clear. Back in December. every one of our Republican colleagues voted "no" on Wall Street accountability. Lets hope. this time. they stand on the side of the American taxpayer and of the American consumer and make the right choice for the American people.
Date: 2010-06-30
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about H.R. 4173. the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Credit unions have been good stewards of our money. I say our money. because while they have not been eligible for any of the TARP funds. they have not been involved in the subprime loan situation many have blamed as causing this economic crisis. When the stimulus went into effect. Credit Unions were the only ones trying to lend money. I have been hearing a lot from the credit unions and community banks in my district regarding the debit interchange provision. I am very concerned that the interchange provision may have the unintended consequence of adversely affecting these small financial institutions. I know they are intended to be carvedout of this provision and I hope that my colleagues will join me in encouraging the Federal Reserve and the card payment networks to make sure that the carveout envisioned under this provision is meaningful and effective. I was pleased to read the statement from Chairman FRANK restating his views of the interchange amendment included in the conference report. I urge him to work with the Credit Union National Association as it works with the Fed to ensure that credit unions with under $10 billion in assets were held exempt from the Fed interchange changes. Chairman FRANKs statement gives the Fed strong guidance to follow when this bill becomes law. In conclusion. the Interchange language exempts all community banks and credit unions with under $10 billion in assets. To achieve this. we: included language that explicitly prohibits intrabrand discrimination. Thus. if a merchant takes a Visa debit card. it must take all Visa debit cards. Also exempted credit cards. As Chairman FRANK has noted. "for good measure . . . merchants and retailers cannot discriminate against small banks for the credit cards they issue." Furthermore. when the Federal Reserve issues rules regulating interchange fees. it is directed. in Chairman FRANKs words. "to ensure that community banks and credit unions remain exempt from the requirements and are able to continue to issue their debit cards without any market penalty." This exempts all but three credit unions nationwide. Beyond this. here are additional measures in the Interchange amendment that more broadly benefit working families: fixed states concerns by removing governmentadministered pay programs from interchange fee regulation. Fixed concerns of prepaid folks who offer services to the underbanked by removing them from interchange fee regulation. With respect to this. we also added proconsumer language that SANDER LEVIN has in a bill to prohibit overdraft fees and fees on the first monthly ATM withdrawal using one of these cards. Ensured that USDAs SNAP. food stamp. program is not affected. I look forward to passage of this bill and the fair treatment of Credit Unions by the Federal Reserve.