macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1995-07-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise is support of the proposed agreement between all of the parties concerned and the gentleman from New York . and endorse it. Mr. Chairman. in light of recent compromises I rise to support the removal of requirements within the Agriculture Appropriation bill which limit funding for work on the February 3. 1995. Pathogen Reduction/HACCP proposed regulation. Agriculture Secretary Glickman has offered a reasonable resolution. as laid out in his July 18. 1995. letter to Mr. WALSH. the author of the limitation language. that allows for the rule development to proceed on schedule but grants additional input for stakeholders on a major regulatory change: The controversy surrounding the development of a rule for our meat and poultry inspection system pertaining to microbiological pathogens and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point methodology was over the process of how the rule is developed. Unfortunately. some in the media has started to turn this controversy into a discussion over whether children would or would not die because of this particular proposed regulation. It is always a human tragedy when anyone dies due to foodborne disease and especially children who have their entire lives ahead of them. But I feel it is important lo understand that the Secretarys letter makes commitments assuring that there is a continued development of a good rule that improves our meat and poultry inspection system. A rule that all can support. A rule that will minimize potential lawsuits concerning the final regulation which could cause real delays in meat and poultry inspection reforms. It is also important to note that modernization of the inspection system through a spirit of cooperation of all stakeholders is paramount to realize real improvements in the safety of the meat supply. The most important guidelight for all interested in changes to our food safety system must be the best science that can be afforded. The entire process should be driven by sound science not politics. I cannot emphasize enough that this rule is but a step in a continuous series of steps where the goal is reducing foodborne illness. Note that I said reducing foodborne illness. not eliminating it. Elimination of foodborne illness is not a reality. It is scientifically and economically impossible to achieve zero foodborne risks at this time and it becomes a disservice to the public to imply that the Government can supply or regulate a food delivery system into one without risks. but one we can rely on and that the people can trust and give us the maximum protection possible. I want to thank Secretary Glickman for his involvement in the matter and his interest in. restoring confidence in the process. I commend Mr. WALSH of New York for his leadership in finding a path of compromise in which all sides win.
Date: 1995-07-21
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today. and I am glad my colleague from Arizona talked about it. to take exception with the Republican plan to save Medicare. Only in Washington can they say that they are going to save Medicare and cut $270 billion. and then give a $245 billion tax cut. They are telling the American people they are saving the system. Well. that does not play in Houston. TX. Maybe it plays in Arizona. We are smarter than that. I have a letter from a senior citizen in my district. She had an ear infection and went to an HMO. which is what they want to force senior citizens to go to. She had to wait 2 months before she could see a doctor for an ear infection. That is a long time to have your ear hurt. I think the Republicans are moving too fast when they talk about even waiting until September to change senior citizen health care to managed care. Still they want to give that $245 billion tax cut and cut $270 billion in growth in Medicare. Only in Washington can somebody get away with saying we are saving the system. but we are cutting $270 billion.
Date: 1995-07-21
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. as the House considers the Transportation appropriations legislation. I wanted to take this opportunity to mention something that is important to south Texas and the nation as a wholeI am referring to the need for improvements along U.S. Highways 291 and 77 to enhance commerce with our trade partners to the north and south. U.S. Highways 281 and 77 are the two main northsouth transportation arteries in south Texas. They are located in a region that is experiencing the fastest growth of anywhere in Texas and anywhere else in the country. for that matter. Already. the North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA] has greatly increased commerce travelling these highways and the area is expected to absorb even more traffic. Initiatives to improve and enhance U.S. Highways 281 and 77 are critical elements of a nationwide transportation system that will tie together major economic centers of our Nation with Canada and Mexico. At this juncture when we are at the threshold of a new era in intemational trade. we can ill afford to allow our infrastructure to become deteriorated and congested. We must anticipate and prepare for the most efficient and safe flow of goods entering and exiting the United States. We can do so by improving and enhancing U.S. Highways 281 and 77 through south Texas.
Date: 1995-07-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to this amendment. and not to attempt to repeat everything that has been said. but this amendment will interfere with a number of projects already started. In Dallas alone. it will interfere with 64.000 jobs. with the capacity to increase the worth and the amount of revenue into the billions of dollars. Mr. Chairman. this amendment will stop transportation routes that have already begun. that would get people to work. to their homes. and then provide jobs. I would ask all of my colleagues to vote against this amendment.
Date: 1995-07-25
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Republicans are accusing Democrats of scaring senior citizens. Seniors should be scared because we do not have a plan yet from the Republicans. only leaked documents that lead us to believe Republicans plan to cut the program substantially. And sc I ask one question: Why the secret or the stealth attack on Medicare? Why are the Republicans proposing deep and devastating cuts in the programs for seniors over the next 7 years? Well. they would answer they are trying to save the program from bankruptcy. At least that is what they have been told to say by their pollsters. They are being told to tell them you are saving the program. but they are really gutting it. Let us think back to the last session of Congress. the 103d session. when Republicans attacked the Democratic plan to shore up Medicare. I remember there was not one Republican vote that helped pass that plan. Now let us ask: Why are you raiding Medicare to balance the budget while at the same time providing huge tax cuts that almost equal the same amount that you are cutting for Medicare over the next 7 years? Frankly. if it were up to Republicans. Medicare would not even exist today. But for many years now. Medicare has proven time and time again that it is one of the true success stories of our Government. It has dramatically improved the health care of our seniors and never again will older Americans have to choose between health care and rent or food. MEDICARE
Date: 1995-07-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman. the reason for EDA was to help with infrastructure. to help underdeveloped areas. and to help with jobs. That is the name of the game. Mr. Chairman. In my area. I can point to a foreign trade zone. I can point to a shrimp boat harbor. I can point to all of the areas where we have developed with the help of EDA in cooperation with the local communities. I do not know that we need any more than strong oversight by the appropriations subcommittee and by the committee of jurisdiction. I know that there are some practices that need to be changed. Maybe there are some people that need to be replaced. But I can say that my experience with EDA has been very positive and we have worked together. I would like to mention Joe Bailey Swanner. who was the regional director for EDA when I first came to the Congress. He was a professional amongst the professionals. He did what needed to be done. The jobs are there. the infrastructure is there. I can say. Wednesday 26. 1995 "Thank you. Joe Bailey Swanner. Thank you. EDA." All of the other things can be corrected by oversight. yes. maybe they need to change some practices and change some people. Otherwise. I think they do not deserve the fate that is pronounced for them here. EDA has served my area well and I am happy to support them.
Date: 1995-07-27
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. elected officials should listen more and talk less. I listened today while my Republican colleagues talked about how they intend to save Medicare. What they did not say is how they reduce expected needs of Medicare $270 billion over 7 years and still cut taxes $245 billion. Cut taxes. cut Medicare. -Does that balance out? Medicare. There is an estimated $44 billion in fraud and abuse in the Medicare system. Maybe we do have some agreement on both sides. and we can cut fraud and abuse and still provide for senior health care. However. it also appears that the new Republican majority is cutting personnel in the Health Care Financing Administration. the GAO. who investigate the fraud in Medicare. Furthermore. the account in the LaborHHS appropriation bill is $2 million below -last year for finding fraud. waste. and abuse. We need to save Medicare by cutting the fraud. but only in Washington can a $270 billion cut be said it is to save the program. We do not need to repeal the original contract with American seniors in 1965.. Happy birthdayMedicare.
Date: 1995-07-27
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the future. of our manned space program. This space station is not. as some people call it. a porkbarrel program. It is the excitement of our era. the international space station. Mr. Chairman. I serve on the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. and every school I go into and I talk about space and space exploration. the children light up whether they are in the poorest neighborhoods or the richest neighborhoods. That is the future of our country. The opponents of the space station have argued that this program costs too much. The truth is that every dollar spent on space programs returns at least $2 in direct and indirect benefits. Our commitment to Americas future today will accelerate breakthroughs in technology and engineering that will have immediate. practical applications for life on Earth. It will inspire our children. foster the next generation of scientists. engineers. and satisfy humanitys ancient need to explore and achieve. A robust space station program assures our students that they are critical to the Nationthat they are the next generationand that the thrill of just beginning starts with them whethei they are in kindergartenor in the 2th grade. By voting in favor of this space station. again the Obey amendment. my colleagues can confirm their equipment to the science of learning. I ask my colleagues that they base their decision on the art of science and not the art of politics of the moment.
Date: 1995-07-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman. I want to bring another perspective to this debate. One is that I sefved in the Navy at the end of World War II and then I served during the Korean war. I was in theReserves in between. One of the regrets of my life is that I never got to register for the draft. Mr. Chairman. the perspective in my area. though. is we have high schools waiting for ROTC. we have colleges waiting for ROTC. Registering raises the consciousness of our youth. and I think that it is a pride. Mr. Chairman. I know that there is a technical aspect to it to have to enlist and to be prepared. but it adds to our young peoples consciousness that we have a country. that we have fought wars. and that there may be the possibility of other wars. I think that the money is very little for the effort that is done mostly by volunteers. but I think tht young people deserve the opportunity to show that they want to serve their country.
Date: 1995-07-28
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. I take this time to advise the distinguished subcommittee chairman that I follow up on the colloquy which he just had with the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida. I want to add .that we have the exact same problem in Texas and. particularly in south Texas. where we are 25 miles away from a VA hospital. Although we have a clinic that is doing its best. the allocations are not favorable because in the wintertime. we have an influx of veterans from the midwestern States. The allocation gives their States the amount but the services are rendered in another State. I would like to apprise the distinguished gentleman of that fact and would hope that he would work with us in trying to arrive at an equitable solution.
Date: 1995-07-28
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman. I appreciate the work he has done within the constraints of the budget. But nonetheless. somehow we need to arrive at some equitable solution to these problems. and I thank him for his cooperation.
Date: 1995-07-28
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. further reserving the right to object. I yield to our distinguished colleague. the gentleman from North Carolina .
Date: 1995-07-28
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this bill is the culmination of difficult negotiations to reform PACA. I want to commend Members. staff. USDA. and all the stakeholders for their commitment to reform. and their commitment to an efficient and effective PACA Program. This bill will assure the continuation of a strong PACA Program. to protect the buyers and sellers of fruits and vegetables and to benefit the American consumer. It will guarantee the fiscal integrity of the PACA and give authority to the Secretary of. Agriculture to adjust fees as necessary. A new fee structure will be imposed on the program by this bill. and although retailers and wholesalers will no longer be required to pay license fees after 3 years. everyone will still be required to obtain a PACA license and will still be subject to all of the provisions of the PACA Program. Additional needed reforms are made by the bill. including the authority for paperless trusts. which will reduce paperwork and program costs. All parties to this agreement have assured us that they will continue to support it when it reaches the Senate. I expect it to be handled expeditiously by the Senate. and signed by the President. and I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation. Mr. Speaker. I withdraw my reservation of objection.
Date: 1995-07-31
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 701. a bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey lands to the city of Rolla. MO. H.R. 701 is nearly identical to H.R. 3426 that was introduced in the 103d Congress by Congressman EMERSON. H.R. 3426 was passed by unanimous consent in the House after being discharged by the Agriculture Committee at the very end of the session. The Senate took no action on the bill before adjoumment. H.R. 701 authorizes the city of Rolla to pay fair market value for the lands described by the bill. The city may pay for the land in full within 6 months of conveyance or. at the opton of the city. pay for land in annual payments over 20 years with no interest. If the 20year option is taken. the payments must be put in a Sisk Act Fund where they will be available. subject to appropriation. until expended by the Secretary. The bill also releases the U.S. Forest Service from liability due to hazardous wastes found on the property that were not identified prior to conveyance and requires the preservation of historic resource on the property.
Date: 1995-07-31
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1874. a bill to modify the boundaries of the Talladega National Forest. This bill is a commonsense attempt to streamline and make more costefficient the management of our national forests by transferring two small tracts. of adjacent Bureau of Land Management [BLM] land to theTalladega National Forest in Alabama. I commend our colleague.
Date: 1995-08-01
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Speaker

on Monday. July my district conducting scheduled townhall me therefore. missed rollcal through 607. These events at the time with informati House leadership that the not be casting votes on Jul I am including in the R would have voted on rollca No. 601-"yes". No. 602603-"yes". No. 604--"no "yes". No. 606-"yes". ai "no".
Date: 1995-08-01
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. every time I stand in this Chamber I think about its grand history and how privileged I am to serve in this illustrious institution. Today we gather to pay tribute to someone who in his own way is an institution himselfKeith Jewell. Director of the House Office of Photography. For a great number of my colleagues it is hard to remember a time when Keith was not here. Having started in 1966. the year after I came to Congress. he has been a part of our every day lives for almost 30 years. In that time has served as the official documenter of so many of our activitiesboth grand. momentous historical events. and also the small. intimate moments that mean so much personally to each of us. He has done this in an exemplary fashion. Keith Jewell has been an integral part of the operation of the House. He has contributed to its running more efficiently and has always been a welcome and engaging presence. I think I speak for a great number of us when I say that he has touched all of our lives. Let me say thank you for a job every well done. Were going to miss you.
Date: 1995-08-02
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I come from a very lowincome area of this country. but it has an obsession with education. We have seen the education of our children. the migrant children. the children of the poor. It could not have been done without the assistance of the Federal Government. . When I came here 30 years ago. the issue was should the Federal Government be involved or not in education. The answer was yes. and I can show Members the difference. There are now doctors. lawyers. engineers. with Spanish surnames that would have never been. relying solely on the income from the local school districts or from the State. I did not come here to dismantle the educational system of the United States. I came to enhance it. We have enhanced it. I am concerned now- that there is a move to dismantle it. It should not be done. We keep hearing about not putting a burden on our children and our grandchildren. The best thing we can do for our children and grandchildren is to give them an education. If we dismantle the Federal part. we would have done wrong to future generations.
Date: 1995-08-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Members. this rule makes it far too easy for the Republican majority to target children. seniors. and working families with these cuts. What we are seeing is a finalization. I guess. of the budget resolution we passed here earlier that required this bill to have these substantial cuts in education. senior programs. and for children programs and for working families. Let me talk about the education cuts since I serve on that committee here in
Date: 1995-08-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. like a lot of the other colleagues on this side of the aisle. I think this today Is a defining moment in our short term in the 104th Congress. We have dealt with a great many of the appropriations bills. but when we see what is happening to the education and job training provisions and the Department of Labor. we see where the intent really is. Like my colleague from Arkansas. who is on the other side of the aisle. I would like to balance the budget and aim for that glide path to a balanced budget. But the way this bill is doing it is the wrong way to do it. We hear every morning in our 1minutes and all during these appropriations bills how we need to balance the budget. to save our childrens futures So our grandchildren and children are not going to have to pay off the debt. This bill cuts job training. education funding. so those children will not be able to have that education to be able to even afford themselves much less pay off the debt. We have to look to the future in our country. That is the beauty of our Nation. We have children that are in elementary school now who are utilizing chapterI funding to be a better citizen 10 years from now. 12 years from now. By voting for this bill today and cutting the funds now instead of expecting that investment in those children. we are cutting off our nose to spite our face. It is amazing that we are willing to say we want to save our children from what they are going to have td pay. and yet we are cutting public education funding and we are cutting student loans.
Date: 1995-08-02
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I am proud to serve on the committee. the authorizing committee. and let me talk about some of the things that are being cut. The job training. 17 percent less than what was spent last year. dislocated workers. 31 percent less than what was spent last year. the schooltowork that our ranking member talked about. 22 percent. Schooltowork is a program designed to be successful because it takes those young people who may graduate from high school and not have anything to do. but it gets them before they get there. so they can have that skill that they will be able to sell. This bill takes away our future because it .cuts the job training for the young people. It cuts the adult training for people who arez laid off. the dislocated workers. -It cuts the summer jobs for next year. I know- on the rescission bill we fought long and hard and had summer jobs restored for this year. That is great. But if our chairman of the committee. the gentleman from Louisiana . said anything. we need more than the 1.000 jobs- that we may have in Houston. We need 18.000. I hope private business will step up like he said and do it. But that does not mean we need to cut out the summer jobs that are across the country that are provided by the summer youth program. In Houston we have 6.000 young people who would not be working this summer without that. If we pass this bill today. they will not have that job next summer. We need to triple that amount but not to cut it from the Federal program.