macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-18
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I oppose this constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The legislation before us today is nothing more than an attempt by the Republican leadership to exploit a wedge issue that panders to their political base and diverts attention from their abysmal record of nonaccomplishment and rubberstamping the incompetence of the Bush Administration. As wq get closer to the end of this Congress. we should be addressing the urgent needs of the American peoplethe war in Iraq. affordable health care. a sensible energy policy. quality education for our children. retirement security. and a sound and fair fiscal policy. Whatever ones view is on same sex marriage. amending the Constitution is not the place to address this issue. The laws goveming marriage fall under the domain of the states and that is where this issue should be addressed. Amendments to the Constitution have historically expanded. not diminished. the rights and liberties of the American people. We should not use the Constitution as a political tool to divide us. The American people will see through the motivations behind this amendmentto distract the American people from the failed record of the Republican leadership in the Congress. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to work to unite the American people. address the real issues facing our Nation. and reject this amendment.
Date: 2006-07-18
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to support House Resolution 784. the resolution that commends Iraqs first and only radio station for women. As the women of Iraq continue to fight for their rightful place in society. we must recognize the avenues they have engineered for themselves that provide the forum for practicing their right to be heard. Established in 2005. the radio station is appropriately named alMahaba. which means "love" in Arabic. is the first and only independent womens radio station in Iraq. The station was funded by UNIFEM. a United Nations agency that supports womens issues. and is not affiliated to any political party. Having returned from a recent Codel trip to Iraq. I was very fortunate to have met with women representatives from the radio station who expressed their commitment to womens issues. These strong and courageous women understand much too well the importance of taking a stand against oppression and know they have found a new sense of empowerment. The stations purpose is to reconcile womens rights. which have been arbitrarily taken away by political regimes. and to encourage them to face their fears and learn to assert themselves as women. I support the format facilitated by the radio station because it provides women with a long overdue venue where they can tell their stories. share their ambitions and express their fears. When calling the radio station. these women address a wide range of personal and political issues that have a direct affect on them as women. The format allows them to candidly share enduring numerous- beatings from their husbands. share their frustrations with the consistent pressure from religious groups to wear the hijab. and express their fear of having a strict form of Islamic Law imbedded in their society. For women who feel as forgotten members of society. the radio station provides them a haven to freely express themselves without fear of judgment or persecution. These women endure immense atrocities and oppressions and we must support and recognize their efforts to assert themselves as strong voices in Iraqs society.
Date: 2006-07-18
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of this resolution and to congratulate Magen David Adorn Society for achieving full membership in the International Red Cross. Magen David Adorn (MDA). Israels firstaid and disaster relief organization. was granted full membership into the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society on June 21. 2006. The decision. which took place in Geneva. Switzerland at the 29th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent voted to accept both the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom. Both organizations are now full voting members. and received crucial funding to assist in their lifesaving work. Internationally. MDA has served in crisis spots around the world for 50 years alongside Red Cross. bringing emergency relief to victims of hurricanes. floods. and earthquakes. Earlier this year. MDA specialists flew to Romania to assist the local population with the disastrous flooding of the River Danube. During the Katrina nightmare. MDA started "United Brotherhood" to collect donations. clothing and equipment in Israel to help meet the needs of the 400.000 homeless along the American gulf coast. The relief effort after Southeast Asian tsunamifound MDA running two emergency clinics in Sri Lanka and providing thousands of blood units. At every turn. the MDA has offered their help to nations in need. Mr. Speaker. I applaud the International Red Cross for granting MDA full membership. and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution congratulating the Magen David Adorn Society.
Date: 2006-07-18
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. Members of the House. the offshore oil drilling legislation that passed the House last month has a lot of problems. One of its biggest failings is that the bill overrides and ignores the longstanding. bipartisan objection to new drilling off the California coast. The people of California have repeatedly made it clear that they oppose this wrongheaded approach. In fact. opposition to this legislation is unanimous in California that even in the middle of a highly charged race for Governor. the Democrats and Republicans are on the same page on this one issue. $tate Treasurer Phil Angelides. a Democrat. opposes the House bill. pointing out that it would remove the critical protections for Californias coastline and also financially punish States that decide to protect their environment and coastal economies by continuing to oppose offshore oil drilling. The Republican Governor. Arnold Schwarzenegger. sent another letter to the Senate this week restating his opposition in no uncertain terms. In his newest letter. which I am submitting for the RECORD. he writes: "Our coast is not for sale. and no amount of promises of money or other incentives will alter my position on that." Well. I am disappointed that so many Members of the House voted against Californias interests last month. Our States Senators have strong records of spelling for the people of California. so I am not concerned about them. But I do want to make sure that the Senators from around the country realize that any legislation that opens the California coast to drilling will be a nonstarter in our State and should be rejected. As the Governor wrote: "Anything short of upholding the current moratorium in perpetuity would be unacceptable to Californians." Governor Schwarzenegger also wrote something very interesting: "California has the most aggressive energy efficiency measures in the Nation. Because of our efforts. Californias per capita energy use has remained nearly flat. while the nationwide energy use has increased by nearly 50 percent." What th Governoris telling the people of this Nation is that had you made the same choices that we made starting back in 1974 with the first fuel crisis. you would have been able to save a huge amount of energy in this country. While California has continued to grow. our per capita use has remained flat. and that is 50 percent better than the rest of the Nation. That means that not only do California consumers save a great deal of energy and they reduce the pollution to the atmosphere. they also save a great deal of money. As the other body considers the legislation that was passed out of this House this last week. I hope they will remember that. energy conservation and innovative alternative approaches will guarantee us far more energy independence in the future than the shortsighted House bill that will require the ruining of the coastlines of this great Nation.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I rise today in opposition to the Oman Free Trade Agreement. This deal is an expansion of a failed trade model that does not guarantee even the most basic labor standards. and it is simpty unacceptable. We are talking about an agreement with a country that our own State Department says does not meet the minimum requirements for trafficking people into forced labor. Even more shocking. labor unions dont even exist in Oman. Instead. workers are supposed to be represented by committees that actually are run by managemeilt. In fact. Oman has only fixed one out of 10 areas where they are not compliant with the ILO. This is unacceptable. We cannot preach about spreading freedom and opportunity around the world while ignoring the lack of labor and human rights standards in our trade bills. I urge my colleagues to reject the Oman Free Trade Agreement.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. yesterday the House of Representatives gave a victory to those hoping for cures for some of the most terrible illnesses of our time by defeating a fake bill on stem cell research. Today. it is back to the calendar. The only reason we are considering this bill is to give our colleagues political cover when the President vetoes the bill that will provide real hope for cures. the CastleDeGette embryonic stem cell legislation. Lets make one thing clear this morning. A Presidential veto of the CastleDeGette stem cell research bill will slow. if not stall. the real hope for cures and slam the door of hope right in the face of millions of Americans suffering from scores of incurable diseases. The New Testament tells us that religious leaders in biblical times attacked Jesus for healing the sick on the Sabbath. We have religious leaders today who want to sit in judgment of todays healers. Each of us on the floor today has a friend or family member who could benefit from increased embryonic stem cell research. whether they suffer from spinal cord injury. Alzheimers or juvenile diabetes. We must remember those who suffer and the compassion of the New Testament. not play political games with the hopes and prayers of the American people.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I whipped up my snake oil this morning. Snake oil. that is what every 2 years the Republicans whip out. Snake oil this week in Congress. That is. passing legislation that they know will never come into law. But Democrats are united in taking America in a new direction. This week marks the second anniversary of the release of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. House Republicans have refused to institute their recommendations. receiving Ds and Fs from the 9/11 Commission on protecting the homeland. House Democrats want to make the recommendations into law as soon as possible. We want to secure the 25 million passengers who ride Amtrak each year. our neighborhoods. our ports. and our borders. Democrats want to ensure all Americans have access to goodpaying jobs by raising the minimum wage and ending outsourcing. We want to make college more affordable. This time the American people will not be fooled. No more snake oil. We want to make college more affordable for middle class families by making some college tuition costs tax deductible. expanding Pell Grants and cutting interest costs on student loans in half. For too long. House Republicans have ignored the needs of hardworking middle class families. Their attempts to distract and divide wont work. The American people are ready for a change.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. it is past time to raise the minimum wage. It was last raised in 1997. Currently. a person working full time at $5.15 an hour will make $10.712 per year. The poverty line is $13.461 for a family of two. We must raise the minimum wage. No one should work full time and stand in a welfare line. No one should work full time and live below the poverty line. People do not want welfare. People want selfcare. It is time to raise the minimum wage.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. we are here today because the Republican leadership has made a stunning decision that it thwart the will. a bipartisan will of the House of Representatives. a bipartisan majority will of the House of Representatives to- increase the minimum wage. They have decided that they are not going to follow the rules of democracy. They are not going to let this body reflect over 80 percent of the American people that believe that the minimum wage that is stuck at 1997 levels should be brought up to date for those workers who work hard every day. In fact. when the Appropriations Committee spoke on a bipartisan majority. they refused to bring the bill to the floor. because it had an increase in the minimum wage that was put there by Mr. OBEY and Mr. HOYER. We just see last week. 26 Members of the Republican Party of this House wrote the majority leader demanding action before we leave in August. Two Members of" the Republicans voted for our motion on the previous question and we will offer it again today. So what we now understand is there is a majority. If we want to strip somebody of authority. maybe we ought to strip the Republican majority in this House of its authority to block the democratic will of both Members of this House who are duly elected under the Constitution and reflecting the will of the American people to increase the minimum wage. Forget stripping the Court ofits authority. Let us strip the Republican leadership. Just last week the Republican leader.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 2389. the Protect the Pledge Act. I strongly support the Pledge of Allegiance. In fact. in the 107th Congress I introduced H.J. Res. 103. an amendment to the Constitution that would affirm that the Pledge of Allegiance in no way violates the First Amendment. Unfortunately. Congress did not pass the resolution before it adjourned for the 107th Congress. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 2389. I believe it is necessary to protect the Pledge of Allegiance from unnecessary court battles. but without infringing on the rights of the people. Article III of the Constitution states that Congress has the power to define jurisdiction of Federal district and appellate courts. This bill still allows for our system of checks and balances to work as it has for over 200 years. The Pledge of Allegiance is an important symbol of the privileges and rights that our Founding Fathers fought so desperately to preserve. It deserves protection from those trying to remove the words "under God."
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I support our national Pledge of Allegiance 100 percent. I strongly believe the Pledge teaches Americas children national pride and a sense of civic responsibility. However. I oppose H.R. 2389. the "Pledge Protection Act." This bill is merely a reaction to one federal case: Newdow vs. U.S. Congress. The 9th Circuit Federal court in Newdow held that the Pledge of Allegiance violated the Established Clause of the Constitution. The court ruled that the phrase "one nation under God" within the Pledge impermissibly takes a position with respect to the identity and existence of God. I disagree with the 9th Circuits ruling in the Newdow case. However. I dont believe the way to protect the Pledge of Allegiance is by banning all federal courts from hearing cases dealing with the Pledge. which is what H.R. 2389 does. H.R. 2389 goes way too far. In fact. it violates the Constitution and the very spirit of the Pledge itself. The federal courts. not the United States Congress. have the power to interpret and enforce rights protected under the Constitution. That is what the famous Marbury vs. Madison case was all about: separation of powers. But. H.R. 2389. violates the constitutional separation of powers principle. because it strips all federal courts of their power to make rulings on an individuals right to choose whether to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. To ensure that America remains an indivisible and proud Nation. it is very important that we protect the Pledge of Allegiance. but it is even more important that we do not violate the Constitution and undermine the federal courts to do so. Therefore. I oppose H.R. 2389.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the resolution. and I rise. Mr. Speaker. to make note of the heroes in our society and the heroines in our society. As I do so. I am reminded of a statement that calls to our attention the notion that a great person or great people will always rise to the occasion. and our astronauts have truly risen to the occasion. They are making it possible for us to travel not only to the planets. but also to the stars and beyond. They have truly risen to the occasion. However. just as a great person will always rise to the occasion. it takes an even greater people to make the occasion. and. I want to salute as well the many persons. some of whom are nondescript. who help make it possible for a great people to rise to the occasion: the janitors who work as a part of this team. all of the contractors and subcontractors who are a part of this team. Every person associated with this effort deserves to be commended for the outstanding job that has been done. So today we celebrate not only those who rise to the occasion. but also those who make the occasion.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the Presidents veto of embryonic stem cell legislation flies in the face of the American peoples broad support for this bill. In vetoing this bill. the President has gone against more than 70 percent of Americans who support stem cell research using embryos that would otherwise be discarded. Even worse. he has thumbed his nose at the millions of Americans suffering from i~urable diseases. Americans have kept their hopes alive while this administration has played political games and thrown up roadblocks to the promising research that would offer them a cure. As opposed to legislation we hate passed to encourage research on cord blood and adult stem cells. only this bill. the CastleDeGette bill. would expand research on the embryonic stem cells that have the unique ability to reproduce indefinitely and evolve into any cell type in our bodies. I have persdnally seen the potential that this research holds and how it works. Last summer I visited the stem cell labs at the Baylor College of Medicine in my hometown of Hoiiston. where researchers are looking at treatments for heart disease with just a few Federal lines. The message from the researchers I met with was clear. The current policy not only slows medical progress. but will force the worlds brightest researchers to abandon the U.S. for countries without this restriction on lifesaving research. My colleagues opposed to this bill have argued this on moral and religious grounds. They are absolutely right. Regardless of whether one practices Christianity. Judaism. or Islam. every religion in the world tells us to alleviate human suffering. History has shown. however. that even the most devout have often strayed from this common religious and moral duty. According to the New Testament. religious leaders in Biblical times attacked Jesus for healing the sick on the Sabbath. History has apparently repeated itself. as we have religious leaders today casting similar judgments on the healers of our time. Just like the sick in Biblical times. American families suffering from incurable diseases do not have time for the Federal Government to restrict those who could heal them. To alleviate human suffering. that is the purpose of this bill. and that should be our purpose today. Let us override this veto.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of overriding the Presidents veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. I am extremely disappointed that the President exercised his first veto on a piece of bipartisan legislation that will provide countless number of Americans hope of finding cures for many lifethreatening diseases. This Congress has passed many pieces of irresponsible legislation that benefit narrow special interests at the expense of the public good. The President did not veto any of those bills. Now the Congress has finally passed a bipartisan bill that will help find cures to diseases that strike virtually every American family. Yet the President has chosen to veto this landmark bill. In doing so. the President is playing to the extreme right of his own political party. Shame on the President for putting politics over the health of the American people. We should allow the expansion of federally supported research of human embryonic stem cell lines. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 would provide federal funding for a wider range of stem cell research while establishing ethical guidelines. The bill also provides that embryos that are otherwise likely to be discarded can be used to develop treatments for debilitating diseases and. lifesaving cures. I believe stem cell research holds the promise of scientific breakthroughs that could improve the lives of millions of Americans afflicted with a debilitating disease--such as Parkinsons. diabetes. spinal cord injuries. autoimmune diseases. cardiovascular disease. and cancerfor which there is currently no cure. While it is too late for those who have passed from these terrible diseases. it still not too late for the millions of other Americans hoping that the Congress will override the Presidents veto and support federally funded research of this potentially lifesaving resource. For these patients and their families. stem cell research is the last hope for a cure. Mr. Speaker. this is an issue that affects every family in America. I strongly urge my House colleagues to vote to override the Presidents veto on this bipartisan legislation.
Date: 2006-07-19
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. under rule XXII. clause 7(c). I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct on H.R. 2830. the pension conference report. The form of the motion is as follows: I move that the managers on the part of the House at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 2830 be instructed(1) to agree to the provisions contained in subsections (a) through (d) of section 601 of the Senate amendment (relating to prospective application of age discrimination. conversion. and present value assumption rules with respect to cash balance and other hybrid defined benefit plans) and not to agree with the provisions contained in title VII of the bill as passed the House (relating to benefit accrual standards). and (2) to agree to the provisions contained in section 413 of the Senate amendment (relating to computation of guaranteed benefits of airline pilots required to separate from service prior to attaining age 65). but only with respect to plan terminations occurring on or after September 11. 2001.