macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-14
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the life a remarkable philanthropist. family man. businessman. and friend from southwest Washington who has made a lasting impact on our region. He passed away this week at the age of 94. Ed Lynch was a cornerstone of our community. Known by all as caring and humble. Mr. LYNCH was truly a representation of a servant leader. He was a neighbor and a friend. In 1957. Ed and his wife. Dollie. moved to Washington State to make Vancouver their home. After serving as president of Kiewit Pacific. Ed dedicated the remaining years of his life to making our region. the region that he loved. a better place. During his retirement. Ed poured his heart and soul into southwest Washington and taught us all that transforming ones community starts with a servants heart. Ed remained active and provided unmatched support for businesses. historic societies. civics projects. the Columbia Springs Foundation. the Fort Vancouver National Trust. and the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center up until his last days. Eds vibrant personality made him one of the most beloved individuals of our entire region. Whether it was something as simple as remembering your name or giving you a book from his collection. he did more for our community than almost anyone. yet he was never more than just "one of us." I honor his memory today.
Date: 2015-05-14
Speaker: TOM PRICE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

This has been a strong bipartisan effort that was started before I came to Congress this past January. Some of my fellow lead cosponsors on this bill have worked tirelessly over years. Americas greatness is nothing to apologize for. We are a great. free. exceptional nation. Being the leader of the free world is. this body. today. passing legislation. the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act. to tackle a rising threat in the Middle East and to United States interests all around the world. American leadership is on display here in the Halls of Congress. Hezbollah has helped Assad fight Syrian rebels in that country. It is estimated that Iran has provided Hezbollah $60 million to $100 million per year in financial assistance. The Dubaibased Gulf Research Center estimates Hezbollahs armed wing at about 1.000 fulltime fighters and 6.000 to 10.000 volunteers. According to the Iranian Fars News Agency. Hezbollah has up to 65.000 fighters. This legislation. H.R. 2297. addresses the need to pursue foreign banks that knowingly do business with entities that facilitate Hezbollahs activities. This legislation addresses the need to counter Hezbollahs other criminal enterprises. which include money laundering and counterfeiting of goods and pharmaceuticals. Madam Speaker. this legislation helps address the need to obtain more information on Hezbollahs fundraising. financing. and moneylaundering networks. It requires the administration to provide a comprehensive overview of countries supporting Hezbollah as well as those countries that arent doing enough. Again. I thank Chairman ROYCE for his leadership with this legislation. Mr. ENGEL. and my fellow colead sponsors as we tackle this rising tide of radical Islamic extremism in the Middle East with Hezbollah. Hamas. al Qaeda. Boko Haram. and ISIS. Every day. our 24hour news cycle is dominated with our constituents watching. reading. and hearing about this threat that exists in the Middle East. understanding that if we do not defeat it overseas. we will be facing it here at home. Madam Speaker. I am proud to stand with my fellow coleads and my colleagues from both parties as American exceptionalism is on display here. I rise in support today. and I encourage my colleagues to vote for this legislation.
Date: 2015-05-14
Speaker: HERRERA BEUTLER (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. Jesus said that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friend. Abraham Lincoln said that giving your life for your country is the last full measure of devotion. And that is why I am opposed to this amendment. I am proud that. in America. citizenship means something. It is worthy to be earned. Amnesty. to me. means giving it away. and I dont support that. I do support the ability to earn citizenship. If a person has the courage and conviction to take the oath and to join our Nations warriors to defend you and me. what more can they do to prove their allegiance? The military is not a jobs program. And if someone through their merit and hard work earns acceptance into that elite fighting force. where they could die defending you and me. then I leave you with this question: What countrys flag would you have draped on the casket of that brave soul?
Date: 2015-05-15
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to urge my fellow Republicans and other Members to support the fiscal year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. My colleagues and I on the Armed Services Committee came together in a bipartisan fashion to pass this legislation out of committee with a vote of 602. That seems pretty bipartisan to me. And it should be. Our Nations security should not be a partisan issue. The committee had a goal of implementing some lasting reforms to ensure that our military is better prepared for the challenges that we face. Part of facing these challenges is ensuring that our military has the very best training and weapons systems for the fight. This legislation recognizes that need by preserving the A10. which is the best close air support aircraft. and flown out of Moody Air Force Base. This bill also invests in the future replacement of the JSTARS. an important ISR platform that flies out of Robins Air Force Base. It is as honor to serve as a voice for Robins and Moody in Congress. and I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation for our Nations warfighters who bravely serve so that we may remain the land of the free.
Date: 2015-05-19
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Acting Chair of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. reported that that Committee. having had under consideration the bill making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30. 2016. and for other purposes. and. pursuant to House Resolution 271. he reported the bill back to the House with sundry amendments adopted in the Committee of the Whole.
Date: 2015-05-20
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. one of my top priorities is standing up for our servicemen and -women. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the Help Veterans Save for Health Care Act. because right now the IRS makes a veteran choose between receiving VA care or continuing to fund their health savings account. That is wrong. My bill fixes that. In addition to this bill. today Congress will recognize Americas fighter aces with its highest honorthe Congressional Gold Medal. Last year. Congress passed this resolution honoring these patriots who are simply the best of the best. We are the land of the free because of all our troops and veterans who have put their lives on the line for us. and I salute them today as we remember their sacrifices on this Memorial Day.
Date: 2015-05-20
Speaker: JODY B. HICE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

(during the Special Order of Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN). Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today. it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Date: 2015-05-21
Speaker: MIMI WALTERS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. as we approach Memorial Day. I wish to recognize our servicemembers who have so bravely answered the call to defend our great Nation. As the daughter of a U.S. Marine. I am eternally grateful for the service and sacrifice our troops make. all in the name of freedom. Today. I wish to pay a special tribute to a hero that I have the honor of representing in Congress. Corporal Fred Whitaker. Sr. Corporal Whitaker. a World War II veteran. proudly served our Nation in the combat infantry from 1943 to 1946. He participated in several campaigns. including Saar. Rhineland. Central Europe. and the historic Battle of the Bulge. Corporal Whitaker received numerous awards for his honorable service. including the Distinguished Unit Citation. the Combat Infantry Badge. the Bronze Star. the Purple Heart. the Good Conduct Medal. the European Theater Medal with four battle stars. and a World War II Victory Medal. I thank him for his sacrifice to our Nation and for the sacrifice all military personnel make to keep our country safe and free. We are forever indebted to this true hero of the Greatest Generation.
Date: 2015-05-21
Speaker: RODNEY DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate my constituent. Major Stephen J. Bonner of the U.S. Air Force. who has earned the Congressional Gold Medal for his distinguished service as an American fighter pilot with the Flying Tigers squadron in World War II. Growing up in the 1930s and during World War I. Major Bonner had always dreamt of becoming an ace. When he graduated from flight school in 1943. his dream came true when he was assigned to fly with the 76th Fighter Squadron in China. battling Japanese fighter pilots in his P40 Warhawk. During his time with the Air Force. Major Bonner became a member of the American Fighter Aces. who have been renowned as our countrys most distinguished fighter pilots. In both world wars. along with the Korean war and the Vietnam war. these individuals have not only courageously defended our Nation. but have also made outstanding achievements in aerial combat. Major Bonner. now 96. lives with his daughter Jane just outside Carlinville in my district in central Illinois. I am proud to congratulate Major Bonner for his outstanding accomplishments as an American Fighter Ace. The bravery and dedication he displayed as a pilot in World War II make him a very deserving recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal. and I am proud and thankful to have such brave veterans like them in my district. Congratulations. Mr. Bonner.
Date: 2015-06-01
Speaker: JODY B. HICE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1335. the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act. Mr. Chairman. I would. first of all. like to thank the bills sponsor. our colleague from Alaska . for his continued leadership on this important issue. Additionally. I commend Chairman BISHOP for ensuring that this bill has gone through regular order while being considered by the Natural Resources Committee. H.R. 1335 makes necessary improvements to the MagnusonStevens Act. As you know. Mr. Chairman. our U.S. commercial fishermen generated $5.1 billion in revenue between 2012 and 2014. and I know that with these necessary changes and improvements our fishermen will be able to contribute even more to our economy. In addition to the impact that H.R. 1335 has had on our commercial fishing industry. this legislation also has a strong impact on the recreational side of the industry. For an industry that generates $58 billion in sales while supporting nearly 400.000 jobs. H.R. 1335 encourages our local professionals to have a more active role in determining regulatory measures rather than the onesizefitsall management approach that has been used in the past. Furthermore. H.R. 1335 will also adjust the method of counting red snapper mortality. This is an important issue for the recreational fishermen because it will increase access to the waters in the Gulf of Mexico so that our Nations sportsmen have the ability to enjoy our natural resources while making valuable contributions to the economy at the same time. Mr. Chairman. this legislation has been crafted in a delicate way to ensure the necessary balance between our commercial and recreational fishermen. Both sides of the fishing industry will benefit from this bill and provide our States with more input. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
Date: 2015-06-01
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

I thank the chairman. and I would also like to thank DON YOUNG for helping those of us recreational anglers as we try to remedy an injustice that has been done to the American sportsmen of the Gulf of Mexico. I have listened to some of my colleagues say we should be fair and people should come to the table. Let me tell you what is happening at the table. Mr. Chairman. the commercial fishermen get to fish 365 days a year for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. They get to use long lines and winches. yet the National Marine Fisheries Services and Dr. Roy Crabtree. through the Gulf Council. have chosen to limit to 10 days the man and the woman who just want to take their kid fishing. 10 days. They think. by expanding the recreational season back to where it was before. that somehow that would hurt the fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Now they tell us that the reason they have had to cut us to 10 days is because there are so many more fish today and they are so much larger today that the recreational fishermen simply catch them much faster. Well. in 2007. the recreational angler had 194 days to fish with their families in the Gulf of Mexico194 days. In 8 years. they have taken the American family. the American sportsman. down to simply 10 days. It is proof that the American sportsman doesnt have a chance with the Federal Government in charge of the rulemaking process in the Gulf of Mexico with regard to the recreational snapper season. The Garrett amendment. which I support. as I support the chairmans main piece of legislation. would simply give the States the right to set. based on sciencenot some arbitrary number. but based on sciencethe recreational seasons and bag limits for the recreational angler in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Chairman. that is the only waythat is the only waythat the recreational season will be restored as we. the recreational anglers. were promised it would be restored when the stocks came back. Now. one of the things I think we also need to discuss as we go forward with regard to snapper is who do the snapper belong to.
Date: 2015-06-01
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. there are about 300 people that are currently allocated about 50 percent of the fish. the red snapper. in the Gulf of Mexico. When the commercial quota goes up. they automatically get an increase. Those fish belong to the public. and I think it is time to discuss whether or not any increase in the commercial quota should actually come and be auctioned as any other public resource would be when we made those additional resources available. For now. the Garrett amendment goes a long way towards restoring the rights of the American angler. and I certainly hope that this House will support it.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: DAVID REICHERT (republican)
Chamber: H

from Washington. I want to thank my colleagues who have joined in a strong show of bipartisan support for the COPS program.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. I would like to take a minute to tell you how we got here. As someone who fished in the Gulf of Mexico long before I got elected to Congress. when they started reducing the snapper season back in 2007. we had approximately 190 days to fish as the recreational angler. They have now taken that down to 10 days. Through the Gulf councils. the National Marine Fisheries Service has worked through the councils to reduce the American recreational fishermens opportunity to fish for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico by 95 percent since 2007. At the same time. they have increased quotas and allocations for the commercial sector. And most recently through the Gulf council. they cast a vote. 710. to split the recreational sector. and they gave the forhire recreational sector 45 days and the notforhire 10 days. Now. let me just explain what that means to you. It means that if you want to just take your family fishing. you have 10 days to do it. If you want to go in the other 35 days of that recreational season. you have to pay a charter boat captain to take you out. What happened with the council is three of the members who voted had a vested interest in the charter boat industry that they did not disclose prior to the vote. even though Federal law required that they do it. Then. they turned around and cast that vote which personally benefited them. which. again. was illegal. I appreciate the committee working to put in the money for more data in an effort to get the recreational season back for the notforhire recreational angler. but to be honest with you. if you give them all the data in the world. no matter what it says. if they continue to conduct themselves in that manner. it wont matter. They will simply allocate themselves more fish. So with that. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. let me say that I thank the chairman and ranking member. This is something that needs to be rectified. If an illegal action was taken. it needs to be reversed. Based on your commitment to work with us on this amendment at this time. I look forward to having those discussions. and I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. I just want to thank Mr. PERRY for his work on this. I have a friend in my district who has been seen on TV many times because they have to carry their child to Colorado for this treatment. And I have had extensive discussions not only with people in Georgia who need this treatment for their kids. but with the sheriffs of my district as well. I certainly wouldnt support the cannabis oil and the use of cannabis oil and those type of things if my local sheriffs were not in favor of it. You might be interested to know that the Georgia Sheriffs Association actually endorsed a piece of legislation a couple of years ago that would allow the use of cannabis oil for these children with seizures. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chair. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chair. first I would like to thank the Parliamentarians for helping us work with this language. I would like to especially thank both the majority and the minority staff for giving me the courtesy of presenting this. I know it is late. and we certainly hoped to close by 2 a.m. It is the third day of what has been designated as the 10day red snapper season for a man or woman who simply wants to take their child fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. The commercial fishermen get to fish 365 days a year. The charter boat anglers get to fish 45 days a year. What this amendment does is it says that the National Fisheries Service cannot enforce a rule that was adopted that is. quite honestly. probably going to court. And then it says that as they go forward and they pass the rules in the future. the recreational fishermen should receive at least 20 percent of the number of days as the commercial fisherman does with regard to the red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. That is effectively what it does. It still allows them to set the seasons. It does have some restriction in that they just cant take from the recreational fishermen. They have to give the recreational notforhire and forhire 20 percent of the number of calendar days that they give the commercial fishermen to fish for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. With that. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Yes. sir. They can fish yearround for red snapper. It is different for different species. This is tailored specifically to this species.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Yes. sir. This is the third day of the 10day season for the Federal waters for the recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Chairman. I would like to say that as a dad. honestly. I would like to say thank you for doing this. And certainly. if there are unintended consequences. I would look forward to working with you to resolve those unintended consequences. Again. as a father of a son named Wells and a daughter named Carmen and a lovely wife named Vivien. I just want to say thank you.
Date: 2015-06-02
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia .
Date: 2015-06-03
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I rise because I would like to congratulate some very talented individuals in my districtthe Allen Americans hockey team. I am proud to represent the city of Allen in Washington. D.C.. and everyone in Collin County is lucky because we are able to call the Allen Americans our home team. They have had a stellar season. and they are now on their way to winning their third straight championship. Today the Allen Americans will play the South Carolina Stingrays in game 3 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. I would like to say to the Allen Americans: Congratulations for making it this far. Good luck tonight. Your hometown believes in you. and we cant wait to see you bring home your third championship. You have worked hard. so go show them why you dont mess with Texas. Go get the Stingrays.