macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Ms. SINEMA. Messrs. BARROW of Georgia and SCHRADER changed their vote from "present" to Messrs. RYAN of Ohio and COOPER changed their vote from "no" to "present." So the amendment was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. Stated for:
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. today we are offering a budget with commonsense solutions that first focuses on the issue thats most pressing for the country and the American people today: kicking our economy into higher gear and putting more Americans back to work. We know from the Congressional Budget Officethe professionalsthat onehalf of this years deficit is due to the fact that millions of Americans are still looking for work and that threequarters of next years deficit is because were not at full employment. Our budget goes to the heart of the issue. It attacks the jobs deficit because we know we cant get the budget deficit under control until people are back to work and we take a balanced approach to longterm deficit reduction where we ask for shared responsibility. We do ask people at the very high end of the income ladder to give up some of the tax preferences and tax breaks they have in order to help reduce the deficit. Its very different than the Republican budget that doesnt close one tax loophole for the purpose of reducing the deficit. Theirs only lowers tax rates for folks at the very top by increasing the tax burden on middleincome Americans. We dont do that. We make sure that people can get back to work by replacing the sequester. which we know will result in 750.000 fewer Americans working at the end of this year. We also have a jobs program investing in this country. especially in the area of infrastructure. to help rebuild our aging infrastructure and build the modern infrastructure thats necessary to compete in the 21st century. Those measures will make sure that. compared to our Republican colleagues budget. we have 1.2 million more Americans working by the end of this year and 2 million more by the end of next year. We also make sure we keep our commitments to our seniors. Unlike the Republican budget. we dont reopen the prescription drug doughnut hole. which will mean seniors with high prescription drug costs will have to pay thousands more out of pocket over the period of this budget. and we dont turn Medicare into a voucher program that leaves seniors facing the risks and costs of escalating health care costs in the future. We make sure that students dont face a doubling of the interest rate in July. scheduled to go from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. The Republican budget keeps that doubling of interest rate in place. We dont. We fully fund the transportation program for the next 10 years. The Republican budget cuts it by 20 percent. even at a time when we have 15 percent unemployment in the construction industry. Mr. Chairman. we get at the budget issues by putting more people back to work. by dealing with this in a balanced way. We reduce the deficit way down so its growing much slower than the economy. We stabilize the debt. and we balance the budget in the same time period that the Republican budget for the last 2 years had balanced the budget. but our focus is on jobs and the jobs deficit as a way to tackle the budget deficit. With that. Im very pleased to yield 3 minutes to my colleague and friend. the distinguished whip from Maryland
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. I think. if you ask the American people. they know what the challenge is right now. Its getting the economy back in full gear. and theyre struggling because too many of them cant find a job. and the Republican budget will make that even worse. Thats not me saying it. Thats not a Democratic economist saying it. Those are the professionals at the Congressional Budget Office saying it.
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I dont have enough time. On your time. Im happy to. my friend. but I cant do it right now. Let me say another thing. Mr. Chairman. with respect to balance. Its really interesting. One of the reasons the Republican budget that last year came into balance in 2040 and the year before was able to balance this year is that the increase in per capita health care costs has come down significantly. in part because of the Affordable Care Act and the changes in incentives. In fact. if you applied much more reasonable assumptions to our proposals than the Congressional Budget Office applied to the Republican budget last year. youd get balance. I know our Republican colleagues dont want to hear it. Now our focus and our priority is on dealing with the jobs deficit. That is the best way to reduce the longterm deficit and to do it in a balanced way. I now yield 2 minutes to the very distinguished assistant Democratic leader. my friend from South Carolina
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

The way to save Medicare is to bring down costs overall in the health care system. not give seniors a voucher that puts all the risk on the senior. which is what the Republican approach does. I now yield 1 minute to the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. the gentleman from California .
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. the gentleman from Indiana just made the point that under the current Medicaid system States have lots of flexibility. including Indiana. to help bring down costs. But when you have a tight program. cutting another $820 billion is not a lifeline. its throwing them an anchor. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. it is now my privilege to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California . the very distinguished Democratic leader. who just returned from the Vatican and hopefully will bring some hope from the Pope. as I say.
Date: 2013-03-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you. Mr. Chairman. The fundamental choice here is whether we want a budget like the Democratic budget that focuses on economic growth and strengthening the middle class or whether you want to take a budget like the Republican budget that imposes Europeanstyle austerity by more than doubling the size of the sequester on essential investments to help the economy grow. Investment in our infrastructure. when we know we have 15 percent unemployment in the construction industry. Investment in our kids education. not doubling the student loan interest rate in July. as the Republican budget would do. Investment in science and research. If we dont make those investments. our global competitors are going to eat our lunch. And yes. we do ask the very wealthy to get rid of some of their tax breaks and loopholes to help contribute to the reduction of the deficit so that we can reduce the deficit in a balanced way that calls for shared responsibility. And no. we do not ask middleincome families to pay higher taxes in order to finance tax breaks for the wealthy. And yes. we get the deficit down in a steady way. We balance it in the same year the Republican bill balanced last year. and we dont pretend that were going to balance and get rid of ObamaCare at the same time. Thats fake balance. not real balance. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-03-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. in a few weeks. transportation security officers. Customs and Border Protection. and Border Patrol agents with very devastating furloughs and cuts are jeopardizing the national security of this Nation. Today. we can make a decision by voting on the Van Hollen Democratic substitute and a resounding "no" on the Republican budget. The Van Hollen bill gets rid of the sequester. It. in fact. saves 750.000 jobs and creates over 1.5 million jobs. We can do the right thing for America. Then. Mr. Speaker. I would ask that we look and do the right thing for gun control. gun regulation. gun violence prevention. and pass legislation such as H.R. 65. that is my Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act. that provides for safety locks and educational grants to train people how to be safe in using their guns and also provides for an age level for young people not being able to possess these guns. This is a way that America wants us to go. Let us travel a pattern of saving jobs and preventing gun violence intervening in the lives of those who need our protection. That is what this Congress should be doingproviding the pathway for Americas success.
Date: 2013-03-21
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. while the Continuing Resolution we vote on today is a marginal improvement over the version that passed the House. it still fails to replace sequestration and underfunds our Nations critical needs. House Republicans have repeatedly blocked legislation to replace sequestration and save the 750.000 jobs that the Congressional Budget Office tells us would be lost this year alone under that failed policy. And now we are voting on a Continuing Resolution that keeps those cuts in place for the rest of the year. I appreciate the Senates efforts to improve this bill. updating appropriations plans for the several other Departments and including marginal funding increases for several important priorities. including the National Institutes of Health. the National Science Foundation. Head Start. transportation safety. and local law enforcement. It brings transportation funding in line with the MAP21 policy that passed last year. freeing up more than $720 million for important infrastructure projects. And it includes a necessary extension of the TANF program. which was set to expire at the end of this month. However. by continuing sequestration and failing to update seven of our appropriations bills to reflect current policy and priorities. this bill shortchanges vital programs. It cuts more deeply into environmental programs than even the House bill. making it more difficult to keep our air and water clean and healthy. It underfunds implementation of the Affordable Care Act and DoddFrank Wall Street Reform. hampering efforts to expand access to health care. improve consumer protections. and rein in the excesses of the financial industry. This legislation also continues to scapegoat federal employees. extending their pay freeze through the end of the year. While I believe Congress can afford a pay freeze. the federal workers who care for our veterans. protect our borders. conduct research into lifesaving treatments and innovative technologies. and inspect our Nations food supply cannot. These hardworking federal employees have already had their pay frozen for two years and contributed more than $100 billion to reduce our deficit. They should not be denied a partial 0.5 percent costofliving increase. Unfortunately. our choice today is between this legislation and a total government shutdown. While I would have liked to see a much better bill before us todayone that responsibly replaces the sequester and makes the necessary investments in critical programs and personnelI will vote for this bill because a government shutdown would be even more damaging for our economy and the civil servants who work on behalf of our country every day. But once this bill has passed. and we have avoided yet another manufactured crisis. we must work together to address our most important prioritythe economy and jobs. We know from Europeans that austerity does not workit is time to craft a responsible policy that addresses our jobs deficit and puts our Nation on a path to longterm sustainability.
Date: 2013-03-21
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Over the last couple days. weve had a spirited debate on the budget. We have deep differences on this issue. but I want to commend Chairman RYAN for the way he conducts the business of the Budget Committee. The debate is lively but always civil. and I thank him for the way he has run the committee. I also want to thank all the other members of the Budget Committee for their full participation in this debate and to the staffs. both Republican staff and Democratic staff. who work so hard for their service to our country. I want to commend our team who has been working very hard and ask that their names be included in the RECORD along with the members of the Republican staff. Mr. Chairman. these budget resolutions are mostly comprised of lots of numbers on lots of pages. but we know that behind these numbers are key decisions about the future direction of our country and our priorities and values as a nation. I was disappointed that yesterday this House did not pass our Democratic budget alternative that presents a solutionsbased approach to address our challenges instead of an ideological approach. Today. Im going to ask the House to vote against the Republican budget because of its uncompromising ideological approach. and I will explain more about that in a moment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-03-21
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I rise today in opposition to the Republican budget developed by Budget Committee Chairman PAUL RYAN. This budget would not only jeopardize seniors. families. and the most vulnerable in our society. it would also destroy jobs and put our Nations economic recovery at risk. In fact. some estimate that 2 million American jobs could be lost in 2014 under the Ryan budget. The Ryan budget would protect the wealthy while severely harming seniors and the American middle class. Millionaires would receive an average net tax cut of $200.000. while middle class families could see their taxes rise by an average of $2.000. This approach is neither equitable nor balanced. The Ryan budget would cut the crucial programs our families rely on by slashing nondefense discretionary spending by more than $1 trillion below the level of the 2011 Budget Control Act caps. This budget denies Americans access to lifesaving health care by ending the Medicare guarantee. drastically cutting the Medicaid program. and repealing the Affordable Care Act. These cuts would immediately raise health insurance and prescription drug costs for women. while reducing access to care and support for nursing home residents. The Ryan budget could also result in an 18% cut in help with child care expenses to families working hard to make ends meet. and could cause about 200.000 children to lose access to Head Start in 2014 alone. We all know that tough decisions must be made regarding the deficit. but our budget must not be balanced on the backs of women. children. seniors. and middle class families. Instead. we must invest in our children. in our students. and in our families to move our Nation forward. We must ensure that all Americans have access to health care. And we must invest in our infrastructure to create jobs and pave the way for a stronger economic future. I urge my colleagues to oppose the Ryan budget and work together to create jobs and protect middle class families.
Date: 2013-03-21
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

for offering a balanced approach in the Democratic substitute budget. This budget replaces the sequester. makes investments which are critical for economic growth. and puts our nation on a sustainable fiscal path. It gives critical support to transportation. education. and small businesses programs which will have a real impact on middle class families and help maintain the upward trajectory of our economy. The Democratic budget also includes $50 billion for immediate surface transportation projects which will create jobs today. in addition to vital tax incentives for the manufacturing sector which has been so critical to our economic recovery. All of these important goals are achieved while continuing the Medicare guarantee for our seniors and generating enough deficit reduction to eliminate the sequester. thereby avoiding losing 750.000 jobs which would occur if sequestration is allowed to continue. If my Republican colleagues are serious about producing a balanced budget then let us set aside this partisan rhetoric and recycled ideas and come to the table willing and ready to make tough decisions for the benefit of our country. American families across the country make tough decisions about their familys budget on a daily budget. Whether it is postponing that new car purchase. refinancing their homes. or cutting back on the types of groceries they buy. American families do not have the luxury to return to past bad ideas. They have to make the tough decisions now or face losing their home. missing a tuition payment. or having their heat turned off. Instead of debating political documents such as this one. Congress must put aside the political games and come together to find common ground to put our nation on a sustainable fiscal path in the long term while making much needed investments in the short term. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the Republican budget.
Date: 2013-04-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.
Date: 2013-04-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I too adhere to the Second Amendment. as all of us do. I can assure the gentleman that anything we do with sensible gun legislation that will protect the lives of babies whose lives were lost in Newtown and Aurora and Virginia Tech and Columbine will be fair and just. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will hear from those of us who are sending him a letter: no filibuster. but real gunsensible legislation. Let me turn to the budget and indicate that it is important that we rid ourselves of the sequester and ask the Speaker to put on the floor H.R. 900. I think it is good that the President has saved dollars out of the Iraq and Afghan war of over $1 billion and provided security for embassies and $222 million for gun legislation enforcement. but we must not have to change CPI. Many people dont realize that in this instance of Social Security seniors are paying more money for health care. They will not be able to compensate. Those who are poor and vulnerable will be worst off after the changed CPI. I join with many. many Members of the United States Congress to say we can make Social Security solvent. Medicare solvent and Medicaid solvent. but we must not have to change CPI. I oppose it and many others. TAX CODE
Date: 2013-04-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Ms. CLARKE. and Messrs. DOGGETT and CICILLINE changed their vote from "no" to "aye. So the amendment was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. Stated against:
Date: 2013-04-11
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

proposes that we cut subsidies to huge oil companies. that we cut subsidies to huge agribusinesses. and we have people who make more than $1 million a year in income pay a slightly higher tax rate. I understand. ladies and gentlemen of the House. that some would agree with that proposal and others would disagree with that proposal. Thats democracy. Were not even taking a vote on that proposal because the majority Republican leadership has refused to put on this floor any piece of legislation that would stop this harm to the country. I know theyll say its the Presidents fault or its the Senates fault or its whoever.
Date: 2013-04-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleagues and friends who are managing this legislation. We are in the Judiciary Committee passing something called the REINS Act because our friends on the other side of the aisle dont believe that the President is omnipotent. Frankly. as my good friend from Colorado said. the President doesnt control the bus drivers and school aides and nurses aides and doesnt control the secretaries and doesnt control the construction workers who happen to be women. They dont control those individuals. Oh. and lets not forget the office workers who happen to be women. Many of my constituents who get up every morningI saw one young woman. Mr. POLIS. get on a city bus. drop her child off at the school. really do a marathon dash to the school in order for the bus to make a Uturn aroundnot a school bus. a city busto get on that bus to track all the way across to get to her job. I can assure you that she is not getting probably equal pay for equal work because that is the dilemma that we have. So I support ordering the previous question and voting "no" so that we can move forward and do the right thing. And that just compounds my reason for coming to oppose this rule on the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in LaborManagement Relations Act because it is. in essence. a complete opposite. I would call it something else. but Im going to restrain myself. H.R. 1120 is ridiculous. In actuality. my friends. what it does is put a spear through the relationships that corporate and workers are able to have before the NLRB. The President has just finished appointing Republicans and Democratsthree Democrats and two Republicansto do the work that brings businesses together for a fair assessment of their issue with working people. Many resolutions of issues dealing with fair pay. dealing with working conditions are done at the NLRB.
Date: 2013-04-11
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman. Do you know what this bill does? It puts a knife in the process that has been used by President Bush 140 timesrecess appointmentsto keep the work of the American people going forward. How backwards is that? I love my friends. but we need to put on the floor sensible gun legislation. we need to be talking about immigration reform. But to talk about blocking the NLRB from work when President Bush used the same process. And the fact that a court ordered something300 other opinions said the recess appointments are legitimate. I ask my colleagues to vote down the rule. vote down the bill. stand with your working friends in America. stand with our unions. stand with making America great. and stand with peace and reconciliation by a working NLRB. Mr. Speaker. I rise to oppose this rule. and the underlying bill. H.R. 1120. the "Preventing Greater Uncertainty in LaborManagement Relations Act." This bill effectively prevents American employees from seeking remedies when their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. or NLRA. are violated.