macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-09-24
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise tonight to recognize City of North Miami Chief of Police. Linda Loizzo. Linda is a true trailblazer. She has served the North Miami Police Department for more than 33 years in a number of capacities: deputy chief. assistant chief of operations. major in charge of administrative services. commander in charge of the investigative division. and supervisor of several special support services units. Linda was thle first woman promoted to the rank of sergeant. the first woman promoted to rank of lieutenant and major. and the first woman promoted to the rank of chief of police for the North Miami Beach Police Department. Chief Loizzo not only broke down walls in a maledominated profession but she also shattered and crumbled stereotypes for women in all professions. and particularly those in law enforcement. I congratulate Chief Loizzo on her retirement and thank her for her dedicated service to our community.
Date: 2007-09-24
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to join my colleagues in speaking out against the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement. This is not a choice between trade and protectionism. It is a choice between .fair trade. Which can. benefit working families across the Nation. and unfair trade. which benefits the wealthiest few at expense of the rest of us. I cannot support. and I urge my colleagues not to support. this Bushnegotiated Peru Free Trade Agreement. It uses the same North American Free Trade Agreement model that has already failed working families here and abroad. I feel like I am at a used car lot and the dealer is trying to sell the American people a beatup old lemon with a new paint job. Well. we learned with NAFTA that there are no refunds for the American people when they are sold a bad bill of goods. Lets learn from our mistakes and reject this Peru FTA junker. The American people deserve trade that works for working families. and the Peru FTA wont give us that. Vote "no" on the Peru FTA.
Date: 2007-09-25
Speaker: SHEILA JACKSON-LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Texas and. in addition. Mr. Paxton Baker. Maryland Mr. Vic Fazio. Virginia Mrs. Annette Lantos. California Ms. Mary Rodgers. Pennsylvania
Date: 2007-09-25
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 470. a resolution supporting efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness. treatment. and research. No child should have to experience and suffer the effects of cancer. And no parent should have to see their child suffer. I am proud to be working with Congresswoman DEBORAH PRYCE on such an important issue. Together. we have introduced the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act would enhance and expand biomedical research programs in childhood cancer and establish a new fellowship program through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for pediatric cancer research. The bill would also increase informational and educational outreach to patients and families affected by pediatric cancer. Over the last several years after a successful doubling of the NIH budget that ended in 2003. funding for NIH and the National Cancer Institute has been flat. As a result. many cancer clinical trials have had to be scaled back. The Childrens Oncology Group. which is headquartered in my congressional district. has had to put 20 new studies on hold and decrease enrollment of new clinical trials by 400 children. This is going in the wrong direction. Thanks to the past funding in childhood cancer research. we know that 78 percent of childhood cancer patients overall are now able to survive. Forty years ago it was a much different storythe cure rates for children with cancer were lower than 10 percent. This shows that by funding biomedical research we can save lives. Congress must increase funding for NIH and NCI so that it can continue the groundbreaking. lifesaving research that will lead to new cures and treatments. So. I not only urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 470. but I also urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act and pass that muchneeded legislation. "
Date: 2007-09-25
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Ive been on the Energy and Commerce Committee 10 years. and it was a dark day that we couldnt mark up this bill simply because the Republican minority wanted to read the bill for 2 days. and so we lost jurisdiction of it. It hurt the Energy and Commerce Committee. But it hurt this House. And thats what were seeing in this House of Representatives. We want to do things on a bipartisan basis. And there is not a closer friend I have in the House than JOE BARTON. But as ranking member. we were stuck there for 2 days and couldnt even amend the bill without reading. the whole bill. So to pass it in August we had to get it out of the committee. And we didnt do that when we were the minority. We could have. but we also knew that the majority had to rule.
Date: 2007-09-25
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank my colleague of the Rules Committee for allowing me to speak. I rise today in supportof the legislation to reauthorize the SCHIP program. With 6 million American children currently eligible for the program and yet unenrolled. it is time we quit playing politics with their health care and start covering these children. This bill accomplishes both of these goals and is a true bipartisan. at least in the .%enate. bicameral effort that will result in nearly 4 million additional children receiving health insurance coverage under the SCHIP program. This bill wisely retains the House formula and the incentives for States to implement outreach and enrollment tools. which offered the best combination for finding and enrolling eligible children. However. I have to express. regret and disappointment that the bill did not include the House bills guarantee that children in families earning less than 200 percent of the poverty level will have 12 months of continuous eligibility under SCHIP. The enrollment and outreach package includes an incentive for States to provide this eligibility guarantee. But for a State like mine. we need to ensure that the State of Texas does right by our Texas children and doesnt use that flexibility inherent in the program to kick these kids off the rolls on a budgetary whim. The 175.000 Texas children who were kicked off the rolls in 2003 know all too well of the States willingness to balance the State budget on their backs. and I hoped that this bill would take away the States ability to do that in the future. But like most pieces of compromise legislation. we have to consider the totality of the bill. and the bill should be celebrated for all that it does accomplish. I hope my colleagues.will join me in supporting the legislation and sending a strong.message to the President that we must abandon the partisan politics and reauthorize SCHIP for Americas children whose parents are working but cannot afford or are not offered employerbased healtha insurance.
Date: 2007-09-25
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the bipartisan. bicameral Childrens Health .Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007. W
Date: 2007-09-25
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsylvania

Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Southampton Fire Company No. 1 and the TriHampton Rescue Squad for their outstanding service and dedication to protecting our community. Everyday. they willingly and selflessly risk their lives to protect our families. friends and neighbors. They set an example with their inspiring courage and devotion and their sacrifice deserves our sincerest thanks and utmost respect. Madam Speaker. as the son of a former Philadelphia police officer. I know how hard Americas first responders work to keep our cities and towns safe. They bravely face considerable danger and peril for the safety of families across our community. As their proud representatives. we ought to be just as committed to providing our first responders with the tools they need to do their jobs. True homeland Security means supporting those who keep our families safe. Madam. Speaker. the members of the Southampton Fire Company No. 1 and the TriHampton Rescue Squad serve tirelessly to protect our community and we should do everything possible to give them the support they need to keep us safe.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H

of Ca Mr. Speaker. I request 5 leg days for Members to revise an their remarks and insert mate H.R. 2693 into the RECORD.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 1 minute. I certainly appreciate the situation my ranking member. Mr. McKEON. from California finds himself in. and I appreciate his remarks about the actions of OSHA in this situation. The fact is that. again. earlier this month. in a commentary of the Dutch study on diacetyl workers which found it is unlikely that any other chemical is responsible for these cases. NIOSH scientist. Dr. Catherine Kreiss. wrote "the collective evidence for diacetyl causing respiratory hazards supports actions to minimize -xposure of diacetyl even if contributions by other flavoring chemicals exist." That is the situation we find ourselves in. This isnt a desire to rush to legislation. The fact is. as Mr. MCKEON pointed out. on this side of the aisle also we are all terribly disappointed by the failure of OSHA to engage this problem and to engage the people who are coming forth now supporting this legislation to construct a solution. I yield.5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California . who is the Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chair and who has handled this legislation.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. this is an amendment technical in nature. and it clarifies that if no one is using diacetyl. it is not necessary for OSHA to issue a standard. The second portion clarifies that the purpose of the required NIOSH study is to study the health effects of substitutes of diacetyl. I urge passage of the amendment. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself the balance of my time. I find it rather incredible that the gentleman from Georgia would come down and ridicule the idea that Congress would act in this matter. when there has been such malfeasance by OSHA. by the Bush administration. and by the oversight of this Congress. I guessyou can try to make light of it if you dont want to take responsibility for your actions. What we are recommending today in this legislation is what NIOSH recommended for the protection of these workers in 2003. and it didnt happen. and nobody on the other side of the aisle asked the question: Why? So now we have workers who have worked in popcorn factories and maybe now in other manufacturing facilities that are losing their lung capacity. that are seeking lung transplants. that have died and have a disease that is called "grotesque" by the medical profession and who suggest. when you get this. it is the equivalent of the damage to your lungs if you inhaled acid. There may be something trite in that. there may be something cavalier in that. but I dont see it. I dont see it. These families. these workers. are asking for our help. These workers are dying. E 1345 The industry has tried and is asking for our help. The labor unions are asking for our help. The scientists are asking for our help. The gentleman would make light of this. He ought to talk to the families who have had members who have died or who have been severely impaired or are hoping that they can get a lung transplant before they die so they might have a chance to see their children and their grandchildren grow up and enjoy their family. Its not to be made light of. Theres a great deal of malfeasance here by this administration. by OSHA. by the Department of Labor and by failure to have oversight on this in this committee. They ought not to come to this floor and make light of this measure. This is about peoples lives and about their health and about their wellbeing. and we should pass this amendment. We should reject the next amendment and we should pass this legislation: Mr. Chairman. I yield back my time.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 2 minutes. This amendment was offered in committee. and we rejected the amendment. and we offered to work with the gentleman. Weve had a series of discussions. and hes been involved and staff have been involved in the discussions. but at the end of the day the simple fact was that they would not agree to any deadlines for NIOSH or OSHA to act in this amendment. We think the timetables that are in the legislation are very important. If we take off these timetables. all of the past evidence suggests that OSHA and NIOSH will sort of turn to norm and. once again. we will have an openended process here where there isnt an urgency about the impacts of diacetyl. We know what diacetyl does. Thats become very clear. We dont know about everything else in the workplace. We dont know about everything else in the workplace. but we know what this very bad chemical can do to people and what its causing for them to do it. And so we lay out NIOSH to do it. Theyve already .recommended the manufacturers are laid out. Then OSHA will do the final rulemaking. If they come back and say they cant do it. thats their scientific evidence. Were not putting a legislative prescription on them. but what we are insisting is they address it and they address it now and they address it on the evidence that is here and emerging and that they make a decision and they protect these workers. Thats what this legislation is about. and thats what this amendment would negate. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I urge Members of the House to vote against the Wilson amendmefit and then to support the legislation. If we adopt the Wilson amendment. were going right back to the status quo. and the status quo is killing these workers in these facilities. And we have the ability to stop it with this legislation. We should stop it now. We should not any longer empower OSHA to continue to drag their feet and ignore the health and the safety of these workers and their families. I urge a "no" vote on the Wilson amendment and an "aye" vote on the legislation. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to provide for the extension of transitional medical assistance (TMA). the abstinence education program. and the qualifying individuals (QI) program. and for other purposes.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to bring forward H.R. 3668. the TMA Abstinence. Education. and QI Programs Extension Act of 2007. a bill to protect the health of Americans. both young and old. The Transitional Medical Assistance program assists mothers who are transitioning off of welfare and into the workforce. Unfortunately. these working parents often find -themselves in lowincome jobs that do not offer health insurance. The TMA program extends Medicaid coverage to these vulnerable individuals for up to 1 year. The TMA expires on September 30. and this bill extends it for one additional quarter. Along with the TMA extension is a onequarter extension of the Abstinence Education program. In addition. the bill provides a onequarter extension of the Qualifying Individual (QI) program. The QI program provides Medicare part B premium assistance to lowincome seniors. helping ensure Medicare remains affordable for more than 200.000 seniors. The legislation also includes provisions that will provide immediate relief to hospitals threatened by regulatory cuts. and a 6month delay of the recently enacted requirement that all Medicaid prescriptions be written on tamperresistant paper in order to be eligible for reimbursement. This latter provision postpones what would otherwise take effect on October 1. causing significant disruption in access to medicines. This will give pharmacies and physicians more time to prepare for the new requirement. Finally. the bill invests an additional $385 million into the Medicare Physician Assistance and Quality Initiative Fund. This funding is used to improve care for millions of seniors and people with disabillties in Medicare. These critical programs are fully funded under PAYGO by an item in the Presidents budget that extends the current Webbased SSI Asset Demonstration program to Medicaid in the two States in which it is currently operating. This demonstration program would be funded for 5 years. Finally. this legislation extends and improves programs that are of critical importance to Americans young and old. and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield whatever time he may consume to our colleague from the Ways and Means Committee. Chairman STARK.
Date: 2007-09-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time and encourage our fellow Members to pass H.R. 3668 and the extension.
Date: 2007-09-27
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 2 minutes. I come before you today. Mr. Chairman. on behalf of Anne Beck of Erwinna. Pennsylvania. Tony Plescha of Yardley. Pennsylvania. Nancy Rees of Yardley. Pennsylvania. and thousands of families across my district of Bucks County who have been hit by three floods in 3 years. Mr. Chairman. I ask. my colleagues to picture a family distraught. a home in tatters. and rain that just wont stop. If that family asked for help. either from their insurance company or from FEMA. they would face a maze of bureaucracy instead of relief. As of right now. there is no one who will fight for families or business owners who seek assistance in rebuilding after a catastrophic storm. We are trying to change that here today. With this amendment. we are looking to create the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. someone to fight for all of us when we need help the most. Modeled after the successful Taxpayer Advocate Serviceat the IRS. this office would fight the battles for weary. rainsoaked families and businesses looking to rebuild. In creating the Flood Insurance Advocate. our measure would help cut through the red tape. The National Flood Insurance Advocate would do two major things: the first. report to Congress about problems facing the flood insurance program. and. second. determine the most effective way to create the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate nationwide. Mr. Chairman. families and businesses back home need our help. I now yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York. a colleague in the Blue Dog Coalition.
Date: 2007-09-27
Speaker: PATRICK J. MURPHY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Penn

sylvania. Mr. Chairman. I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman. in closing. I want to. tell you about Nancy Rees of Yardley. Pennsylvania. Over the last 3 years. Yardley was hit with three floods. Mrs. Rees came to our office because her insurance policy was rated with the wrong formulas. This seemingly simple mistake cost her an extra $10.000 per year in insurance premiums. $10.000 more a year. Thankfully for Mrs. Rees. after countless hours of working with our staff. she was successful. But in this case. a flood insurance advocate could have stood up for her in the wake of a major flood. That is. why we need to pass this amendment.
Date: 2007-09-27
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3121. the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act. that will help bring national flood insurance programs into the 21st century. I particularly want to thank the chairman of the committee. BARNEY FRANK. as well as the sponsor of the bill and subcommittee Chair MAXINE WATERS for her hard work in bringing this bipartisan bill to the floor today. Mr. Chairman. in June of 2001. Texas and other States witnessed damage wrought by Tropical Storm Allison after it swept through Texas and up the east coast causing substantial flood damage to thousands of my constituents. along with everyone else. both homes and businesses. The good news was that some of these losses were protected by the National Flood Insurance Program. The bad news was that many of my constituents who needed flood insurance could not afford to purchase the policy. We all know that the flood insurance program plays a critical role in lessening the impact of major flooding disasters. but to make the program more effective. we need greater participation from Americans of all incomes. H.R. 3121 requires FEMA to conduct a survey to review the Nations flood maps. Inevitably. these updates will identify undesignated homes as being located in floodprone areas. For many lowincome families. such designation of their homes means having to purchase flood insurance that is either unaffordable or difficult to immediately budget for on modest means. Our amendment seeks to bridge that insurance gap between those who can afford a flood policy and those who cannot. and still be able to expand the people paying into the system. The amendment is simple: it would provide a limited 5year phasein of flood insurance premiums for lowincome homeowners or renters whose primary residence is placed within the floodplain through an updating of the flood insurance program maps. These homes can be valued at no more than 75 percent of the median home value for the State in which the property is located. This amendment would make the National Flood Insurance Program more affordable for lowincome homeowners. increase participation in the program and decrease the likelihood of an a taxpayer bailout in the event of a flood. I believe the amendment will bring security and peace of mind to many hardworking families who dont live in mansions. but live in their basic homes and that need help in obtaining protection that their homes deserve. Mr. Chairman. I urge support for the amendment. Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2007-09-27
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. due to a famly health emergency. I was unable to be present for rollcall votes 891923 on Monday. September 24 through Thursday. September 27.2007. Had I been present. I would have voted in the folWilson (OH) Wolf � Woolsey Wu Wynn NAYS72 Duncan Feeney Flake Foxx Franks (AZ) Gallegly Garrett (NJ) Gingrey Goode Heller Hensarling Hunter Inglis (SC) Johnson. Sam Jones (NC) Kingston Lamborn Lewis (CA) Lungren. Daniel E. Mack Manzullo McCrery McHenry McKeon Miller (FL) Myrick Pence Petri Pitts Poe Price (GA) Radanovich Ramstad Rohrabacher Royce Ryan (WI). Sall Sensenbrenner Sessions Shadegg Stearns Tancredo Thornberry Walberg Walden (OR) Weldon (FL) Wilson (SC)