macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-07-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 2. line 12. after the semicolon insert "and". Page 2. strike lines 13 through 20 (and redesignate the succeeding subparagraph accordingly). The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 358. the gentlewoman from Texas and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Date: 2011-07-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I have great respect for my friend from West Virginia. but Im so glad she said 90 days. My friends. that is 3 months. They want to take away 90 days and put it forever. Almost like Dorothy. were going to the Wizard of Oz. land of Oz. forever and ever and ever. And so individuals like Michelle. whose home was damaged during the hurricane. who got costly repairs but had wage cuts and then found that their house might be in foreclosure. they sent a company $1.400. The company told them there was nothing they could do and they were foreclosed on. The Bureau. being able to protect them from that now. has oversight over positive regulation. and that oversight to review it or to eliminate it goes on and on and on while Michelle and her husband walk the streets. Or Jacob. who wanted to just come as a retired mechanic to buy a CD. He wanted to speak to a financial advisor. He was talked into buying a $3.000 upfront fee. The man he talked to wasnt even in the bank. He only made $25.000. He wound up losing $12.000. They want Jacob to wait forever and ever and ever. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-07-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank the gentlelady. Im asking my colleagues to support this amendment. which restores a 3month review. There are people in America that dont even know what their interest rates are on their credit card. The Consumer Protection Bureau will help that. We need oversight that is refined and defined to be able to protect the consumer. With that. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Massachusetts . the ranking member. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 112 minutes.
Date: 2011-07-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. Im excited about the number of Members who welcome guests to the United States Capitol. It is an important place because it belongs to the American people. Im delighted that the Poindexter family has joined me. But many of those people who have traveled have traveled by airplanes and have gone through the Nations airports. I am the ranking member on the Transportation Security Committee addressing security issues across America. and I am disappointed. but I would like to say a little outraged. that right now the FAA bill is held up on minor issues such as whether or not well allow our workers to engage in discussions about their work conditions. It is being held up because the bill cancels FAA and air traffic controllers in small airports and the supplemental support. if you will. the supplemental support that has been given to small airports in rural areas. Its time to get to work. Our Republican friends need to stop holding up this bill for minor issues so that Americans can fly in safety and security.
Date: 2011-07-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. my good friend did what many of us did. my neighbor in Louisiana. I went home to Texas. and interacted with so many constituents. many of them asking the question: Why? I believe its important to ask the question: Why not? Let me tell you. my friends. that we dont need to politicize the debt ceiling. which has been raised many. many times. but we do need to tell the truth: for if the debt ceiling is not raised. trillions of dollars will be lost. not of those of us who sit on this floor. but from the portfolios and packages for seniors and 401(k)s. If you want to talk about $1 trillion. talk about what will be lost to our seniors and hardworking Americans in collapsing their 401(k)s. There is no option. There is not an option for the short term. Thats a joke. Thats politics to start us back again in April or March. Lets go forward with the proposed Reid plan. Lets get a deficit reduction. raise the debt ceiling. cut what we can and go into regular order. That is the responsible. adult way to go. America is watching. America is looking. I am not going to stand by while trillions of dollars are lost. I ask my Republican friends to join us in a reasoned response to Americas concerns.
Date: 2011-07-25
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following vote: H. Res. 363Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2584Interior. Environment. and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 2012. Had I been present. I would have voted "no" on this resolution.
Date: 2011-07-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I think you said playing politics. Is that the same as a schoolyard game of playing chicken? And in the course of what you just said. is there any light for creating jobs in this approach that is being taken. where you have no revenue and you have cuts. with no plan? I see no opportunity for creating jobs.
Date: 2011-07-25
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the Unitell States has reached the current debt ceiling. which is set by law at $14.294 trillion. and Congress must act by August 2. 2011 to avoid defaulting on its loans. If Congress fails to reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling. it will cripple our economy. halt our recovery and end up costing taxpayers more in the longrun. For those reasons. I agree with financial analysts and experts who say that raising the debt ceiling is necessary to ensure our fiscal stability and continued economic recovery. Although the bill to raise the debt limit did not pass in the U.S. House of Representatives in May. I voted in favor of the measure because the consequences would have been disastrous for our economy. The Republican leadership brought this bill to the floor. but ironically urged their Members not to vote for it. The national debt limit is not a joke and needs to be taken very seriously. Normally. the periodic raising of the national debt limit is a noncontroversial legal necessity to ensure that the U.S. does not default on its debt obligations to foreign creditors and maintains its credit rating. Raising the debt limit does not authorize new spendingit simply allows the government to finance existing legal obligations that Congresses and presidents of both parties have made in the past. The United States Congress has acted 78 times to raise. extend. or revise the debt limit. 49 times under Republican presidents and 29 times under Democratic presidents. While no one is more frustrated than I am about our current fiscal state of affairs. I support responsible efforts to bring down our national debt. I firmly believe that it is a mistake to compound past irresponsibility with further irresponsibility on this issue. If Congress fails to increase the debt limit. the government would start to default on its foreign owned debts. which would have "calamitous" consequences for the U. S. economy. Not to mention it would be unprecedented in American history. In addition. if the United States defaulted: Investors would be less likely to lend to this country. borrowing costs. not only for the federal government. but for families. businesses and local governments would increase. and so would interest rates for municipal bonds. mortgages. car loans. and student and business loans. Mr. Speaker. Americas debt is a nonpartisan concern. Both parties share responsibly for ensuring that this nations bills are paid. I stand ready to work with all of my colleagues to meet our obligations and put forward a productive plan to reduce the deficit.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. I thank the gentleman. the ranking member of Energy and Commerce. for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1938. I represent a district at the end of this proposed pipeline in southeast Texas. I have five refineries in my district. and this will give them an alternative for crude oil to keep those refineries running. North American oil sands are a vital source of energy for the U.S.. and with skyrocketing fuel prices. I believe its imperative for the U.S. to diversify our energy sources by exploring alternatives such as the oil sands in Canada. As the largest single exporter of oil to the U.S. and a stable energy partner. Canada has helped to reduce our dependence on energy supplies from unfriendly nations. and this partnership should continue and be encouraged. The pipeline owner. TransCanada. has agreed to comply with 57 additional special conditions developed by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for the Keystone XL project. The supplemental environmental impact statement on the project has gone so far as to state that the incorporation of these conditions will result in a project that has a larger degree of safety over any other typically constructed domestic oil pipeline under the current code or law. and a larger degree of safety along the entire length of the pipeline similar to what we have in high consequence areas. Additionally. an independent study showed that the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline is expected to directly create 20.000 highwage manufacturing and construction jobs in the U.S. So not only will this project help our energy security. but it will help our recovering economy by creating thousands of jobs. I am constantly hearing from building trades in the Houston area about their support for this pipeline and the bill. And yet none of this even matters because the bill very fairly doesnt say what the administrations determination should be. Instead. it says expedite the decision. It has been too long once the environmental review is complete. I appreciate the Department of States recent announcement that they are on track to make a final decision by December 31. Maybe that wouldnt have been announced last week if we hadnt had this bill moving in the House. But I do appreciate the effort. I support the bill and appreciate my colleagues support.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. I rise in opposition to H.R. 1938 and object to this majoritys repeated attempts to circumvent environmental law and prioritize special interests over sound science. The Keystone XL is a proposed pipeline project from Alberta. Canada to Port Arthur. Texas. Since the project crosses national boundaries. it requires Presidential approval to proceed. By Executive Order. President Obama has delegated that authority to the State Department. which is in the process of reviewing public comment so that it can finalize the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). Once an EIS has been completed. the State Department will receive final input from other relevant federal agencies. as well as the general public. before making a final determination as to whether the Keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest. According to the State Department. this reviewwhich appropriately includes a thorough evaluation of the projects environmental. marketplace. national security and community impactsshould be completed by the end of the year. However. rather than allowing that process to come to a timely and considered conclusion. todays legislation sets forth its own demonstrably inaccurate and woefully incomplete findings in order to justify the majoritys preferred outcomeand then directs the President to make a final permitting decision by November 1. whether the required evaluation is complete or not. In truth. one need look no further than the errors and omissions throughout this legislations findings to understand why an objective. complete. scientificallybased review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project is so necessary. Accordingly. I urge a "no" vote.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 7. after line 23. insert the following new subsection: (e) SENSE OF CONGRESS.-It is the sense of Congress that the United States must decrease its dependence on oil from countries which are hostile to the interests of the United States. Canada has long been a strong trading partner. and increased access to their energy resources will create jobs in the United States. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 370. the gentlewoman from Texas and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman. I am glad Im able to rise and speak about legislation that involves one of our closest allies. Canada. and because this is a relationship with Canada. and because it is an international issue. Im assured that in the process. we will have significant oversight that includes the Environmental Protection Agency. the Secretaries of Defense. Commerce. Transportation. Energy. Homeland Security. and the Attorney General who will have to comment on this application before the conclusion and the final decision. That is good news. I also think its important. as we discuss what the potential of this relationship is and the opportunity for oil coming from a friendly neighbor. to be reminded that many of us have said over and over again that we must cease to rely upon foreign oil. In fact. in a Senate hearing when Egypt was beginning to. in essence. explode. Members said. watch Egypt. and we must lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Obviously Egypt is not one of our major sources of energy. but they were beginning to see the ripple effect in the Mideast of what has been called the Arab Spring. For many of us. we realize that it is a long. long winter as our friends in the Mideast seek peace. So this is an important statement about our commitment to creating jobs. but also it is an important statement on relieving or ceasing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil. Let me just take one States economy and realize what would happen with this particular effort. There would be a $2.3 billion investment in the Texas economy. creating more than 50.000 jobs in the Houston area. providing $48 million in State and local taxes. increase the gross State product by $1.9 billion. But I dont choose to be selfish in my amendment. and my amendment is a sense of Congress that says that it is the sense of Congress that the United States must decrease its dependence on oil from countries that are hostile to the interests of the United States and that Canada has been a strong trading partner. and increasing access to their energy resources will help create jobs in the United States. If I were to add to that. I would say continue the strong relationship between the United States and Canada. In addition. I think it is important to note that the President of the United States has indicated that we should decrease our reliance on foreign oil. In this instance. I believe that we are making an effort toward that. Do I believe that we should. in essence. cross our environmental Ts? Absolutely. So I would ask my colleagues to support my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

May I inquire as to the time I have remaining. The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Texas has 2 minutes remaining.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia changed her vote from "no" to "aye." So the amendment was rejected. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

First of all. I didnt thank both you and the ranking member for a very tough task. and I think my overall intent was the need for increasing the funding in EPA. As we make our way through this process. does the gentleman see. in the consultation with the other body. any opportunity to restore any of these funds to the EPA?
Date: 2011-07-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

If the gentleman will yield again. I am going to continue to work on this issue. I know that were going to take a vote on this. I. as they say. will come back again on the floor. because I think this is a very important issue. I thank the gentleman for yielding to allow me to again express how important it is that the EPA be funded more fully than it has been.
Date: 2011-07-27
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. members of the House leadership have walked away from the negotiating table three times and continue to push their plan to cut Medicare. Social Security. and Medicaid benefits. protect the top 2 percent of Americans at the expense of 98 percent of our families. pass a shortterm deal that would lead to credit downgrade. higher interest rates. and a tax hike on every American and repeat this crisis next year. Let me read you some emails that Ive received: "Im a disabled 57yearold gentleman who is restricted in a wheelchair. I thank God I live in a country where I am able to receive disability income like millions of other disabled Americans and Social Security recipients. Im afraid if the Republican leadership gets their way. Ill soon be living on the street. "Im very concerned that the default would cause even more dire straits for the average homeowner/worker than even currently exists. That does not even count the repercussions that would result from higher interest rates. falling dollar in the global economy. and lower earnings on annuities and other investments. such as decreasing principles." What we need is not a Republican plan or a Democratic plan. we need an American plan to deal with our debt that will take care of it so we dont have all of these dire consequences next Tuesday.
Date: 2011-07-27
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. today I rise to extend welldeserved congratulations to Santiago Canyon Colleges Imagine Cup team. Earlier this month. Team Syntax Errors accomplished what many thought they would never do. First of all. were talking about a community college. And especially with the cuts happening in California to these wonderful colleges we have. they went and they competed against 430 of the best universities in the world. In addition to that competition. this community college is a gem for our community. Santiago Canyons Team Syntax Errors proved that hard work and determination can make impossible dreams come true. They placed within the top 15 universities in the world. I am very proud of these students. and I admire their ambition. They are true role models for all of our young students striving to succeed in an everchanging. everglobal world. It is my honor to recognize Hayden Donze. Bill Vetter. Gary Kelley. and Dale Laizure for their remarkable accomplishments. Congratulations.
Date: 2011-07-27
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

I thank the gentleman for yielding. This is a bipartisan bill. which I support. I would just noteand I know the gentlemans long history with mine of advocating for human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam. I hope that we can follow up this great effort with a similar effort really specifically oriented toward the religious oppression thats going on in Vietnam against the Buddhists. against the Cao Dai. against the Catholics and many others. I commend the gentleman for this bill. I just wanted to raise that issue in the hopes that it can be addressed at a later date.
Date: 2011-07-27
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise as a cosponsor of H.R. 440. a bill to establish a Special Envoy to promote religious freedom for minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia. because no one should be made to feel that the practice of their religion is a crime or a source of shame. Around the world. people are persecuted in the name of one religion against another. Such persecution not only violates their inalienable right to worship as they choose. it also creates instability in many places around the world. Many conflicts are rooted in sectarian differences and rivalries. To the extent the United States can promote religious tolerance. we advance the cause of human rights. justice and peace around the globe. This bill creates a special envoy in order to monitor and combat acts of religious intolerance and incitement targeted against religious minorities and to work with foreign governments to address laws that are inherently discriminatory toward religious minority communities. As we speak. there are minorities all over the world who live in fear for their lives merely because they practice a different religion than those around them. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 440.
Date: 2011-07-27
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chair. my amendment would simply highlight the longstanding role of EPA in supporting the education of our Nations top environmental scientists by inserting the word "fellowships" after research and development in the Science and Technology Account. EPA currently awards the fellowships. and thus my amendment has no scoring impact and does not authorize a new activity. I realize that my Republican colleagues will surely not agree to this amendment. but they have to agree that science is the underpinning of great and good environmental policy. As the scientific arm of EPA. the Office of Research and Development supports worldclass research and development activities to protect mans health and the environment. Supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers through fellowships is just one way the government supports the kind of critically important research that private industry and academia alone cannot and will not do. With no real justification or detail. the committees report language for this bill specifies that funds are not provided for the fellowship programs. amounting to a substantial $17 million loss to this field. Lab equipment cannot operate itself. They cannot publish important papers or make groundbreaking discoveries. which creates jobs. That requires people. And EPA has a history of fostering some of the Nations top young researchers that have gone on to apply their talents across government. academia. and industry. For instance. since 1995. EPA has awarded approximately 1.500 STAR fellowships. Turning our backs on the next generation of academic researchers. governments scientists. science educators. and environmental engineers all but ensures that we are doomed to make bad. uninformed environmental decisions for the future. I realize the gentlemans point of order. I do not agree with it. But Im sure he will be upheld by the Parliamentarian. So I simply would ask that if we could work together to try to preserve some of this talent that we have already put in place and some of the equipment thats already in place to continue groundbreaking research. that is going to be one of the few ways that were going to develop good sound jobs for the future. I yield back the balance of my time.