macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1988-10-06
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I would like to inform the Hosue that the next item of business is a resolution that deals with pollution and involves the forests of the United States. and I would like to mention at this time that our distinguished former colleague. Mr. Charles Whitley of North Carolina. was the initial author of this legislation in the past Congress. Unfortunately we could not finalize the legislation. We do hope now that we might be able to move this legislation as a tribute to our distinguished colleague. Charles Whitley. who upon his retirement nonetheless has continued his interest in the forests of this great country or ours and in insisting that every effort be made to have the forests and the ecosystem as such clean and that we might do everything possible through the Department of Agriculture. through the Forest Service. in order that we might help in cleaning up the air In the forests and the lands of the United States.
Date: 1988-10-06
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill to provide for study and research on the decline in U.S. forest productivity and to determine the effects of atmospheric pollutants on forest environments. and for other purposes.
Date: 1988-10-06
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consumne. Mr. Speaker. I rise to support H.R. 2399. as amended. a bill to establish a research program. under the auspices of the USDA Forest Service. to study the effects of atmospheric pollution on forest ecosystems. H.R. 0t99. as amended. would establish a 10year research program to study the effects of air pollutants on forest ecosystems. It would permit researchers to conduct needed research on the effects of other air pollutants. in addition to acid rain. on the health of the Nations forestlands. Currently. the Forest Services research program has been hindered by its narrow focus on acid rain and has thus far failed to provide the information needed to guide policymakers in dealing with the problem of air pollutant effects on forests. The bill would make the Forest Service the lead agency to develop this research program. aided by a committee of scientific experts in the field. In rddition. the bill would require that the Forest Service generate a series of reports on the research program. in(lading an Initial report that spells out the kinds of research to be done and an estimate of the funds needed to do it. Annual research reports and a final report will also be provided to keep the Congress informed of the kinds of research being conducted and what they are learning as a result. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 2399 passed the House earlier this year by an overwhelming majority. The bill was amended by the Senate to provide for additional resources to be invested in assessing the impacts of atmospheric pollutants on hardwood forests. Given recent concerns for the decline of sugar maples in New England and the failing health of other tree species in the east which are suspected of being affected by air pollutants. I believe that this is a useful amendment. H.R. 2399 is a tribute to the concerns for the health of the Nations forests that were first raised by our colleague and former House Member. Charlie Whitley. who. with the Honorable SID MonIsoN. Introduced a sinilar bill in the 99th Congress. Their concern for protecting the health of the Nations forests led me to Introduce H.R. 2399 earlier this year. I am pleased to bring this bill to the floor for the House to consider today. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 2399. as amended. establishes an important research prograin in the USDA Forest Service. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 1988-10-06
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. yesterday. October 5. 1988. the Committee on Banking. Finance arid Uriian Affairs ordered reported H.R. 5432. the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation Recapialization Amendments of 1988. &s amended. This afternoon the chairman of the Committee on Rules. Chairman PEPpiER. announced tha. amendments to H.R. 5432 submitted for consideralien of the flu!cs Committee should refer to the text of tiv. legislation as placed in the REconD in this special order. In furtherance of the announcement of Chairman PEPPER. I commend to the attention of the Members H.R. 5432 as ordered reportcd by the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs. HR. 5432 Be Uf crcc!cd by the Senate and Iouse of Rcpresentotives of the fUnitcd States of Anmcrioi sit Congress astsembled. SETION I. SI!llrr Trng.. This Act may be cited as tile "Federal SavIngs and Loan Insurance Corporation Recapitalization Amendments of 1988".
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of S. 1081. as amended by the Committee on Science. Space. and Technology. This legislation was referred jointly to the Committee on Science. Space. and Technology and the Committee on Agriculture. both of which considered similar legislation In the 981h and 99th Congresses. The Committee on Agriculture fully supports the intent of S. 1081 which Is to coordinate all Federal agency activities relating to nutrition monitoring and thereby make more effective use of Federal and State moneys allocated to nutrition monitoring activities. Additionally. the committee fully endorses the provisions of the bill specifying that: First. both the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services will jointly publish the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" and second. any Federal agency Intending to publish any dietary guidance must first submit such information to the Secretaries for review and approval. I am pleased to add that among the agricultural groups supporting S. 1081. as amended. are the American Farm Bureau Federation. the American Meat Institute. the National Cattlemens Association. the National Farmers Union. the National Grange. the National Pork Producers Council. the United Egg Association. the United Egg Producers. and the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. The Committee on Agriculture worked closely with the Committee on Science. Space. and Technology in formulating this substitute amendment. and I thank Chairman ROBERT ROE and his staff for their cooperation in this regard. I have written to Chairman ROE that the Committee on Agriculture has deferred formal consideration of the bill in order to expedite its action by the House. This H1001.1 deferral. however. in no way waives the juiisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture on any of the provisions of this legislation. Mr. Speakor. there are a number of Federal agencies irvolved to some extent in nutrition activities. including nutrition monitoring. Unfortunately. thcso activilies aio not adequately coordinatod vmorig the various agencies. and it i3 diftcult io ascertain exactly how much is spent by the Fcodral Government each year on monitoring the nutritional status of tle American people. his legislation will correct these flawvs and bring our Federal nutritional monitoring efforts more into focus. I urge my colleagues to give S. 1081. as amended. a vote of approval.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill to amend the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 respecting the importation of motor vehicles in anticipation of compliance with safety standards under such act.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the Senate amendments to H.R. 2628.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations on the management of infectious waste.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Fonlo]. who has worked assiduously and who deserves a good deal of the credit for what I might add is very significant legislation.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. the answer to the gentlemans question is "Yes." Further amplifying. in fact. the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry should consider providIng interim reports to Congress on a schedule like that set out in Section 11008 for EPAs environmental reports.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia . a member of the Committee on Armed Services.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I hate to break up this New Jersey conrIne. but I want to congratulate all of the New Jersey representatives who have brought this bill along. Mr. Speaker. I would like to voice my support for H.R. 4847. legislation to require appropriate labeling of art materials which contain chronically toxic ingredients. Certain art supplies contain toxics such its solvents and heavy metals. which can threaten health. The art supply industry recognizes that consumers of these products including schools where children are Involved in art activities. have a fundamental need to know about these possible threats to health. H.R. 4847 would accomplish this by adopting the current voluntary chronic hazard labeling standard of the American Society of Testing and Materials. Without this legislation. which Is national in scope. the art supply industry will continue to be mired In confusion due to conflicting State laws for labeling art supplies. This hodgepodge of State requirements is on a collision course with the interests of both art supply manufacturers. who want to label their products In an informative and uniform manner. and the tens of millions of Americans who ought to be adequately informed about the art materials which they use professionally. educationally. or for recreation. The voluntary labeling standards codified by this bill represent an agreement between the Art Supplies Labeling Coalition and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The bill is supported by the National Education Association. the PTA. the American Association of School Administrators. and the American Public Health Association. This legislation was referred both to the Subcommittee on Transportation. Tourism. and Hazardous Materials which I chair and to the Subcommittee on Commerce. Consumer Protection. and Competitiveness. I commend the gentleman from New Jersey for bringing it to the floor expeditiously and we hope the Senate will be able to act before adjournment. I also want to commend Mr. DWYER. sponsor of the bill. for bringing this matter beiore us. Without his perseverance the bill would not have made it to the floor. In closing. I highly commend the partiesrepresentatives of the art supply industry. health associations. and educatorswhose cooperative efforts have resulted in legislation which clearly benefits both this industry and its consumers.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the managers have until midnight tonight to file the conference report on the bill to amend the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to extend programs providing urgently needed assistance for the homeless. and for other purposes. The gentleman from Ohio. Mr. WYLIE. the ranking minority member. concurs in this request.
Date: 1988-10-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as this Congress comes to a close we iose one of our finest colleagues with the retirement of MANUEL LUJAN. JR. While I can certainly understand his wanting to spend more time in the glorious State of New Mexico from which he halls. It is with a great sadness that I say goodbye. MANNYS legislative contributions are too numerous to list and they go beyond what he has done for his district and State for many affect our national and International Interests. Take for example his work with the space program. It Is these efforts which have laid the groundwork of the future exploration of space throughout this century and well beyond the year 2000. Though I have not had the privilege of serving on the same committees as my distinguished colleague I have profited from his generous counsel on numerous occasions. He is a man of wisdom. dedication. compassion and fairness. but moreover. he is a man who possesses a strong sense of "noblesse oblige." the Idea that it is his duty to serve. his obligation as a citizen to do his part. He has its courtesy and civility. which does not have anything snobbish about It. but which means you treat all people the same waywith respect. He has its sense of honor. This is why I say the House Is losing some special qualities when it loses MANUEL LUJAN. JR. As he ends a distinguished congressional career I want to say I wish MANNY the best in all that the future has to hold as well as add I look forward to our continued association and friendship.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I just want to clarify the issue. because there are many misconceptions or erroneous perceptions of colonias and their problems. and as it relates to Farmers Home. I want to state to the gentleman that colonias are eligible for Farmers Home assistance if they fit into the program. It is only in some very specific areas that they are not. So the catch22 is a minimal thing. There are people living in colonias now that have been given assistance by Farmers Home and that are eligible for Farmers Home assistance if they qualify as to the criteria for population. It is only where they may be within the confines or adjacent to a larger city. but it does not mean that help has not come forward and help has not been given. But in a small area. that is where the problem lies.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. again. very respectfully. let me say that Farmers Home does provide assistance for housing in the rural areas. and there are many colonias in my district. for instance. In Hidalgo County. The residents have secured Farmers Home Administration loans to build houses. It is only where they are out in the population of the community that has the restriction. But I could not let this pass that Farmers Home has not assisted in housing. because they have.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. If the gentleman will yield further. I think our distinguished subcommittee chairman has just explained the situation. As all of us agree. it is and should be clear. and as I stated in the beginning. my concern is that the finger cannot be pointed at Farmers Home that It has not been assisting or that it has not been sensitive. that those of us who work in the area with Farmers Home have been insensitive. but. rather. there is that very small exception. And it Is almost specifically around El Paso where the problem arises. becatise in my area the small communities and even the other communities qualify. So the colonias comes in with the small communities. and what we are addressing and what I want to clarify Is this: That we cannot say the Farmers Home Administration and those of us who have been working in this area have been insensitive. but. rather. that there is a narrow area where it needs to be defined. and this is what this legislation tries to correct.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank my distinguished colleague. the gentleman from Texas [Mr. GONZALEZI. the chairman of the subcommittee. and I extend my appreciation for his interest and assistance in this endeavor. Mr. Speaker. I would like to state that both the gentleman from Texas and all of the Members from the border have been working diligently as possible. and I commend all of them and would unite my efforts along with them. Sometimes we do not agree on the specifics of which road to take. but that does not mean any less interest in the problem. and. as I have been mentioning prior to our other distinguished colleague from Texas. that. having had the responsibility for Farmers Home. the jurisdiction in the Congress. and having worked with the socalled colonias that are now being discovered by many people of good will and good Intentions. but really not knowledgeable of the specifics. that It may cause some problems that in trying to assist may be hindered. Mr. Speaker. this is not so in this legislation. for this is targeting specific amounts for specific areas. but I did want to clarify that. for example. in my congressional district some $36 to $38 million in the past 10 to 12 years have come In for rural water supply for example. We still have a ways to go. but we have rural water supply districts. The one that serves almost 100 percent of the socalled colonias. and colonias is very difficult to define. and there is no exact way that one could really define it except that they lie in areas because of the developer and his either fraud and/or negligence. Mr. Speaker. these neighborhoods have sprung up without the adequate resources of water and. sometimes. power for electricity in housing. and the housing has been more a problem of lack of zoning authority by the counties except for those that are adJacent within the territorial limits of a city. So it has not been for lack of effort. but rather that the prolifera-
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the gentleman from Texas is correct in one respect. that there are many people of good will who now have come forward to try and help. but we have to look at the antecedents. We Just suffered through a commission that did nothing. Prior to that was another commission that sought more water initiative. So. all that I am saying is this has not worked. I have been there. I would hope that they do. and that is my frustration. that Just saying another commission is going to solve the issue. I disagree with the gentleman. Jobs are going to solve the issue in the end. and not another commission. Mr. Speaker. the Vice Presidents task force. I think. is in existence now. and nothing is happening.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I would also like to invite the gentleman to my area of the border. either individually or with a group or under the auspices of a committee. The Committee on Agriculture also plans to continue oversight. working on legislation to visit and have formal hearings in the area. and hopefully so we may clarify some of the misconceptions that some people have. or try to imagine things that may or may not be. The better we can document that. the better all of us will be. Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for his interest.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I ask unanimous consent that the managers have until midnight tonight to file the conference report on the bill to amend the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to extend programs providing urgently needed assistance for the homeless. and for other purposes. The gentleman from Ohio. Mr. Wylie. the ranking minority member. concurs in this request.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. pursuant to the provisions of House Resolution 584. I call up the conference report on the bill to provide for more detailed and uniform disclosure by credit and charge card issuers with respect to any information relating to interest rates and other fees which may be incurred by consumers through the use of any credit or charge card. and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
Date: 1988-10-13
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report now under consideration.
Date: 1988-10-19
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. while lenders. regulated and unregulated. are tripping over each other to offer the "hottest consumer product in America today"-home equity loansthese same lender often fail to tell the consumer that he can lose his home in the process. Few slick ads or hardsell campaigns warn consumers that the lender will foreclose on their home If they dont pay up. With the possibility of an economic downturn being discussed by manydespite what our Vice President saysthe consumer needs to be concerned. You cant pay back your loan if things suddenly turn bad for you. These are not small loans. The 1986 tax revision bill allows consumers to deduct the interest on home equity loans up to $100.000. And. these loans are gaining in appeal because the tax law called for the phaseout of other forms of credit interest deductions. For this reason it is essential that the consumer be provided all the necessary information before deciding to contract for a home equity loan and be protected from unilateral change In the contract. Thats why we need to enact the home equity disclosure legislation before we adjourn. The House passed the bill- H.R. 3011on June 20. and I am hopeful that the Senate will act today. Home equity loans can become ticking economic time bombs unless consumers are careful and fully informed.
Date: 1988-10-19
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report on the bill to amend the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to extend programs providing urgently needed assistance for the homeless. and for other purposes. The Clerkread the title of the bill.