macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the current system with reference to health care cannot be sustained. We are currently spending $2.5 trillion per year. That is a large number. difficult to get your mind around it. However. $79.000 a second is something that we all can understand. And by 2018 it will become $4.4 trillion per year. That would be $139.000 per second. For those who say. this is not my fight. I have good insurance. it may be that you have not utilized your insurance and you dont really know how good it isnt. For those who say I have insurance. I am okay. remember that 14.000 people per day lose their insurance. But for the grace of God. you may be one of the 14.000 people without insurance tomorrow. So please understand this is everybodys fight. because the economy of this country is dependent upon how we impact health care. Finally. this. In my State of Texas. 6 million are uninsured. 1.4 million children uninsured. This is inexcusable. There is a difference between something being unsustainable and being inexcusable. It is inexcusable.
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. many times we come up here and we hear my Republican colleagues say. "Where are the jobs?" Well. I am going to tell you where the jobs are at. In Houston. Texas. yesterday. we did an event with the Port of Houston and the industries along that channelwhether they be refineries or chemical plants or stevedoring companies or shippers. The jobs that we have through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are at the Port of Houston to the point of $98 million that came through that act to create and to expand the jobs at the Port of Houston. to make sure we can bring in those ships. make sure we can get that dredging done so they can be competitive not only with our own countrys ports but also worldwide. The jobs are in our district that were awarded money to benefit Early Head Start in Houston areas Head Start. the Department of Education. Early Head Start in the Galena Park School District received funds. expanding Head Start programs in our district. hiring more teachers. but also expanding it so parents can have a child go to Head Start. and they can go to work and earn some moneyincluding new centers. one in Channelview. Texas. we hope to open. Expanded federally qualified health clinics in our district are serving more people because of the Recovery Act.
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today to voice my support for H. Res. 1066 to recognize the bravery and efforts of the United States Armed Forces. local first responders. and other members of Operation Unified Response for their coordinated response to the January 12. 2010 Haitian earthquake. I am remarkably proud of the work we have done to assist with the recovery efforts in Haiti after this earthquake devastated PortauPrince and surrounding areas. With this in mind. many citizens from my home city of Dallas answered the call to service and went to Haiti to help with relief efforts. I am particularly moved by the work of Dr. Craig Hobar who is the founder of Life Enhancement Association for People. LEAP. a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing and enriching the lives of people around the world by providing specialized medical services. Shortly after the earthquake in Haiti. Dr. Hobar was in the country with Dr. Ale Mitchell to help assist with amputations and trauma surgeries. In addition to this. Dr. Hobar has pledged to help bring volunteer medical teams to Haiti from around the world for the next year through the LEAP Foundation. Madam Speaker. I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me today in honoring all the first responders in Haiti by supporting this important resolution.
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I strongly support H. Res. 1048. a resolution commending the efforts and honoring the work of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in response to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. 2010. I would also like to thank Representative TIM MURPHY for introducing this piece of legislation. Before the earthquake hit Haiti. the country was already in recovery from a string of hurricanes and tropical storms. food shortages and rising commodity prices. and political instability. These problems were compounded when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the country of Haiti. erasing any recovery efforts done prior to this catastrophe. Estimated casualties were reported to be over 150.000 and Haiti withstood millions in damages to the countrys infrastructure. It has been reported that 3.000.000 of Haitis population were directly affected by the disaster. and as a result. one third of the existing population is displaced. Immediately following this tragedy. President Barack Obama vowed the "unwavering support" of the United States and pledged a "swift. coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti." Days after the earthquake. the United States Navy responded to President Obamas request and delivered aid. The crew of the USNS Comfort provided 24hour service to hundreds of critically ill men. women and children patients. Our Navy medical personnel on USNS Comfort saved the lives of 98 percent of the ships patient population. which holds a capacity of 1.000 patients. and successfully performed 100 surgeries as of January 24. Due to the limited resources for critically ill patients. the USNS Comfort medical staff often find themselves making grave decisions in terms of the use of their existing resources. President Obamas pledged support of $100 million in humanitarian aid will go a long way toward supporting their efforts. I commit my full support to H. Res 1048 and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this piece of legislation.
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 227. brought forth by my esteemed colleague. Representative EDOLPHuS TOWNS. New York. which articulates support for the ultimate goal that the National Urban Crimes Awareness Week stands to convey. This message is not for a specific neighborhood. race or ethnicity. but is for all nationalities and communities. Through reaching out to various organizations. businesses. colleges and universities. crime awareness will spread through like "wild fire." This resolution states that Congress realizes the importance of National Crime Awareness Week and acknowledges and welcomes the opportunity to educate the public about urban violence and take steps to prevent violence and provide support to victims. I cannot stress enough the significance of Congress supporting the concept of the resolution. not only for actual crime prevention. but also for the victims of crime. By joining in a consensus. we are informing Americans that we empathize and sympathize with their issues. concerns and safety. We are also declaring that we support both in theory and implementation any approach necessary to increase support for victims. increase successful and fair prosecutions and applaud the courage of individuals who pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and triumph in the midst of adversity! This resolution also acknowledges more comprehensive rehabilitation programs for exoffenders. This is especially important in my city. Houston. TX. where the population is the fourth largest in the United States. It is imperative to spread crime awareness. not only in this month. but every day. to maintain order and a safe living environment for all. So in conclusion. I immensely support H. Con. Res. 227 and I encourage my colleagues to follow my lead.
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1085) honoring and celebrating the contributions of AfricanAmericans to the transportation and infrastructure of the United States.
Date: 2010-02-23
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include additional materials on House Resolution 1085.
Date: 2010-02-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. let me tell you. here are the jobs. I believe if you polled across America you would understand that the investment that this Democratic Congress made. along with its President. created or saved 3.5 million jobs. gave 95 percent of American workers a tax cut. and began to build our crumbling rail and water and a variety of infrastructure. Where are the jobs? I will tell you. 2.4 million jobs were created according to the Congressional Budget Office. nonpartisan. $120 billion in tax cuts to 95 percent of our working families and to businesses. loaned nearly $20 billion to our small businesses creating or saving a job. What I like most of all is the 300.000 jobs in education and the 400.000 jobs in corrections officers and public health personnel. Lets ask all the firefighters and police officers across America whether or not there were jobs. Mr. Speaker. I will tell you that we have invested in America. We had an economy that wasnt growing when we came in. down some 6 percent. Now its up. We have the jobs. and we are going to do health care reform this morning as well. We are working for the American people.
Date: 2010-02-24
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as an original cosponsor. I rise in strong support of legislation that will end the unfair advantages that health insurance companies currently enjoy today. I want to commend my colleagues Representatives PERRIELLO and BETSY MARKEY for their leadership and advocacy on this very important issue. I hope most of us would agree that health insurance companies should play by the same rules as every other industry in America. For far too long. the health insurance industry has been exempt from the Federal antitrust laws that govern other businesses. As a result. they are not subject to Federal laws banning price fixing. market manipulation. collusion. or other anticompetitive business practices. It is apparent that there is no real competition in parts of the health insurance market. In the last few weeks. we have seen health insurance companies impose huge premium increases on consumers. Anthem Blue Cross of California announced a 39 percent price hike in premiums for their consumers. The Department of Health and Human Services has reported that several large health insurance companies across the country have requested premium increases of anywhere between 16 percent and 56 percent. These huge premium increases come after a year of record profits for the top five health insurance companies in America. Last year. as Americans struggled to pay their health insurance costs. insurance companies profits jumped by 56 percent. Quite simply. the legislation we are considering today will repeal the blanket antitrust exemption afforded to health insurance companies under the McCarranFerguson Act. We must hold health insurers accountable when they engage in anticompetitive behaviors that benefit their profit margins at the expense of American families. Mr. Speaker. we are taking a small but very critical step towards health insurance reform and fixing a part of our broken health care system while Congress continues to work on comprehensive health care reform to bring more affordable and accessible care for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support this muchneeded bill.
Date: 2010-02-24
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today as an original cosponsor and strong supporter of H.R. 4626 the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act. Since 1940s. the McCarranFerguson Act has exempted the insurance industry from all federal antitrust laws giving health insurers freedom to raise premium prices. deny coverage for preexisting conditions. and change their reimbursement rates. Right now millions of Americans are at the mercy of the health insurance companies with premium increases going up in the double digit percentage points across the country. These premium increases are not to enhance insurance plans. but to add to the extremely large profit margins of insurance companies. Seemingly. there is no end in sight to this business practice because there is little competition in the health insurance market that benefits the consumer. If this continues health insurance premiums will continue to rise as long as we allow the insurance companies to control markets. We know that competition in the marketplace leads to lower prices and more options that benefit the consumer. There is no reason why the health insurance industry. with their outrageous spending on lavish retreats and executive salaries at the expense of the consumer. should not be forced to compete for business on a level playing field and control their costs and spending on nonhealth care related items. Right now. health insurance costs are out of control and if individuals cannot afford health insurance they end up in emergency rooms forcing the health care system and the taxpayer to pay for their expenses. Yet. the insurance companies continue to see increased profits while making it nearly impossible for individuals to gain access to or afford a policy. H.R. 4626 is one way we can fix the monopolies the health insurance industry has over the consumer and will make insurance coverage more affordable for individuals and small businesses. This is a step in the right direction. but we desperately need health reform in this country. All individuals should have access to quality and affordable health insurance and we will not accomplish that without reforms throughout our health care system. I strongly support H.R. 4626 because insurance antitrust reform is one piece of the pie as we move forward.
Date: 2010-02-24
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H

from Florida particularly. for being original cosponsors and bringing this to the House floor as quickly as we did. I want to also recognize the National Association for Black Veterans. the NAACP. and other civil rights organizations for their continued hard work to ensure equality of rights for all persons. The proposed resolution honors the heroic sacrifices of black veterans and recognizes the fundamental role that those veterans played in the evolution of the civil rights movement. It recognizes. also. the difficult challenges that black veterans face when returning home after serving in the Armed Forces and encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue working to eliminate any health and benefit disparities for minority veterans. I note that this resolution derived from a similar unabridged resolution approved by the NAACP during its centennial convention in July of 2009. which I had the privilege to attend and participate. This resolution represents a small token of gratitude that Congress can provide for these veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. often in the face of tremendous challenges. and serves also as a reminder that we have a long way to go. I will yield for as much time as he may consume to Mr. KISSELL of North Carolina.
Date: 2010-02-24
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. first. let me thank Congressman KANJORSKI for reserving this Special Order today to honor the life. legacy and service of our friend and colleague John Murtha. Our Nation has lost a gifted lawmaker. a devoted public servant and a true patriot. In 1974. Jack became the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. His spirit emboldened and his resolve hardened by his service on the battlefield. he became a tireless advocate for the people of Pennsylvania and all Americans. We all know so well that he never lost his courage and his dedication to our Nations security. our troops. or their families. Even after his election. he continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1990 as a Colonel. receiving the Navys Distinguished Service Medal. From my first day here. Jack was always a mentor and a friend. When I was first appointed as a Cardinal on the Appropriations Committee. Jack was right there with sage advice and a helping hand. His nononsense exterior contained a fiery soul and fierce intelligence the equal of which this body has seldom known. Our Nation is surely better for his service to it and a grateful country grieves its loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joyce. their children. and extended family during this time.
Date: 2010-02-25
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Chair. I stand in support of the 2010 Intelligence Authorization Act. This measure continues congress commitment to delivering to the men and women who serve in the countrys intelligence community the resources they need to conduct the vital work of protecting American lives. This bill ensures that these resources are delivered in a manner that strengthens accountability. In addition to authorizing funding for 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and intelligencerelated activities of the government. the bill contains important provisions to expand independent government oversight of the intelligence community so that the American public can be confident that the essential work of intelligence gathering is done in a manner that comports with the highest moral standards. To ensure that all relevant members of congress are kept abreast of all important intelligence developments. the bill repeals the "Gang of Eight" provision which has for years limited some congressional intelligence committee member access to intelligence information and activities. With the passage of this measure. the president will be required to brief all covered members of congress on the covert actions and programs of the government. This will ensure that all officials who have been elected to oversee intelligence matters are briefed and aware of events as they unfold. To help combat waste. fraud and abuse. the bill creates a new Office of the Inspector General and invests the office with subpoena powers and important protections to ensure its independence. Madam Chair. Congress has not sent an intelligence authorization bill to the president for his signature in more than 5 years. That means for five years. congress has not been a full partner in the development of this countrys national security policy. We need to pass this bill. not only to fulfill our oversight responsibilities. but also for the sake of the brave men and women in and out of uniform who have dedicated themselves to the important work this bill helps to fund.
Date: 2010-02-25
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 1103. a bill originally introduced by Representative WEXLER of Florida. for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.
Date: 2010-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today because I think it is important to note the change in the economy as we move forward. But the challenge to us as Members of Congress. even as we reflect on the enormous impact the investment dollars have had. last year in January of 2009 we had lost 779.000 jobs. In January of 2010. only 22.000 jobs were lost and the economy is percolating. But 22.000 is unacceptable. So we must pass a jobs bill now. But we must also be concerned not only for the recently unemployed. for the white collar workers. but we have to be concerned about the young workers. 18 to 30. We have to be concerned about the chronically unemployed. or the exfelon who has paid his or her dues. has a family. and other than getting work. they would be dependent on a government handout. They dont want that. So when we talk about jobs. we have to worry about seniors. and working families. and people who have been unemployed for a long period of time. We have got to put a job in their hand. And that is what I want to do. work to get jobs for the American people and the 18th Congressional District.
Date: 2010-03-03
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. today. I rise to recognize Womens History Month. This month we will be celebrating not only the accomplishments of women. but will also be raising the awareness of the various challenges that still exist and face women today. Today. women make up about 12 percent of our 1.2 million active U.S. servicemembers. Today. women like Tran Khai Thanh Thuy are sacrificing their rights to fight for democracy and freedom in Vietnam. Today. the United States Government is led by more women leaders than ever before. But unfortunately. women today also continue to be challenged by discrimination. sexual assault. and violence. Despite all of the progress we have made. women and girls continue to be trafficked across international borders on a daily basis. This month. I encourage all of my colleagues to not only recognize the progress women have made. but also to take action to expand the rights of women today and for future generations.
Date: 2010-03-03
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise this morning to share some success stories from the 20th Congressional District in Florida that show that the evidence is clear that the Recovery Act is working to cushion the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and lay a new foundation for economic growth. In my State of Florida. we are creating jobs and investing in the infrastructure of our community. Indeed. in my district alone. there have been 130 Recovery Act grants that have been awarded. Even more importantly. in my congressional district. 61 small businesses have received more than $21 million in loans. These loans to small businesses have allowed companies to stay open. keep people employed. and prevented an even deeper economic downturn. Experts agree that the Recovery Act is already responsible for saving or creating 2 million jobs. and we remain on track to create and save at least an additional 31/2 million jobs by the end of the year. The Recovery Act. to be clear. was never meant to replace dollar for dollar or job for job what we have lost. But 1 year in. experts ranging from private forecasters to Governors on both sides of the aisle say the Recovery Act has helped pull us back from the brink of economic disaster and is helping us lay a firm foundation for our economic recovery.