macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1983-05-11
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas. I think the gentleman Is on the right track in trying to help the potential number of people who would qualify under this legislation by requiring that homeowners seeking help should also apply under chapter 13 of the. Bankruptcy Reform Act for relief. This feature of the bankruptcy law gives the debtor some flexibility. It is a way to satisfy debt in a concise. reasonable way. It Insures his or her credit standing. and should he or she not qualify under the chapter 13 procedure. then once dismissed from the procedure. the provisions of H.R. 1983 would still come into play. If the bill before us today is to be effective it must serve those in the greatest need. If the debtor has the potential to satisfy the debt without foreclosure. then the bankruptcy judge or truitee can make this determination. and by so doing. it simply opens up the act for more people who may have the greatest need for its assistance. I think we set a bad precedent if we eliminate traditional legal means for meeting ones obligations. A judge in bankruptcy can easily deterifline if a person does not have the potential either now or within a reasonable time to satisfy the debt. If the debt cannot be satisfied. then the debtor will be relieved of the provisions of this amendment and the debtor can apply the vehicle established under the bill before us. I think there would be less criticism of this bill by the taxpayers if it contained an alternate. more fldxible approach for obtaining relief rather than an indiscriminate filing that relieves all obligations.
Date: 1983-05-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I will ask the gentleman. at some point is the gentleman going to get to a discussion of the amendment having to do with bankruptcy which the gentleman offered?
Date: 1983-05-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

That would be interesting because. as the gentleman said. we have greatly discussed the legislation on the floor. and it would be nice to discuss the legislation pending before us.
Date: 1983-05-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman. I certainly appreciate the concern of the gentleman from Arkansas and I want to assure the Members of the House that indeed the committee had the same concern. This was considered very seriously in the subcommittee and in the full committee and for that reason we do include in the legislation the following: Such mortgagee has extended to the mortgagor involved the same or greater opportunities for voluntary forbearance as such mortgagee extended to similarly situated mortgagors within the 4month period ending March 31. 1983. Very frankly. that is a much.clearer criterion than that presented in the amendment. because unfortunately the Bethune amendment would ask that the Secretary in essence be a Solomon and have a crystal ball and mindreading device. whereas in the Gonzalez substitute we say. the same forbearance criteria that has been exercised for the 4month period prior to So I agree with the gentlemans desire. but I feel the bill as written indeed addresses that which concerns him much more directly than the amendment presented.
Date: 1983-05-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I am constrained to regain m time and say to the gentleman. I understand what the gentleman is trying to do. I. however. feel constrained to oppose the amendment because you. are asking the Secretary to do something that with all the intelligence and the wherewithal of Secretary Pierce. he just would not be able to do it under these circumstances. The bill protects us from that evil which the gentleman is concerned about. For that reason. I urge defeat of the amendment so we can proceed with the business before us and vote.
Date: 1983-05-11
Speaker: WON PAT (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I I rise to congratulate Congressman ST GERMAIN and his colleagues on the Banking Committee for the excellent - work they did in drafting H.R. 1983. - the Emergency Housing Assistance Act. This is a fine bill and I am pleased to sucport it in every way I can. There is no doubt that this billis needed now to help the tens of thousands of Americans who are in dire danger of losing their homes. The Nations economy has been in for some tough times recently and the impact of the unemployed workers has been nothing less than tragic. This Congress must act now to help these people and I urge my colleagues here today to vote for H.R. 1983. I know my own constituents in Guam and Americans residing in other territories place high hopes on the success of this bill. In Guam our unemployment rate is now 14 percent and it is rising. We place a very high cultural value on our land and our own homes and the thought of losing either of these is terrible indeed for our people. Perhaps the real tragedy is that those who are faced with bankruptcy are not dead beats. These are men and women who have gladly worked in the past and want to do so again. Their prayers for assistance can be met by this billat least in part. And I hope that we will not let them down by defeating H.R. 1983 in the House. H.R. 1983 is a piece of legislation which has come at the right time in our history. Years from now. I believe that Americans will remember the time when this Congress came to the rescue and said with a loud voice that we will not forget those who are in dire need of help from the Federal Government.e
Date: 1983-05-11
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 bill jiust passed.
Date: 1983-05-12
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on. Thursday. May 12. 1983. while the House is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of the subcommittee meeting is to mark up H.R. 597. a bill to increase the maximum amount for military claims. to hear and mark up H.R. 2479. a bill for the Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Co.. and to mark up private bills. The minority has been consulted and has agreed to this request.
Date: 1983-05-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

If the gentleman will yield. I cannot personally vouch that it has. I assume. since it came from the counsel on the committee. The ranking minority member. the gentleman from Illinois . is here.
Date: 1983-05-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

This is just to file a report. but I will be happy to accommodate the gentleman because I cannot personally vouch for that.
Date: 1983-05-17
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the distinguished gentleman from California and I rise in support of H.R. 2875. And I would like very sincerely and very emphatically to commend the chairman of the subcommittee and also the members of the subcommittee for what they have done so that we might continue the authorization on this legislation and continue on the track to further hearings so that we might address the critical issues which have been raised in the hearings in the committee. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2785. The bill extends the authorization for appropriations for the Federal Insecticide. Fungicide. and Ro-
Date: 1983-05-18
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Wednesday. May 18. 1983. while the House is considering amendments unler the 5minute rule. The purpose of the meeting is to mark up the bill H.R. 595 relating to tort claims. Sharp Shaw Shelby Shumway Shuster Skorskl Siljander Simon Sisisky Skeen Skelton Slattery Smith (FL). Smith (IA) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smith. Denny Smith. Robert Snowe Snyder Solars Solomon Spence Spratt St Germain Staggers Stangeland Stark Stenholm Stokes Stratton Studds Stump Sundquist Swift Synar Tallon Tauke Tauzin Taylor Thomas (CA) Thomas (GA) Torres Torricelli Towns Traxler Udall Valentine Vandergriff Vander Jast Vento Volkmer Vucanovich Walgren Walker Watkins Waxman Weaver Weber Weiss Wheat Whitehurst Whitley Whittaker Whitten Williams (MT) Williams (OH) Wilson Winn Wirth Wise Wolf Wolpe Wright Wyden Wylie Yates Yatron Young (AKY Young (FL) Young (MO) Zablocki Zschau I have talked with the gentleman from Ohio . who is here today. within the last 10 minutes. He is agreeable to this.
Date: 1983-05-18
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Thursday. May 19. 1983. while the House is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of the subcommittee meeting is for privatebill hearings. The gentleman from Ohio has been consulted. and he has no objection.
Date: 1983-05-25
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Thursday. May 26. 1983. while the House Is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of the subcommittee meeting is to hear and consider private bills. The minority has been consulted and agrees to this request.
Date: 1983-06-01
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise to support passage of H.R. 3133. the HUDindependent agencies appropriations bill for 1984. As the Members of the House know. the Banking Committee has reported out the 1984 housing authorization bill. H.R. 1. and I am hopeful that that bill will receive early consideration on the floor. H.R. 1 contains important housing initiatives as well as increased funding authorizations for ongoing housing programs. and I will urge my colleagues to support that bill when it comes before the House in what I hope will be a very short time. I also urge Members to support H.R. 3133. the HUD appropriations bill that is now before the House. While some of my Banking Committee colleagues and I have strong reservations about certain provisions in the appropriations bill. I have every confidence that when the legislative process has run its course. the housing program that emerges will be a very good one. I think we would be far better served by keeping the process going and agreeing to this legislation than by erecting roadblocks to the passage of H.R. No one is more conscious than I of the responsibilities of authorizing committees in constructing the programs approved by Congress each year. and I believe the Banking Committee has acted promptly and responsibly in reporting out H.R. 1. On the other hand. I fully understand the efforts made by my colleague from Massachusetts in bringing this appropriations bill to the floor at this early date and I encourage my col. leagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3133.*
Date: 1983-06-03
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman. in looking over the report language of this bill. I notice that it will cost about $384 million to operate the House of Representatives for fiscal year 1984. That appears on page 9 of the report. On page 10 of the report appears an item on which I would like to ask the gentleman from California to give me some assistance. It states that the LBJ intern program and former Speakers staff will cost $847.000 for fiscal year 1984. Can the gentleman from California tell me how much money will be spent in fiscal year 1984 for the funding of the operation of the staff of the former Speaker. the Honorable Carl Albert of Oklahoma? . O1140
Date: 1983-06-03
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

I will yield to the gentleman. It states that the LBJ intern program and the former Speakers staff will cost $847.000. My question is: Of the $847.000. how much of that is devoted to or is earmarked for the former Speakers staff?
Date: 1983-06-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. reported that that Committee. having had under consideration the bill making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1984. and for other purposes. had directed him to report the bill back to the House with an amendment. with the recommendation that the amendment be agreed to and that the bill. as amended. do pass.
Date: 1983-06-06
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise in support of II.R. 9. the Florida Wilderness Act of 1983. There is. happily. little controv.2ry over the designation by the bil of seven wilderness areas. totaling rome 49.150 acres. in national forests in the State of Florida. I would pointt out that the designations have previously been approved by Congress in substantially the same form as they appear in H.R. 9. Further. I would point out that the bill resolves. as far as the administration and the committees are concerned. a difference of views relating to certain applications for leases on deposits of phosphates located in the Osceola national forest that has been controversial in the past. We believe that the bill will protect and preserve. for the enjoyment of the people of Florida and the Nation. unique wilderness areas. Further. the bill incorporates what has become standard release and sufficiency language used by the House In wilderness legislation. Thus. In the State of Florida. the Forest Service will be able to manage nonwilderness areas In the National Forests in a reasonable and systematic fashion. In this connection. H.R. 9 was sequentially referred to the Committee on Agriculture in recognition of its jurisdiction over forestry in general and forest reserves. such as those in Florida. that are not created from the public domain. The full committee. and the Subcommittee on Forests. Family Farms. and Energy. under the leadership of CHARLES WHITLEY. have acted promptly on this measure. We have enjoyed a cooperative and congenial working relationship with the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Chairman UDALL. and JOHN SEiBERLING and his Subcommittee on Public Lands and National Parks. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 9. the Florida Wilderness Act of 1983.
Date: 1983-06-06
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 2477. the Sipsey Wilderness Additions Act of H.R. 2477 adds an area of about 27.865 acres to the existing Sipsey Wilderness in the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama. At present. the two wilderness areas in Alabama represent only 3 percent of the national forest lands in the State and a small fraction of 1 percent of the land in Alabama. In short. there is broad support for a* modest increase in the very limited area set aside as wilderness in the State. The bill would achieve that objective. Given the small area involved. there would be only minimal impact on the supply of timber available in the State. The bill will insure that the people of Alabama and the Nation will be able to enjoy a relatively small but meaningful addition to the existing Sipsey Wilderness. Further. the bml incorporates what has become standard release and sufficienty language used by the House in wilderness legislation. Thus. in the State of Alabama. the Forest Service will be able -to manage nonwil Jerness areas in the National Forests in a reasonable and systematic fashion. In this connection. H.R. 2477 was Jointly referred to the Committee on Agriculture in recognition of Its jurisdiction over forestry in general and forest reserves. such as those in Alabama. that are not created from the public domain. The full committee. and the Subcommittee on Forests. Family Farms. and Energy. under the leadership of ORAaEs WnrmLEy. bare acted responsibly and expeditiously on this measure. In considering this legis- lation. we have enjoyed a very positive working relationship with the Com. mittee on Interior and Insular Affaim. Chairman UDALL. and JoHN SEIBERLING and his Subcommittee on Public Lands and National Parks. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2477. the Sipsey Wilt derness Additions Act of 1983.
Date: 1983-06-06
Speaker: SAM B. HALL (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcomrmittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations of the Committee on the Judiciary be permitted to sit on Tuesday. June 7. Wednesday. June 8. and Thursday. June 9. 1983. while the House is considering amendments under the 5minute rule. The purpose of the June 7 meeting is to conduct a hearing and markup on H.R. 2797. the Department of Energy authorization amendment. The purpose of the June 8 and 9 meetings is to conduct hearings on H.R. 2327. the Regulatory Reform Act of 1983. Mr. Speaker. the minority has been consulted and has agreed to this.
Date: 1983-06-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. and my colleagues. I rise to commend Sgt. Roy Benavidez of Texas. Some of you might remember Sergeant Benavides received the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving several of his comrades while under fire in Vietnam. He was disabled and recently this administrations policy on social security disability took Sergeant Benavidez off the role. Now in their embarrassment they want Sergeant Benavidez back on. So. he is going to bring with him some 300.000 Americans that were being taken off the roles and so Sergeant Benavidez now is saving 300.000. disabled persons from being taken off the roles. I would recommend that the administration consider giving him the Medal of Freedom for helping in peace as he did in war. Thank you. Mr. Speaker.
Date: 1983-06-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. first let me begin by apologizing to the chairman of the subcommittee and to the ranking member for having to do this in this manner. But I was recently in Mexico on other matters and found out there is a terrible situation in our Embassy complex. as far as the facility is concerned. for security and also the terrible problem that they have with the air quality. The ambient air. for example. In Mexico City they get in 1 day the allowable levels that we have in the United States for 1 year. This could be corrected by changing the filtration system in the building. Therefore. I have. working with the staff. prepared an amendment that would increase the authorization by $4 million to the overall administration of foreign affairs for facilities. and that would be utilized. of course. after due studies by the committee and the Department. which I would have no objection to. As a matter of fact. I would so recommend. I would hope that we might be able to convince our colleagues that this is a proper first step because you have seen what has happened in Teheran and what happened recently in Beirut. Lebanon. And Mexico City can be a decision as far as safety is concerned because of the location of the Embassy. Buying this property. which is a very good bargain. would be an investment for the United States because it is high value property that will increase in value in the years to come. I would recommend to my colleagues favorable action on this amendment.
Date: 1983-06-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Yes. I have personally checked into It and it is either that or give them hazardous pay. because they go through there in I day what we allow for in 1 year.
Date: 1983-06-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I have discussed it with the Embassy in Mexico City and they inform me that the State Department had no objection if we took this route. They would not want for us to disrupt their priorities in the allowable funding that has already been worked out. but that if additional fundswhich is the reason for this amendmentwere secured. they would look favorably to buying the property and working on the other facility to preserve and protect the health of our employees there.
Date: 1983-06-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the requisite number of words and I rise abainst the amendment. Mr. Chairman. I had not intended to participate in the debate on this issue for many reasons. One is that I have enough problems dealing with agriculture. But the previous vote and this vote that will be coming have me greatly concerned because I have been privately telling my colleague from Florida of my support for the endeavor which he and the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee have initiated In this Endowment for Democracy. Mr. Chairman. I just came home and almost everything that was mentioned to me was related to Central America. to what is happening in El Salvador. Well. I hate to tell you this. but we may have lost El Salvador 20 years ago. but now our concern is are we going to send troops? Are we going to send military assistance? This is the answer to that. We could be saving ourselves tremendous headaches. we could be saving ourselves millions of dollars. we could be saving lives in this country. if we but plant a small seed of democratic institutions. of appealing from an Irresponsible government. of. yes. union work. chamber of commerce work. What this is intending to do is bring our concept of 200 years. thank God that it caught 200 years ago. But we are dealing with countries 25 years old. 40 years old. 50 years old. where the seed did not sprout like it did in our country. The other camp spends $30 million in 1 month. in one country. my colleagues. They send hundreds of teachers. doctors. lawyers. pharmacists. all indoctrined in their philosophy. their ideology. It pains me and shames me to think that we are playing here with $30 million that could save countless thousands of lives. Our system for other people in the world. let the democratic institutions tell it. this is a mystery to them how we can differ in our country. how we can have a Republican President. a Democratic House. a Republican Senate. this is the mystery. This is what they want explained. How can you make it work? Well. how can you make it work but send the people who make it work? Not the CIA. not the bureaucrats. not the State Department. send the chamber of commerce. the doctor. the lawyer. the engineer. the university professor. Do not let the CIA disseminate what democracy is. Let the people who make it work do it. here. $30 million. $30 million. they spend $30 million in one country. in the time we blink an eye. So. please. I know there are other amendments to come. but let me tell you from one who has been there. from one who talks to them. from one who talks to them in their language. the mystery to them is how does this American system work? I say teach them. let them know by the people who are making it work. All we are doing is giving them a few dollars. a few dollars to assist them in that effort.
Date: 1983-06-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. my great concern is that we can undo here what can save us countless millions c1 dollars. can save countless lives and actually we are making democracy work. What the Constitution has. we are doing what we are supposed to be doing. To undo it with a vote. emotionally for or against labor. for or against chambers of commerce. is not the way to make the system work. I would hope you would vote against this amendment and other amendments which sought to undo the great seed that this committee and its members are trying to plant. to bring to other countries that which the good Lord has blessed us with for over 200 years.