macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1985-09-04
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I rise In support of H.R. 10. the National Development Investment Act. This legislation was unanimously reported out of the Public Works Committee on May 15. and I am proud to have participated in this action which salvaged economic development programs from the administrations budget ax. I can think of no more shortsighted idea than to phase out a program of proven success that has been effective in creating jobs In economically distressed areas. The Economic Development Administration - has such a track record throughout the country and in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In my district. EDA has funded a wide variety of projects ranging from industrial parks to schools. to vocational training centers. to planning assistance and targeting studies on our key industry of tourism. In every case EDAs financial and technical assistance was invaluable. if not in fact the determining. factor in the success of each project. Ink a small. isolated district such as mine. our economic future depends on diversification and training. and EDA is helping us to achieve that goal. Given the difficulty that any Isolated district. particularly one like the Virgin Islands. has in attracting Industry and Invest ment. and availability of EDA assistance Is critical. There are few Federal agencies capable of taking the broad. long range economic view so necessary to sound develop.ment. and few that have been given the tools and the authority broad enough to accomplish that goal. In this legislation before us today. Congress is reaffirming its belief in the EDA philosophy. For several years now the administration has tried to phase or wipe out EDA Programs. In this legislation. Congress will say: No. that is not in the beat interest of the country. I wholeheartedly concur and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands agree. On their behalf. I would like to commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development. Mr. NOWAK. and my distinguished colleague .and chairman. Mr. HOWARD. for their commitment and all their effort in preserving these important economic development programs. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Date: 1985-09-13
Speaker: H ART (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. it is certainly not the intention of those offering the amendment to defeat or hinder muchneeded reform in the area of immigration legislation. Someday. hopefully soon. legislation will pass which is fair and balanced and the Senator from Wyoming will receive the credit he deserves for the years of long toil lie has put into one of the most vexing public policy problems and challenges this country faces. The sponsors of this anendment simply seek to avoid the situation where. once that day comes. either on an individual case basis or. even worse. or a firestorm basis. unintended consequences of this legislation lead to either wholesale discrimination of legal residents of this country. regardless of what. the Senator says. primarily because of the color of their skin or the fact that they come from a nonwhite part of the world or an equally challenging situation of the sole individual who is discriminated against unfairly and unjustly. The Senator from Wyoming does not want that. nor do the sponsors of this amendment. The sponsors of this amendment also do not want a highly negative vote on an issue we iMerely wish to preserve for the future. We do not wish to give up on this fight. as the Senator from Michigan said. The Senator from Wyoming very graciously agreed that the near term situation is required to guarantee that right. I think the Senator from Michigan agrees that. putting this question to a vote at this time and perhaps not receiving a majority vot.e or a strong vote in its favor might jeopardize that case. Therefore. with the agreement of the cosponsor of the Senator from Michigan. I withdraw the amendment.
Date: 1985-09-17
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 185. expressing the sense of the Congress in support of the efforts of the organizers of and participants in the Farmaid Concert to be held in Champaign. IL. to bring the current crisis in American agriculture to the attention of the American people. Agriculture is our Nations largest and most basic industry. Americas farmers have given our people the worlds best diet at cost whichin comparison with the average consumers earningsreally constitute a farmer subsidy to the general public. One of the chief reasons this country has been able to grow and make progress in many areas has been the growing efficiency of its farmers and the other segments of agriculture. When agriculture is depressed. the farmer and his family sufferbut they do not suffer alone. There is distress in the agricultural supply industries and in businesses on hundreds of main streets around the Nation. And in the long run. a depressed and demoralized agriculture would be very bad economic news for the entire Nation. Much of the agriculture today is in trouble today because of a combination of factors and forces that lie largely outside the areas that farmers themselves can control. The causes of todays problems include the general worldwide recession of the early 1980s. which depressed markets for American products. the strength of the dollar in recent years. the practices of some competing nations in world markets. and continuing surpluses of some commodities. Perhaps the most glaring sign of the problems facing many segments of American agriculture today is the drastic decline which has taken place in farmland values. Losses in land values in recent yearsbeginning in 1981have been the most severe since the Great Depression. Behind the gloomy statistics lies a story of stark tragedy for thousands of families and hundreds of rural communities. I congratulate the organizers and the participants in this Farmaid Concert because their efforts will certainly help to raise the consciousness of the American people about the plight of our Nations farm families and about the way this economic adversity not only affects their health. happiness. and wellbeing. but also sends waves of unrest into various other sectors of our society. Mr. Speaker. I urge the Members to join me in support of House Concurrent Resolution 185.
Date: 1985-09-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I have been asked by the chairman of the Rules Committee. the distinguished gentleman from Florida . to advise the Members that the Rules Committee would incorporate in the rule to provide for consideration of H.R. 2100. the farm bill. a provision that all amendments to H.R. 2100 be printed in the RECORD prior to the close of business on Tuesday. I might inform the Members that we did not requept this per se. but it is the intention of the Rules Committee to make this provision for orderly consideration in regard to the budget process.
Date: 1985-09-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. that is my understanding also. We do not know yet if the general debate will be two hours plus something for the Merchant Marine Committee on another issue. but my understanding is that we are to proceed no further.
Date: 1985-09-19
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given the opportunity to revise and extend their remarks on House Joint Resolution 392. the issue that was just objected to.
Date: 1985-09-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. my colleagues. I take the time today to visit briefly with my colleagues about the farm legislation which we will begin debate on tomorrow. Friday. September 20. 1985. Actually. we began the process when the 1981 act was enacted. the revision process began then. 4 years ago. In earnest. last year we started hearings throughout this Nation to listen to farmers. to a whole spectrum of agriculture. For the first time. we brought in implement dealers. fertilizer dealers. seed dealers. bankers. everyone involved in rural America with the farmer. with the producer. with the rancher. and we had testimony from them. counsel. advice. We. either myself personally as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. or subcommittee chairmen and/or other Members had hearings in 45 of the 50 States. we went from California to Vermont. from Florida to North Dakota. to Texas. to Colorado. Wyoming. downtown New York City. upstate New York. and we made a diligent effort to document what the problems were and what area we should address in this legislation. No one can say. I can attest. that they were not heard or they were not given the opportunity to present their views. Then. after that was done. our respective subcommittees began the process here in Washington continu-. ing hearings. and once that was done. then they began what we call markup. they began writing the bill. or their jurisdictional part of the bill.
Date: 1985-09-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I do not want to interrupt the gentleman. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I commend him for the diligent work that he does on and off the floor of this House in relation to the deficit. I just wanted to mention that I perhaps got overly involved in the process of the plight of the farmer in the discussion that I had previous to the gentlemans time. but we in agriculture. in spite of the traumatic circumstances we face and the very critical situation we face. have contributed almost $20 billion In the past 5 years toward the reduction of the budget and this legislation that I explained that will begin the process tomorrow will again be under the budget as imposed upon us. We will save approximately $11.8 billion in the next 3 years as mandated by the Budget Committee as our contribution to the effort which the gentleman so valiantly makes in this endeavor.
Date: 1985-09-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I understand that. I might tell the gentleman. those are technical waivers required by the act. not requested basically by our committee. We did the cuts. The gentleman is welcome to see the scars and go see where the blo3d was shed. We did the cuts. We sent the cuts in. but then other rules say that we have to have this waiver. but $11.8 billion is out and I can show the gentleman the scars and where the blood was shed. I thank the gentleman.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me. Mr. Speaker. I want to associate myself and echo the words of our distinguished majority leader. the gentleman from Texas and add a further commendation to our colleague. the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. the gentleman from Florida and the ranking minority member and all the members of the committee. There is very little that can be added to the eloquent words of the majority leader and I will not attempt to do so except for one brief mention of our American traditional system of assisting our neighbors. I know of no better way to exemplify that than to mention that in 1967 there was a devastating hurricane and flood in my area of south Texas. As I was visiting the small town of Elsa. TX. of which threefourths was inundated and under water. the mayor of the city asked me. "Before you leave. do not forget to stop by the city hall to see the kids from the high school who are gathering food for the earthquake victims in Nicaragua." That. I assure my colleagues. is the theme and the tone of what the majority leader said. and it can be no better exemplified than by that act of neighborliness in 1967 by the youngsters of Elsa. TX. Mr. Chairman. I thank you for your contribution and for the continuation of our effort to work. live and to assist each other when necessary with all of our neighbors. but specifically with our nearest neighbor to the south. the Republic of Mexico.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. let me state to my colleague from Minnesota and my colleague from Texas. our committee did not request this waiver.. The Rules Committee. in its wisdom. gave the waiver so that Mr. EVANS Of Iowa might offer an amendment that touches on section 22. Our committee opposes that amendment. I oppose that amendment. I know that under the rule there exists the remote possibility that you could address other issues. We did not ask for that waiver. We hope that the amendment will be defeated. I implore everyone to work with us to defeat the amendment. and I will see to it. with whatever authority I have. that no other issue. except that very narrow amendment. within the jurisdiction of our friends from the Ways and Means Committee is touched in the amendment.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I would like to state to my colleague and all Members and the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee that we will oppose the amendment. that we did not ask for the waiver. and that we will try to protect their jurisdiction to the fullest extent and would hope that they work with us to pass a rule now because we need to proceed. and then we will oppose the amendment and see that it does not complicate issues that do not need to be complicated.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker. we in the Agriculture Committee. and I. as the Chairman thereof. have the responsibility to establish government policy for agriculture. There are different viewpoints as what that policy should be. but the existing farm. legislation begins to expire at the end of this month. We have to enact this legislation. we have to move. I regret that incidental issues have become the major focus of todays debate. Under the legislative processand.more than half of my life I have spent in the legislative processrules do not matter if you have the votes. We will have the opportunity to debate all these issues fully. I did not get the rules that I requested. they put in other things that I did not request. but on my shoulders rests the responsibility to the farmers of America. We should not let one side issue sidetrack the train. Someone. will say. "Yes. you will get another rule." We may not have time to finish general debate today. Wewill not vote Monday. Tuesday or Wednesday or Friday. We will only have next Thursday. If we do not finish then. and I doubt that we will. we will go to the following Tuesday. into October. We have the supplemental. we. have immigration. we have a myriad of things. Today is the day. and if because of an emotional issue that will be addressed well in the amendment process of this legislation. you kill this bill. you are killing the whole process. you are slapping the farmer in the face. you are turning around. My responsibility and our committees responsibility is to proceed. No one is being denied the opportunity. everyone will be given the sufficient time. So the issue then should be resolved in the amendment process. By killing this rule. you may. well be sounding the death knell to assistance by this Government to the farmers of America. It is that serious. I urge all of my colleagues that we can work out in the legislative process concerns about the rule. Vote for. the rule. do not turn. your back on the farmers of America. All of the other issues can be resolved. You need to support the rule.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday next to file amendments to H.R. 2100. the Food Security Act of 1985. should the House adjourn prior to. 5 p.m. on that day.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee . chairman of our Subcommit.tee on Conservation. Credit. and Rural Development.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Iowa [Mr. BEDELIW. chairman of the Subcommittee on Department Operations. Research. and Foreign Agriculture.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina . chairman of our Subcommittee on Forests. Family Farms. and Energy.
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I sin . yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mr. GUNDERSON asked and was Missouri . given permission to revise and extend
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock. Dairy and Poultry. the gentleman from California .
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield two minutes to the distinguished Chairman of our Subcommittee on Cotton. Rice. and Sugar. the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the Domestic Marketing Consumer Relations. and Nutrition Subcommittee. the gentleman from California .
Date: 1985-09-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from South Dakota . a very important member of our committee.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that section 2 ba printed in RECORD and open to amendment at any point.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I offer a. number of technical amendments. and I ask unanimous consent that they be considerd en bloc.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. my colleagues. the distinguished gentleman from New York and chairman of the subcommittee and I. and other sponsors of the amendment were discussing a timeframe. that we might not unduly discuss this amendment and take the time of the Members. My problem at the time was that we have on our side a need for the proponents for basically a half and hour or 45 minutes. My problem is that I would have to yield with my ranking minority Member the time. and I wondered if the distinguished gentleman from New York would inform us of basically the time that he feels he would need for debate on the amendment.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

That is exactly my problem. I already have requests or have been advised of Members who would like to participate in the debate that could not be accommodated. if I were to have only 15 minutes.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

If the gentleman would yield. I would suggest that the gentleman be given a half hour. and our distinguished ranking minority member. Mr. MADIGAN. be given a half hour. and we be given a half hour. and that would satisfy me. I My problem is that I need about a half hour. maybe a little more.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

The gentleman is very gracious and I think we probably can accommodate within that timeframe. That will be 45 minutes?
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I appreciate the gentlemans concern and. naturally. we basically do not agree. But I did want to clear up one point that might be misinterpreted. The gentleman knows that we do not produce cocoa beans or chocolate or any -of the products related to the cocoa bean. right?
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

It appeared that the gentleman said 4.000 jobs. and the price was escalating because of the basic elements included in confectionery and chocolate use. so I think it should be made clear that those jobs. 4.000. or however many. related to cocoa or to chocolate are from imported items. not from the basic. from this program or any other program.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I think the gentleman should add honey. the bulk of which is now coming from the Peoples Republic of China. Our honey indus.try is in trouble also. I do not want to take the gentlemans time unnecessarily. but I would like to add that we need to be clearly identifiable in that the cocoa. the honey and other items. some specialized nuts. come from other countries. so you cannot blame it at the feet of the sugar industry. but it is a combination. We disagree. but to the extent that we can agree is that you cannot lay it solely at the feet of the sugar industry. There are other areas that impact.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the gentlemans yielding. and I really feel badly kbout interrupting. but again I do not think we want to leave the wrong impression. The cost to the American family in disposable income for food is lower than in any other country in the world. So the gentleman may cite Tokyo. or Washington. or whatever. but the American family. on the basis of per family disposable income. has the lowest cost. If the gentleman will allow me to continue. he mentioned Canada. and we should not even be discussing how good it is in Canada. We are suffering from Canadian imports. First. there is hogs. then pork. then timber. and then potatoes. All of New York is suffering. We held hearings in New York. I would tell the gentleman. and all we heard was how the Canadians were undercutting the vegetable industry in the spring and in the summer with fresh vegetables in New York. We had the pork producers. we had the hog raisers. and we had the timber people. So the gentleman is saying Canada is doing better. they are doing better at the expense of the producers.on our side. We have continuing negotiations with them. they are our friends. and we have to live with them. but they are competing unfairly with us. So the gentleman is saying they can produce sugar. but they cannot produce it cheaper than we can. It is at about the same level. So we should not confuse it with erroneous figures or with figures that could be interpreted erroneously. The issue should be made clear so the Memhbers can decide. Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman very much for yielding.
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. if the gentleman has concluded. then. mayI ask..would the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. STANGELANDI yield 1 minute to me?
Date: 1985-09-26
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from Minnesota. Mr. Chairman. the gentleman who justconcluded his remarks to a distinguished member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. and he has traveled the world and.knows the intricacies of diplomacy. but to have him say the Sugar Program has undermined the foreign policy of the United States of America is completely erroneous. On the contrary. you do not bolster democracy abroad by killing. American jobs. I repeat. Mr. Chairman. you do not bolster democracy abroad by killing American jobs. and that is what this amendment is going to do. We must protect the national security interests. the best interests of our Government. and foreign policy should be made to protect the best interests of America and the American people. That is what our foreign policy is for. Maybe the gentleman and the State Department go astray and get too enamored of exotic places around the world. The best foreign policy of this country is to protect the basic jobs of people. and the national security remains here. You do not bolster democracy by killing American jobs.