macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Madam Speaker. I rise today to discuss human rights in Vietnam and the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungs visit to the United States. I understand that. when President Bush and Prime Minister Dung met. they discussed the importance of promoting human rights in Vietnam and that Prime Minister Dung told President BuSh that the Vietnamese Government has made efforts and is committed to further promoting and improving human rights in Vietnam. Now. as a longtime advocate of human rights in Vietnam and as a representative of one of the largest VietnameseAmerican communities. we know that human rights in Vietnam have only been getting worse. The Government of Vietnam has continued to harass. arrest and to sentence peaceful democracy advocates to prison--oh. and by the- way. also United States citizens of Vietnamese descent. If there is any evidence of Prime Minister Dungs claim that human rights in Vietnam are improving. I urge him to show it to this Congress. but I doubt that he is telling the truth.
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank my colleague and the chairman of the Agriculture Committee. Mr. PETERSON. for his leadership on this. along with our colleagues Ms. DELAURO. Mr. STUPAK.
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise not necessarily in opposition to H.R. 6251. It is difficult to support or oppose something that is already current law. We already have useitorloseit. We have 10year leases in this bill. That is what the law is. Americans need Congress to look at real solutions in addressing energy needs. especially when we have $4 a gallon gas. We need answers. and not just slogans. We cannot drill our way to energy independence. we cant conserve our way. and we surely cant use alternatives to have energy independence. We need to do it all. The legislation before us today was introduced a week ago with no committee hearings. no markups. And they raise a valid question: Are people really sitting on oil leases and not producing? Now. there may be reasons for it. like there are not permits allowed to get it frbm the Navy Petroleum Reserve. I know in the Outer Continental Shelf. which I am real familiar with because it is off of Texas. a lot of those leases cant produce because there are no resources on it. but they still have that lease for 10 years. Let me tell you. with $140 a barrel oil. everybody wants to drill everywhere that you can. But we already have 10year leases. In fact. I would like to include for the RECORD a copy of a current lease that is from Minerals Management on section 4. diligence and rate of development. We already have a diligence requirement in the 10 year leases that are there. What we need to do is actually do everything we can. We need to drill th6 leases we have. but we do need to get additional leases available in some of the most productiveareas of the Outer Continental Shelf and make it available. because we need to make sure that our country is going to be energy independent and not dependent on Venezuela or Saudi Arabia or. any other country. And we can do it. We have Senators going to Saudi Arabia begging for them to increase their production. but we wont increase ours in some of the most potential productive areas. That is why we need solutions instead of slogans. That is why I have a hesitation to support the bill or oppose it. because it is already current law.
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I would be glad to read part of the lease for you. the fact that they can already take that lease back now under current law. if they want to. Mr. Speaker. I include the lease section referred to earlier for the RECORD. Sec. 4. Diligence. rate of development. unitization. and drainageLessee must exercise reasonable diligence in developing and producing. and must prevent unnecessary damage to. loss of. or waste of leased resources. Lessor reserves right to specify rates of development and production in the public interest and to require lessee to subscribe to a cooperative or unit plan. within 30 days .of notice. if deemed necessary for proper development and operation of area. field. or pool embracing these leased lands. Lessee must drill and produce wells necessary to protect leased lands from drainage or compensatory royalty for drainage in amount determined by lessor.
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: PETER DEFAZIO (democrat)
Chamber: H

"It is sad to see the Republicans come to this. Now they laughingly say that this will lead to higher gas prices." Well. gas was $2.23 a gallon on the day Mr. DEFAZIO made his statement. Its about $4.08 today. So we were probably right. This was no way to lower gas pries. The same day. January 18. 2007. Mr. JIM McGOVERN said: "What we are doing today really is responding to the outcry of the American people who are outraged by the fact that in the midst of being gouged by Big Oil... " Well. we have had seven investigations into price gouging. and it hasnt lowered the price of gas. In fact. it has gone up almost $2 a gallon since that statement was made. The same day. JOHN HALL: "Today we are going to take back the tax giveaways to Big Oil so we can give the American people a break at the pump." January 18. floor statement. KATHY CASTOR: "Instead of giving away billions of dollars to big oil companies which made multimillion dollar profits last year. the new Congress intends to chart a course in a new direction by investing in alternatives for the American people. This will help America become energy independent and ultimately lower the utility costs for average Americans." I would like to tell the gentlewoman that the price of natural gas is twice what it was.
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: SHEILA JACKSON-LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

said: "The price per barrel of oil is $50 plus." Today I think its about $140. She goes on to say: "And so what is this Congress and this leadership doing? It is doing the right.thing." January 18. floor statement by STEVE ISRAEL: "This dependence on foreign oil. Mr. Speaker. is a glaring threat to our national security." I could not agree with you more. But we are more dependent today than we were when you made that statement.
Date: 2008-06-26
Speaker: JOHN LEWIS (democrat)
Chamber: H

my colleague from Georgia: "More than ever we need to get our priorities straight. We need to stop dancing while Rome burns and reverse the damage we have done to our environment. The American people need relief from energy costs." And I couldnt agree with you more.
Date: 2008-07-08
Speaker: HERSETH SANDLIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Well. not specifically to that point. but I did want to mentionand I know you have the gentleman from Georgia who wants to make another point. too. so I will be quick. The gentleman from Georgia and I are both on the Agriculture Committee. and you may have mentioned this. One of the bills that well be taking up tomorrow is a bill that you have introduced. and so I think its important for our constituents who. understandably. dont feel like theyre getting a fair shake every time they go up and fill up their vehible. that they understand that we are doing something here in Washington. We are having a set of three different hearings in the Agriculture Committee this week. There are other committees having hearings. This is a complicated issue. and we are determined to get it right and to do what we can to get the speculation out of the market and to give the Commodities Futures Trading Commission the authority it needs and to understand this problem. whether its overthecounter. whether its swaps. whether its whats going on with the foreign exchanges. the issue of transparency. and your bill is one of those that well be taking a look at which we think makes an important step in addressing that issue.
Date: 2008-07-09
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I come to the floor today to urge the President to reconsider his veto threat of H.R. 6331. the broadly supported Medicare improvement legislation that was passed by this House on June 24. It is my hope that the other body takes quick action to pass this responsible legislation. The Medicare beneficiaries and veterans who are enrolled in TRICARE are depending on this physician payment fix becoming law. If this legislation is not passed into law. millions of Americans will no longer be able to visit their physicians and receive the regular quality care that they rely on. I understand that some Members of the Congress have concerns about the payfor in this legislation. However. this Congress and this government cannot continue to pass the buck on fiscal responsibility whenever we are faced with difficult choices. I believe we have found a responsible way to pay for the physician payment fix that is in the best interest of all Medicare beneficiaries. And again. I urge the President to rescind his veto threat.
Date: 2008-07-09
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 1315. commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA has made a major impact on our national competitiveness in space and aeronautics research. Since the Sputnik era of the late 1950s. the United States has established world leadership in space flight. Along with that accomplishment. our Nations investments in NASA have created a strong aeronautics and engineering workforce. This intelligent. talented. wellprepared workforce is one of NASAs most powerful legacies. NASA is of great economic importance to Texas. Johnson Space Center employs 15.000 civil servants and contractors. An untold number of small spinoff companies have been formed as a result of good ideas from the brain power at NASA. Research discoveries from our time in space have also greatly benefited our populace. Each year since 1976. NASA has published a list of every commercialized technology and product linked to its research.
Date: 2008-07-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to provide housing assistance for very lowincome veterans. as amended.
Date: 2008-07-09
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask bnanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous materials thereon.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker. Id like to thank Mr. PRICE. He and I worked together on the Financial Services Committee. I thank him for his dedication and devotion. Id like to thank my colleague and friend from Houston. Texas for his outstanding service on this bill as well. This is truly a bipartisan piece of legislation. At this time. Im honored to yield to the sponsor- of the legislation. Ms. SHEILA JACKSONLEE. as much time as she may consume. -
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. in commemorating NASAs 50 years. .the 50th anniversary. if you will. we are talking about great accomplishments. We are talking about the past. We are talking about the destinations that NASA has taken us to. We have gone to the Moon. thats a destination. We have a space station. thats a destination. We plan to go to Mars. thats a destination. But our destiny is beyond the Milky Way. Our destiny is beyond Alpha Centauri. Our destiny is beyond the stars. NASA is in its infancy. and it will take us to our destiny. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: TIM RYAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

the Congressman from Youngstown. who shares at least two of those counties with me. And we saw the vital need to have them included in the ARC. And were very grateful. On the Senate side we are grateful to Senator VOINOVICH for making sure these counties. despite the fact that we have been at this 5 years. and every year we get the counties added in the bill. and then it goes over to the Senate and somebody has a goofy idea over there and they drop out. This year Im grateful that Senator VOINOVICH and our colleagues in the House have maintained these three counties in the bill. And just the way when my friend and colleague from Ohio was speaking. we recognize the value of John Kennedys vision when he dispatched folks to look at the conditions in Appalachia. And weve really moved light years from that. The ARC is a template for economic development in all of those regions. And we just want to be part of it. If you look at a map of the State of Ohio. the only sort of areas of white. and white being where there is no Regional Development Commission. Federal Commission. are the three counties that are being added today. Just one example. Kinsman. Ohio. the home of Clarence Darrow. the famous orator and attorney. is looking at a major sewer project. We are working with the United States Department of Agriculture. but by being in the ARC. they will get extra points. extra opportunities to make that a reality. So when you are dealing with 300 landowners and a price tag of $20 million. the assessment isnt astronomical in terms of $70.000 or $80.000 just to hook up the water and sewer. So we are excited about this opportunity and very grateful that this bill has come to the floor in a way that adds these counties. I would say to Mr. SPACE that we are all suffering. rural America. suburban America. exurban America. I dont like to trumpet in a partisan fashion on the floor. but I will tell you the folks in my part of Ohio want us to do something. They have said enough arguing. You have a lot of brainy ideas in Washington. DC. It is time to stop favoring one group over the other. Lets bring it all together and lets talk. about oil. lets talk about coal. lets talk about nuclear. lets talk about renewables. but get it done so I can put gas in my gas tank.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Tennessee

Mr. Speaker. I say thanks to my good friend from Ohio and others on the other side of the aisle who have taken it upon themselves to be sure that the ARC. the Appalachian Regional Commission. continues to exist. Appalachia has long been plagued by lack of job opportunities and high unemployment. resulting in low per capita income. educational deficiencies. and a dilapidated infrastructure. The Conference of Appalachian Governors was formed in 1960 to develop a regional approach to resolving these problems. In 1961 they brought their cause to President John F. Kennedy. known to have been moved by the poverty he saw during his campaign trips to West Virginia. At the time. one of every three Appalachians lived in poverty. Per capita income was 23 percent lower than the U.S. average. High unemployment and harsh living conditions had. in the 1950s. forced more than 2 million Appalachians to leave their homes and seek work in other regions of the Nation. By 1963. Kennedy had formed the Presidents Appalachian Regional Commission and directed it to create a comprehensive program for economic development of the Appalachian region. The resulting report was endorsed by the Conference of Appalachian Governors and President John Kennedys cabinet. Soon after. Lyndon B. Johnson used the report to create legislation which ultimately created the Appalachian Regional Commission in 1965. The ARC has long worked to address the longterm economic distress and isolation of the Appalachian region. and to press for greater Federal involvement in addressing the regions common problems. The ARC funds several hundreds projects annually affecting one of our Nations most underserved populations. The ARC has played a leading role in granting consistently impoverished communities with improving water and sewer systems. sometimes providing running water for the first time. improving educational resources and teacher training in schools. access to health care. access to telecommunications and the Internet. and providing technical assistance for new business initiatives. They provide State and local agencies such as economic development agencies and human resource agencies in my 10.000square mile congressional district. as well as nonprofit organizations. These projects have resulted in thousands of jobs. Mr. Speaker. this is just the tip of the iceberg of ARCs good works. It is necessary and appropriate to reauthorize this valuable asset for rural America. It is my hope this Congress does.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a member of the Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus. I rise in strong support of H.. Con. Res. 299. which supports the goals and ideals of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. which is located in my congressional district in Bethesda. Maryland. more than 30.000 Americans suffer from cystic fibrosis. Approximately 1.000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. It is an inherited chronic disease that causes thick mucus to build up in the !ungs and other organs. causing lifethreatening lung infections and serious digestive complications. We have made significant progress in fighting cystic fibrosis. but there is still much more to do. In the 1950s. few children with cystic fibrosis were expected to live to attend elementary school. Today. thanks to past funding of cystic fibrosis research. people with cystic fibrosis can expect to live into their thirties and forties. While that figure is still unacceptably low. it is cause for hope for those living with the disease and their families. We must continue to fund cystic fibrosis research at the National Institutes of Health so that new treatments and. hopefully. a cure. can be developed in which people with cystic fibrosis can live a normal life expectancy. And we must continue to raise public awareness and education about cystic fibrosis. and to increase support for those affected by the disease. Mr. Speaker. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution. and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of overriding the Presidents veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. It is very unfortunate that the President has sided with the interests of certain big insurance companies against the health care needs of seniors. There are a number of important provisions in this legislation that will benefit more than fortyfour million Medicare beneficiaries by preserving patient access to physicians. enhancing preventive and mental health benefits in the Medicare program. extending expiring provisions for rural and other providers. and improving assistance for lowincome seniors. Unlike the President. Congress has put aside party politics and is protecting and preserving the health care that seniors depend on. Madam Speaker. this is an issue that affects all Americans. I strongly urge my House colleagues to override the Presidents veto on this bipartisan legislation.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit candidates for election for Federal office to designate an individual who will be authorized to disburse funds of the authorized campaign committees of the candidate in the event of the death of the candidate. as amended.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter in the RECORD on H.R. 3032.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I fully support H.R. 3032. a bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. This bill will allow Federal election candidates to designate someone to disburse their campaign funds in the event of their deaths. The Federal candidate would be able to designate this person by filing the appropriate form with the FEC and could also revoke or change the designee at that time. H.R. 3032 will assure candidates for Federal office that the funds raised by their campaign committees will be distributed only in accordance with their express wishes after they are deceased. H.R. 3032 is a commonsense fix to the Federal Election Campaign Act. It would provide clear direction to campaign treasurers who may be faced with a wide range of conflicting and confusing State laws. I urge all Members to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. as I have no additional speakers. I would just urge passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Califnia

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill t6 extend through 2013 the authority of the Federal Election Commission to impose civil money penalties on the basis of a schedule of penalties established and published by the Commission.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous matter in the RECORD on H.R. 6296.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I fully support H.R. 6296. which will extend the Federal Election Commissions administrative fines programs through 2013. The administrative fines program permits the FEC to impose civil fines on political committees that file late or not at all. The fines program allows the FEC to quickly resolve minor violations of the act and concentrate its resources on more complex enforcement matters. The fines program also assures political and candidate committees that they can resolve minor errors by paying a fixed monetary penalty. avoiding a long and potentially complicated enforcement process. There has been a significant decrease in the number of late and nonfiled reports since the start of this program. At the FEC the fines program also enjoys the unanimous bipartisan support of all of the commissioners. The fines program is due to expire at the end of this year without congressional intervention. The program should be extended to allow the agency to concentrate on more complex issues once it has a full slate of members. H.R. 6296 will amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to extend the fines program until December 13. 2013. I urge all Members to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2008-07-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Californiia

Mr. Speaker. I concur this bill is a sensible one. Its bipartisan. It focuses the commission on the things that are important and complicated. and I urge all Members to support its passage.