macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of H.R. 1587. which requires the administration to carefully monitor the status of human rights in Vietnam. Under this measure. if Vietnam fails to meet basic standards for universally recognized human rights. the President will have the authority to cap U.S. nonhumanitarian aid to Vietnam." The truth is that many of my colleagues may not be aware of the extensive struggle which the Vietnamese people have endured for many years in their ongoing fight for basic human rights and freedom. Ten years ago. the United States ended its trade embargo with Vietnam and normalized relations with Hanoi. While the U.S. continues to open diplomatic relations with Vietnam. we must remember that many issues remain unresolved. including human rights violations. lack of religious freedom. and govemment corruption. In 2001. the House passed a similar bill overwhelmingly by 4101 to send a clear message to the communist leadership in Vietnam that U.S. trading with Vietnam does not mean approval of its repressive policies. Unfortunately. this bill died in the Senate. Since then. despite having the benefits of trade with the U.S.. the Vietnamese government has escalated its abuses of human rights and crackdown on religious freedom. I traveled to Vietnam in 1998 to learn about these issues firsthand. as well as to raise these concerns with highlevel officials. In addition. the large VietnameseAmerican community in the 11th district. which I represent. continues to update me on continuing concerns. As a member of the Vietnam Caucus. I am dedicated to promoting a~vareness and policy debates among the U.S. Congress. the American public. and the international community about the greater need for fundamental human rights in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. While many have chosen to take part in a nonviolent struggle for basic freedom and human rights. the Vietnamese communist govemment has chosen to arrest and imprison the vast majority of them. The gratuitous arrests of these men and women demonstrate the ongoing human rights abuses and lack of religious freedom in Vietnam. We must continue to bring attention to these issues. generate pressure on Vietnamese officials. and hold the Vietnamese government accountable. It is only through the hard work of these courageous individuals and the support of the international community in which we can work to bring an end to human rights abuses and religious persecution in Vietnam.. I am hopeful H.R. 1587 will serve as a small stepping stone towards the ultimate liberation and freedom of the Vietnamese people. However. at the least. I believe it will bring much needed additional awareness to the atrocities committed by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam every day. on its own citizens. I commend my good friend from New Jersey and the other sponsors for bringing this bill to the floor. and I urge my colleagues to join me in the passage of this important resolution.
Date: 2004-07-14
Speaker: SAM JOHNSON (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of this bill. Having spent nearly seven years in Vietnam as a prisoner of war. I have more than a passing interest in our relations with this country. The simple fact is that were dealing with a communist government whose human rights record is abhorrent at best. As you know. during the Vietnam war the indigenous Montagnard people were strong allies of America. Now. in the central highlands of Vietnam. the Montagnards are facing arrest. beatings. torture and even murder at the hands of Vietnamese so called security forces. Churches have been destroyed and over the past 2 years human rights watch has documented numerous incidents where authorities conduct mass ceremonies forcing Montagnards to renounce Christianity. sometimes while drinking sacrificed animals blood. Today in Vietnam the Montagnards ancestral homelands are currently sealed off from international observers as secret police enforce a campaign to crush the spread of Christianity. Amnesty International has documented hundreds of political prisoners and even killings of Montagnard refugees who have tried fleeing to Cambodia. In fact. the Vietnamese/Cambodian border is patrolled by soldiers. where Cambodian authorities hunt down and "sell" refugees to Vietnamese police for bounties. This sounds like something we would read about in history books. not in the year 2004. This Congress cannot idly stand by. Civilized nations do not deal with barbarians. We must ensure that our aid isnt going to the communist thugs in Hanoi. Support this bill.
Date: 2004-07-14
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. in 2007. as you have heard. the United States will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement. As has been said. it was the capital of Virginia for 92 years. It was at Jamestown that numerous American values and ideals came into being. Representative government was first established. private land ownership was permitted. and the spirit of free enterprise was born. Local. State. and national organizations are currently preparing for what will be a yearlong commemoration of the quadricentennial. Efforts are underway to restore and preserve the settlement and to promote national and international educational programs that increase understanding of the democratic principles that were born here. Madam Speaker. I introduced this legislation authorizing the sale of commemorative coins in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement to help offset the cost of this occasion. The proceeds from the sale of these coins will be used to preserve the legacy of this first permanent English settlement. Jamestown is an important part of our Nations history. with profound effects on the United States. even to this date. Madam Speaker. I am honored to represent this historic Jamestown Settlement located in Americas first district. Madam Speaker. I would like to thank all the Members of the committee and the chairman for bringing this bill forward. I would like to also thank the 299 of my colleagues who cosponsored this bill. I urge all my colleagues to support its passage.
Date: 2004-07-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I rise today to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 1914. the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003. In 2007. the world will observe the 400th anniversary of the landing at Jamestowna place and time where the cultures of North America. Europe and Africa converged. initiating and testing the unique values that ultimately created our nation. The success of the Jamestown settlement set in motion the establishment of a democratic form of government. private land ownership. free enterprise. entrepreneurship--all of which continue to evolve into our uniquely American society. The stories at Jamestown offer Americans a timely and timeless lesson in patriotism. Historic Jamestown is Americas birthplace. Ongoing research is rewriting our understanding of this significant opening chapter in American history. Moreover. studies reveal vast new knowledge about the interactions between peoples. their genealogy. their struggles and their survival to create a new society. In short. I believe this coin will help to ensure the cultural preservation and educational programs based on the legacies of Jamestown will be sustained and expanded well into the future. I commend the sponsors and leadership for bringing this to the floor and urge the passage of this resolution.
Date: 2004-07-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the billH.R. 4012to amend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 to permanently authorize the public school and private school tuition assistance programs established under the Act. as amended.
Date: 2004-07-14
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I.ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. -
Date: 2004-07-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. by direction of the Committee on Rules. I call up House Resolution 715 and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 2004-07-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. before yielding to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee. I yield myself such time as I may consume to say that with regard to the issue of the displaced people in Colombia. it is an extraordinary human tragedy. and the reason that there are displaced people in Colombia is because of the terrorists. What this bill is trying to do. and it does in a very important way. is to help the democratically elected government of Colombia fight the terrorists. Also. there is aid for refugees in this legislation. I know the people of Co"lombia are very grateful for it. I had the privilege of visiting them some months back. But obviously. it is not only in the interest of Colombia. but of the United States. to defeat the terrorists. the cause of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Colombia. and we do not lose sight of that. Neither does. obviously. the government of Colombia. because the people there are suffering at the hands of those brutal murderers that are being fought day in and day out by the Colombian people. and. obviously. the American people. through this Congress. are helping the Colombian people fight those terrorists. Mr. Speaker. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona
Date: 2004-07-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California . the chairman of the Committee on Rules.
Date: 2004-07-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank all of our colleagues who have come to the floor to debate this important rule. This measure before us that we .bring to the floor is extraordinarily important and should be supported by the overwhelming majority of our colleagues today. I particularly am proud of the leadership that the President has provided and really the congressional leadership has also joined in to create an unprecedented assistance program to fight HIV/AIDS in the world. I think we all have to be very proud of that. and it is a very significant part of the legislation that we bring forward with this rule today. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.
Date: 2004-07-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. as we consider the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill today. it is important to reaffirm our commitment to our counternarcotics efforts in Colombia. to the people of Colombia. and to American citizens. I led three congressional delegations to Colombia last year and can say first hand that our significant investment. after years of effort. is beginning to see returns on the time. money. and resources spent in Colombia. Together with the strong commitment of President Alvaro Uribe and historic levels of support from the Colombian people. U.S. involvement is beginning to hit narcoterrorists where it hurts. This year. the Administration is seeking a modest increase in the number of U.S. support personnel in Colombia. The existing caps on the number of U.S. civilian and military personnel contractors allowed in Colombia at any given time are proving too restrictive and in some cases. the ceilings. have prevented full implementation of already funded programs and hurt management efficiency. An increase in the military and civilian contractor support provided to the Government of Colombia during the next two years is essential to maintain the current progress being made by our programs in Colombia. There are also new programs developed since the ceilings were established. such as the antikidnapping initiative and the training of prosecutors and judicial police in preparation for the constitutionallymandated transition to an accusatorial criminal justice system with oral trials. as well as the restarted Air Bridge Denial program that need to be fully supported by personnel. Last month. several senior Administration officials. including Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Roger Noriega. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and LowIntensity Conflict. Thomas OConnell. Commander of U.S. Southern Command. General JamesHill. and Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Robert Charles testified before the Government Reform Committee and conveyed the need to reexamine military and civilian personnel caps if we are to continue in the right direction. Accordingly. there is draft language included in the 2005 Defense Authorization bill that raises the number of military personnel permitted to 800 and the number of permitted civilian contractors to 600. The Administrations request to increase the number of troops and contractors deployable is critical to the continued success of U.S. policy in Colombia and to help President Uribe prosecute a unified campaign against terrorism and drug traffickers. Mr. Chairman. I strongly support this request and urge all of my colleagues to continue their support of our unified campaign with Colombia to fight narcotics trafficking and terrorist activities.
Date: 2004-07-15
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Chairman. this appropriations bill includes an authorizing provision that would allow the inspector general from the Coalition Provisional Authority to continue to oversee the rebuilding effort in Iraq. This provision is within the jurisdiction of the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Government Reform. and I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona for his interest in this issue. The Committee on Government Reform will hold its fourth hearing overseeing the rebuilding of Iraq next Thursday. My committee has made this oversight a priority. As part of the overall oversight of the $18.6 billion of the supplemental funds. we created the CPA Inspector General. I have met with the CPA IG. I believe with his help. we can expect the thorough oversight we need from his office. My committee has jurisdiction over inspectors general. and because of our staff expertise we work closely with other committees and the exeoutive branch to make sure that the various IGs have the tools to conduct the mission that the public expects of them. The inspectors general for DOD. USAID. the Department of State and the CPA. with the help of the Office of Management and Budget and my committees oversight. have negotiated a memorandum of agreement to maintain appropriate oversight ove r the rebuilding efforts in Iraq. There is also a similar provision in the Senate Defense authorization bill that addresses the continuing oversight of the Iraqi rebuilding effort. I will work with all involved to address the issue from the authorization side. I would ask the gentleman from Arizona if he would work with the Committee on Government Reform. the Committee on International Relations. and the Committee on Armed Services to ensure that our efforts are coordinated and built constructively on the existing agreement.
Date: 2004-07-19
Speaker: GARY G. MILLER (republican)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 142. legislation I have sponsored to dramatically improve the water supply reliability of the Santa Ana watershed and the water basins in San Bernardino. Riverside and Orange counties. I thank Committee Chairman Pombo and Water Subcommittee Chairman Calvert for recognizing the importance of this bill to providing innovative solutions to the challenges posed by chronic water shortages in Southern California. Many states today are faced with the formidable task of providing reliable and safe water resources for a rapidly increasing population. This is no exception to California and its growing population of more than 30 million people. Southern Californias arid climate makes it difficult for this region to find variable and dependable sources of water. The Interior Departments ruling to reduce the availability of Colorado River water to Southern California has exacerbated the areas water supply problems by reducing approximately 700.000 acre feet of water this year alone. Such water supply deficiencies discourage economic growth. imperil the environment and compromise the health and safety of Southern California residents. As a result of dwindling supplies and increasing demands. communities continue to seek nontraditional methods to produce dependable water sources. including through water recycling and desalination. H.R. 142 would enhance Southern Californias water supply by constructing a water recycling project. a desalination demonstration and reclamation project. and a regional brine lines project. Upon full implementation. these projects will create an estimated 50.000 new acre feet of water annually for the region.
Date: 2004-07-20
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

(during consideration of S. 741). from the Committee on Rules. submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 108620) on the resolution (H. Res. 731) waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.
Date: 2004-07-20
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

(during consideration of S. 741). from the Committee on Rules. submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 108621) on the resolution (H. Res. 732) providing for consideration of the bill making appropriations for military construction. family housing. and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30. 2005. and for other purposes.- which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.
Date: 2004-07-21
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to sing the praises of the Medicareapproved prescription drug card. Seniors are now saving up to 20 percent off brandname prescriptions. 40 percent off generics and 60 percent off mail order prescriptions. . In addition. Americas poorest seniors can sign up to receive an additional $1.200 credit for their prescriptions over the next year and a half. For those lowerincome seniors. savings can be as high as 86 percent off what they are paying before the card. Now that seniors are receiving these savings. Democrats have realized they cannot claim that the cards do not help. Americas poorest seniors are getting cash subsidies for their medications. so now the Democrats have taken a new approach to their mediscare tactics. Since they know the cards are beneficial. they are now saying that they are too confusing. Well. if seniors will call the 1800MEDICARE number and have their prescription bottles handy. give them your ZIP code. what prescriptions you are currently taking. the name of each drug. the dose. how often you take the drug. and the cost of the drug. you will be able to receive information that will immediately be of assistance.
Date: 2004-07-21
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. by direction of the Committee on Rules. I call up House Resolution 730 and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 2004-07-21
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 730 is a rule that provides for the consideration of the conference report for H.R. 2443. the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004. This is a standard rule for a conference report providing for 1 hour of general debate. evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and the Infrastructure. The legislation before us authorizes over $8 billion for the Coast Guard. including a commitment to 45.500 active duty personnel in fiscal years 2004 and 2005. This is extremely important legislation to strengthen the Coast Guard in its everincreasing role of defense of our homeland. This bill makes a new commitment to the longterm effectiveness of the Coast Guard. The Department of Homeland Security has called on the Coast Guard to be the defender of American ports while at the same time sending needed resources. soldiers and vessels to the battles against terrorism far away. I am pleased to highlight the Integrated Deepwater Acquisition Program. This program provides the needed capital to carry out effective acquisition of the cutters. computer equipment and other resources that the Coast Guard so desperately needs. The Deepwater System has not received the funding outlined in 1998. but this bill makes up for the delay. The conference report authorizes over $1 billion for the program. accelerating the Deepwater System 5 years ahead of the original 20year completion time line. The Coast Guard is particularly important to the community and constituents that I am honored. to represent in south Florida. The Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Miami is essential to the safety and security of residents. The Coast Guard in south Florida coordinates integrated plans aimed- at hurricane safety. recreational boater safety and. obviously. protection of our coastline. The conference report before us was signed by. every member of the conference. It is a good bill. essential really to our continued commitment to the security and safety of all citizens and residents of the United States. I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida . the gentleman from New Jersey . as well as the ranking member. the gentleman from Minnesota and the gentleman from California for their important work. I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2004-07-21
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. and I move the previous question on this resolution that is very important and urge my colleagues to vote favorably on the underlying legislation as well. The previous question was ordered.
Date: 2004-07-21
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

fronM the Committee on Rules. submitted a privileged report (Rept. No. 108629) on the resolution (H. Res. 739) waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules. which was referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.
Date: 2004-07-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. by direction of the Committee on Rules. I call up House Resolution 738 and ask for its immediate consideration.
Date: 2004-07-22
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. for the purpose of debate only. I yield the customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York . pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution. all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.