macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-13
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

The gentlelady is so correct. We are making history tonight. and we are making history with these hearings. It was noteworthy of CANDICE MILLER. from the great State of Michigan. that the day she held the hearing was the day that Mary Barra came up the ranks from an intern to the head and CEO of one of Americas greatest companies. General Motors. So I look forward to hearing from my colleagues here. In order of appearance. MARCY KAPTUR. from the great State of Ohio. is a great leader for women and. really. all people. thank you for joining me. You are making history. too. with all of your hard work.
Date: 2014-03-13
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Thank you so much for your inspiring comments. I would just to briefly note that one needs to go no further than todays history textbooks to see why our museum is so important. Approximately 10 percent of historic references in U.S. history textbooks refer to women. Less than 8 percent of the statues in National Parks are of women leaders. Our U.S. Capitol building. which hosts millions of tourists each year. displays only 15 statues of women out of the more than 200 currently on exhibit.
Date: 2014-03-13
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentlelady from Wyoming for sharing that incredible equality history and really inspiring me and Congresswoman BLACKBURN to work harder and harder to pass this important bill. Imagine how much more inspired. confident. and successful women in general could be if our national narrative included an equal proportion of womens stories? I firmly believe that we wouldnt be trying to lean inwe would already be in. Also helping us with this museum is the Representative from the great State of Florida. After very personal observation. I can tell you she is very hardworking. She happens to live with me. We share what we call the Members House together. She is a trailblazer who keeps on knocking down trails and building new opportunities. In addition to being an outstanding Member of Congress. she was elected and appointed by the President of the United States to chair the National Democratic Committee. So I now yield to DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. my very good friend and housemate. Thank you for joining us tonight and thank you for all of your hard work.
Date: 2014-03-13
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank my good friend for her inspiring and thoughtful remarks. Womens history is not focused strictly on the accomplishments and contributions of individuals. rather it includes recognition of the collective efforts of women to enrich society. After all. it was women who lobbied pasteurization of milk. vaccinations for our children. and sewage systems for our communities. Women banded together during World War II to support the war effort. They planted victory gardens. donated nylons to be used for making equipment. and even took up collections that yielded enough money to purchase aircraft bombers. Clearly. women have succeeded in shaping our Nation in important and lasting ways. A womens museum would chronicle those important achievements of women throughout history that are scattered across the Nation. as MARCY said. and we need to work to make this happen. I yield to my good friend and colleague in this effort. Congresswoman
Date: 2014-03-13
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

I thank the gentleman for his beautiful words. Certainly the museum will not be achieved without likeminded men who support it. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to include for the RECORD an oped that MARSHA BLACKBURN and I wrote called "The Women You Dont Know Yet." and a beautiful. beautiful oped written by RENEE ELLMERS representing the great State of North Carolina called "A National Museum For Womens History."
Date: 2014-03-14
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise to express strong objection to the decision to use the Affordable Care Acts individual responsibility requirement to pay for the SGR reform. This bill hijacks a thoughtful solution to a problem that has been harming Medicare beneficiaries. providers. and our budget for years and turns it into a political stunt. This decision is a poison pill and nothing more than more partisan politics. Congress has overridden the SGRmandated cuts to Medicare physician payments each year since 2003. Year after year. these temporary patches have been costly and disruptive. Reforming the system is long overdue. Temporary fixes to SGR are a losing situation. The money still has to be spent. but only to just maintain the broken status quo. The bipartisan. bicameral SGR bill is the closest we have come to fixing this problem once and for all. and this decision gets us further from that goal. Repealing the ACA is a game we have played now 51 times. Holding SGR reform hostage to destroy the ACA and deny millions of Americans access to managed care is disgraceful. Our seniors. our doctors. including the AMA. the Texas Medical Association. the California Medical Association. and the American people deserve better. In order for our health care system to work. Americans must have insurance. Delaying or repealing the requirement that individuals obtain coverage would drive up premiums and leave millions uninsured. Again. this is purely a partisan payfor which proves that there is not a sincere effort to finally enact SGR reform but rather just another political game.
Date: 2014-03-14
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of legislation to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate and update Medicares payment system without the amendment to undermine the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act. While there are positive provisions in H.R. 4015. the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014. an amendment added by Chairman DAVE CAMP would delay the Affordable Care Acts individual mandate by five years. Commonly referred to as the "doc fix." SGR Repeal has been on the table since the beginning of this Congress and desperately requires action. This legislation would repeal the cuts to physician Medicare payments and allow for small increases over 10 years. The second part of this legislation would make MEDPAC and GAO report more to Congress. including new payment rules that became final this year. There would also be additional protections against Medicare fraud. However. if this legislation passes with the Camp Amendment. the 5year delay of the individual mandate provision will increase the number of uninsured Americans by 13 million in 2018. A CBO analysis said that premiums would likely increase 1020 percent in the individual marketplace during the years without a mandate penalty. I urge my colleagues to heed my warning about this new effort to undermine the Affordable Care Act.
Date: 2014-03-14
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. just a couple of weeks ago the eyes of the world were looking at the people of Russia. and all of the world gathered together at the international Olympics. athletes of varying backgrounds harmoniously competing in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. Certainly those of us in the United States watched with great pride our athletes represent our Nation and their own special talent. It is unfortunate today that President Putin has undermined and destroyed all of that goodwill. I believe it is important that the United States continue to engage with Ukraine. a sovereign nation. and continues to encourage Secretary Kerry. as the President is doing. for diplomatic resolution. A couple of days from now there will be a vote to cede away from Ukraine. a sovereign nation. President Putin has boots on the ground on soil that is not his. and the world must stand up in a manner that collaborates and embraces. No. I am not calling for military action by the United States. collaboration with NATO. But they are people who desire democracy. and we are a democracy and we should be there and stand alongside of them.
Date: 2014-03-24
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I want to thank the chairman of the committee for bringing this bill to the floor and for Congresswoman BROOKS explanation of this legislation. the Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act. As she has detailed. this is a small piece of legislation. but a very important piece of legislation to the existence of these plans and also to the priorities of the nonprofits that support those plans and the work that they do in our communities. And what has become clear is that we need this congressional action because the temporary exemption is going to expire. and that would cause a hardship that Congresswoman BROOKS has laid out. Without these changes. these plans. known as CSEC plans. will be forced to comply with Pension Protection Act funding rules. and many small. nonprofit employers will be unable to continue to provide those pension benefits. This legislation ensures that charities and cooperative associations will continue to be able to provide quality pension benefits to their employees by implementing pension funding rules that reflect the unique design of their plans. H.R. 4275 is supported by a wide variety of charitable organizations from across the country. including the United Way Worldwide and Girl Scouts of America and many others. and I would urge our colleagues to support this legislation so that we can make sure that these plans can continue to provide the benefits for their employees but also provide the services to their communities. With that. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-03-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. as a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2391. a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5323 Highway N in Cottleville. Missouri. as the Lance Corporal Phillip Vinnedge Post Office. The measure before us was introduced on June 14. 2013. by my colleague. Representative ANN WAGNER. In accordance with the committees requirements. the bill before us is cosponsored by all members of the Missouri delegation. H.R. 2391 was reported out of committee by unanimous consent on March 12. 2014. After graduating from Francis Howell Central High School in 2009. Phillip attended Lewis & Clark Technical School for 2 years. Described as loving life and the challenges it presented. it is no surprise that Phillip enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Phillip Vinnedge was assigned to the 3rd Battalion. 5th Marines. 1st Marine Division. 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton in California. In September 2010. Lance Corporal Vinnedges unit was deployed to Afghanistan. Only a month later. he was tragically killed on October 13. 2010. as his unit was conducting combat operations in the Helmand province region. While Lance Corporal Vinnedge will always be remembered as a marine who proudly served his country. those who know him best will forever remember him for his courageous and competitive spirit. Lance Corporal Vinnedge leaves behind his loving parents. Dave and Julie Vinnedge. and two brothers. Corey and Jason. Lance Corporal Vinnedge is the recipient of the Purple Heart. Combat Action Ribbon. National Defense Service Medal. and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Mr. Speaker. I ask that we pass this bill to show honor and appreciation to one of our fallen heroes. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2014-03-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I rise to pay tribute to Reverend Cleve Minter. a member of my community. who passed away a few days ago. Reverend Minter was pastor of the New Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. but also was a great gospel singer. who along with three of his friendsReverend John Parker. Reverend Mac McCullum. and Reverend William Jenkinswere known fondly as the four heavyweights. and it didnt mean anything to do with size. I express condolences to his family and church.
Date: 2014-03-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address a question that the American people have been raising for more than a decade: When will we address the question of human dignity of so many who are in our country who desire the status of citizenship? When will we pass a sensible. reasonable immigration reform legislation or package? Will we combine our concern for national security with border security. along with human dignity? The question is being asked by constituents from my 18th Congressional District in Houston. It is being asked by the American Jewish Committee. It is being asked by Cardinal DiNardo in the most eloquent and passionate way as they met last week to hear from voices of those who have not heard the answer. Or the 139 who showed up at a press conference some weeks ago. standing with me. demanding that people be given their human dignity. Or the leadership from Ireland who was here at a St. Patricks Day luncheon who stood up and asked the Speaker. When are we going to put comprehensive immigration reform on the floor of the House. This is a multicultural challenge to America. This is an economic challenge. This is from the Irish. This is from South Asians. from Asians. This is from people from Bangladesh. from Poland. It is all over America. Lets pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Date: 2014-03-25
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to celebrate the 193rd anniversary of Greeces declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. The ancient Greeks forged the notion of democracy. They believed in the right of selfgovernance. one of the foundations of our great Nation. yet. for centuries. the Greek peoplethe people whose ancestors inspired our own countrys founding. the people who Thomas Jefferson called the light which led ourselves out of Gothic darkness. the Greek people were denied this right. Today. Greeks celebrate March 25 as the day when the Greeks began the long. hard battle for independence. I recently met with Ambassador John Koenig. ambassador to Cyprus. to discuss the latest on our Cyprus negotiations. He was hopeful that real progress could be made in unifying the island and stopping the illegal Turkish occupation. The U.S. must also continue to work to find a mutually agreeable name for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Greece is an important ally to the United States. I am proud to stand with American Greeks today to celebrate their independence and aspirations.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize Womens History Month. March is the time to honor our foremothers by recommitting to the fight for complete equality between the sexes. Democrats know that the biggest challenge to attaining complete equality is through economic justice. My daughters are growing up in an America where women still make just 77 cents to every mans dollar. This wage discrimination is compounded even further when you consider that women also represent nearly twothirds of minimum wage workers and that they often have jobs with no sick leave. If women have to choose between their jobs and their families. clearly. we still have a lot of work to do. First. we must extend unemployment benefits. Women struggling to find work need that bridge to help pay the bills while they look for work. We must also increase the minimum wage. fight wage discrimination by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. and extend paid family and medical leave to all women by passing the FAMILY Act. This agenda is the perfect way to celebrate Womens History Month and to honor all Americans who have fought for equality and fairness. As President Obama said. "When women succeed. America succeeds."
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. March is Womens History Month. and I rise in memory of a trailblazer. Georgia Lee Lusk. the first woman to ever represent New Mexico in the House of Representatives. Georgia was elected in 1946 and served Congressional District One. my district. Georgia is in our history books as a woman who wasnt afraid of a fight. She grew up on a farm in Carlsbad and went to Highlands University in Las Vegas. New Mexico. Georgia went to Washington to fight for better education and better care for veterans. As a school administrator. she had seen the effects of book shortages and overcrowded classrooms on young students. As a mother of three boys who all fought in the Second World War. she knew all too well the challenges faced by those returning from war. Georgia served on the Veterans Affairs Committee and worked across the aisle to make sure that veterans received the benefits provided to them in the GI Bill of Rights. She fought for Federal aid to education. hot meals for students. and helped establish what we now know as the Department of Education. and she did so much more. Mr. Speaker. as only the third Congresswoman in New Mexicos history. I am determined to carry on Georgias fighta fight for better care for our veterans and a better education for our students. When women succeed. America succeeds.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 15 to demand a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that honors our American values.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I thank my colleague for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 15 to demand a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that provides an earned pathway to citizenship.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 15 to demand a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that unites our families.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 15 to demand a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that provides an earned pathway to citizenship.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Chairman. it is with great disappointment that I come to the floor today in opposition to this attempt by my Republican colleagues to undermine the Antiquities Act. a law that has resulted in the protection and preservation of some of our Nations most cherished lands. The Grand Canyon. Zion National Park. the Cesar Chavez National Monument. and many more have all been protected under the Antiquities Act by Presidents of both parties. This issue hits close to home for me and my constituents. Last March. President Obama designated the Rio Grande del Norte in northern New Mexico as a national monument under the Antiquities Act. The result was years of work and the community coming together to find consensus on a path forward that respects our traditions and respects our culture. Protecting the Rio Grande del Norte had broad support and a strong coalition worked with the administration and Secretary Salazar to show that protecting this land needed to be a top priority. Whether it is for recreation. farming. or sustaining a way of life. the Rio Grande del Norte impacts all those who visit and all those who live off the sustenance it provides. It is one of the crown jewels of our State. and if it were not for the Antiquities Act. this majestic land that represents our culture and drives the local economy would not have received the protections that will ensure its vitality for future generations. This attack on the Antiquities Act is an attack on the preservation of lands that are a part of who we are. our rich history as a diverse Nation. and our ability to enjoy these lands in the future. I urge my colleagues to vote "no" on this bill.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I was unavoidably detained during a vote on H.R. 2824. the Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Act. on Lowenthal amendment No. 1. If I had been present. I would have voted "yes." In addition. Mr. Speaker. on H.R. 3370. the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. I was unavoidably detained with my constituents in my district. Had I been present. I would have voted a resounding "yes." for this legislation will bring muchneeded relief to our constituents on the gulf coast.
Date: 2014-03-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to commemorate the 27th observance of the National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and to add my respect and understanding that developmental disabilities may be visible or invisible and range from physical impairment that involves vision or mobility to those conditions that affect cognitive functions related to how the brain processes information and how someone learns. I am also actively involved in the Dyslexia Caucus in efforts to shine the light on dyslexia. Developmental disabilities. which include autism. deficit hyperactivity disorder. and other developmental delays. have increased. requiring more health and education services. I want to reemphasize the need for access to education services but also to work. It is not a respect of age. Sometimes it comes because of accident or of illness that people can become disabled. but they are still deserving of the opportunity to work. and they also deserve the opportunity to access the various assets that this country has. It is important that we focus on language. focus on mobility. and we provide the resources necessary. My salute to those who are supporting the improvement of access for those suffering from developmental disabilities or experiencing it. We look forward to working together.