macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1987-05-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System lands to Unicoi County. TN. and for other purposes. as amended.
Date: 1987-05-27
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

and the ranking Republican member. Mr. MADIGAN. have assisted me in this matter and for this they have my thanks. H.R. 1004 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey approximately 121 acres of Forest Service land to Unicoi. County. TN. located in my district. The bill is not complicated. It transfers from the Forest Service to the county a parcel of land along a main county road just outside the small town of Unicol. The land is situated amidst residential development along this road and the county intends to use this parcel for similar residential development. Conveyance of title would be made upon the countys payment of fair market value to the Forest Service. and the bill provides that the county may pay for the land over a period of 5 years. As the Forest Service testified. the bill sets no precedent. and the land in question is not essential to the Forest Service. The Forest Service has no objection to the bill since it has no real need for the land. Unicoi County does have a genuine need for the land and will pay a fair market price for it as required by this bill. The small parcel of land involved in this bill is not suitable for hunting. fishing. hiking. camping. or any other use by the Forest Service and it lies along a heavily traveled county road. There is other land throughhout my district. however. which could be acquired by the Forest Service which would enhance the Cherokee National Forest and would increase the publics opportunity for a wide variety of outdoor activities. I would encourage the Forest Serivce to acquire such suitable land for the benefit of the people and for the protection of our beautiful mountains and forestlands. The small parcel in question here is not suitable for the Forest Services mission because of its location. However. Unicoi County has a real need for it. Mr. Speaker. I ask for pessage of. the bill.
Date: 1987-05-28
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers table the bill to facilitate the provision of additional financial resources to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation and. for purposes of strengthening the reserves of the Corporation. to establish a forebearance program for thrift institutions and to provide additional congressional oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. With - ~ H3981 Senate amendments thereto. disagree to the Senate amendments. and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.
Date: 1987-05-28
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that the managers may have until midnight. Friday. May 29. to file a conference report on the bill to provide urgently needed assistance to protect and improve the lives and safety of the homeless. with special emphasis on elderly persons. handicapped persons. and families with children. the Stewart McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. The gentleman from Ohio . the ranking member. concurs in this request.
Date: 1987-05-28
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the advocates of financial deregulation have extolled the virtues of a free and open marketplace. unfettered by Government restrictions. where "disclosure" is the keylots of disclosure to consumers so they can make. informed choices. Yet. on May 20 the House Banking Committees Subcommittee on Financial Institutions held a hearing on H.R. 176. the Truth in Savings Act. That act requires depository institutions to advertise their interest rate offerings on deposit accounts in a clear. unambiguous manner. This legislation is in response to outrageous and misleading advertisements designed to draw in the hardearned funds of unsuspecting consumers. Misleading advertising is as egregious as having no disclosure at allin either case consumers and depositors are the ones to lose. Many financial institutions allocated big budgets for their advertising of these interest rates. A portion of those budgets could be better spent to provide effective disclosure of very basic information to their customers. Recently I received a letter from one of my Rhode Island constituents who had an account in a Florida financial institution. Upon his annual return to Florida. he attempted to deposit a check to his savings account but was advised that the bank had closed his account and taken his $34.87 on deposit there. He was given no prior notification of this action. despite having requested the post office to forward his mail to Rhode Island. Arguing that improved disclosure will enhance marketplace competition and better choices for the consumer is nice. But the industry and the regulators should be on notice that these arguments quickly lose their persuasiveness when very basic notifications to depositors prove totally ineffective. And the Federal Home Loan Banks Boards explanation to my constituent that such notifications and fees are left to the private sector leaves much to be desired. It is time for depository institutions to shape up and treat their customersyoung and old. rich and poorwith the respect they deserve. Providing effective notification to their customers is the very least that can be done.
Date: 1987-06-02
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Chair be authorized to appoint a committee to escort the President of the United States and the VicePresidentdesignate of the United States into the Senate Chamber.
Date: 1987-06-02
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Vice President of the United States be permitted to address the Senate at this time.
Date: 1987-06-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today we gather to honor our late colleague STEWART B. MCKINNEY. While there are a million things one could say about him and still not cover all his accomplishments. I will mention what I consider to be his foremostchampioning the rights of the homeless and disadvantaged. A person of great ability and great dedication. STEWART McKINNEY fought for the rights of the underprivileged. He did this not as a matter of right. but as a matter of need. In this Identical manner when fighting waste In government. STEWART MCKINNEY did so weeding out the worthless from the worthwhile and the seemingly worthwhile from that which never proved its worth. When he spoke for the homeless STEWART MCKINNEY did so believing that all Americans deserve an equal opportunity and chance in society. But he has was more than just a voice for the disadvantagedSTEWART MCKINNEY served as an example by his actions. The record he leaves behind him is a monument to constructive thinking. farsightedness. and acumen. STEWART MCKINNEY rendered great service to the Nation and particularly to the District of Columbia. We miss him. I think we find our work to be less productive because of his absence. and while it is easy in the midst of these eloquent tributes to lose ones sense of perspective. this is not the case when I say STEWART MCKINNEYS legacy will live on. God bless this man.
Date: 1987-06-04
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. did I hear the gentleman say there is no question that acid rain negatively reacts on forests and surfaces? The gentleman said that there is absolutely no question about that in the gentlemans mind?
Date: 1987-06-04
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

If the gentleman will yield further. he is opposing research funds now in order to get the answers and to pursue those questions that the gentleman assumes in his mind to be incontrovertible. I have sat in on hearings for many years in the Health and Environment Subcommittee and we have heard the National Academy of Sciences. we have heard the witnesses. the experts who come in and testify on the effects of acid rain. I think there is a great question whereas the gentleman thinks there is none. there is a great question as to whether acid rain as we describe acid rain from manmade sources has caused damage to forests. As a matter of fact. the weight of opinion. the weight of scientific opinion. is on the other side. But the gentleman assumes it to be incontrovertible. so I can understand. therefore. on that basis the gentleman would not want to find out the facts if he has already assumed a set of facts. But the point is. the facts are very much in dispute. and we have agreements to go ahead and get to the bottom of this. to get the scientific facts. and this research is a means of doing so. So if the amendment passes. the funds will be restored and we will get more light on the subject. We will get more facts and we will get more information on the controversy.
Date: 1987-06-04
Speaker: THOMAS A. LUKEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman. what the gentleman is suggesting is that this money which is in the Presidents budget. $3 million. be taken out. The money is in the Presidents budget. so we are not affecting the budget process. As far as finding out the facts about the effects of acid rain. it may well be that ozone may be the cause of what the gentleman assumed to be the damage to the forests. and there are many other issues that remain undecided and we need these funds in the budget in order to get the facts. So the amendment should be supported.
Date: 1987-06-04
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we will no longer be enchanted by the incomparable music of the great Andres Segovia for he has passed from this world. never to play again. Perhaps it is my love for the Spanish people that prompts my comments on the life of Maestro Segovia. and of course it is my own fascination and respect for his supremely unique guitar music. Andres Segovia took an instrument called the guitar and made it into something else entirely. To so many Americans. the guitar is a stringed instrument found everywhere but those places where Segovia saw fit to introduce it. Maestro Segovia showed us how the guitar can be as lyrically beautiful as the violin and the cello. and as hauntingly cool as the oboe. Throughout the ages there are but a few who are touched by the hand of God with what we call "genius." Andres Segovia was so touched. He played before Kings and Queens in the grand concert halls of the world. His music exemplified the mystique of the gypsy. the bravery of the bullfighter. the sadness of the peasant. the joy of the children. the thunder of the heavens. and the tranquility of an evening beneath the arbors in Andalusia or Castilla. He infused the classical guitar with an energy heretofore unknown. We mourn his recent passing. but rejoice in his contributions. A few of usfor having had the privilege of being in his presenceconsider this a great fortune in our lives. His music will remain now for the world to savor. and every Spaniard will be proud of the Andres Segovia legacy.
Date: 1987-06-09
Speaker: STAFF ORD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. the geographic illiteracy of our Nations schoolchildren has recently become the focus of heightened public attention. It is an issue of increasing Importance as we face the pressing national need to improve our international economic competitiveness as well as continue to sustain our worldwide responsibilities and involvements. In May of this year. an independent study by the Study Commission on Global Education reported that Americas schoolchildren are "globally illiterate." lacking in knowledge of the culture. history. and geography of other nations. According to National Geographic Society president. Gilbert M. Grosvenor. in the last 10 years the teaching of geography in our schools has practically disappeared. Studies show that 50 percent of United States students cannot locate Japan on a map. and that just 5 percent of the Nations teachers have taken a course in world geography. Mr. President. the results of a January 1987 CBS affiliates poll which surveyed 5.000 high school seniors in seven major cities on their basic knowledge of geography was quite surprising to me. Just a sampling of these results indicated that 39 percent of the students in Boston could not name the six.New England States. In Hartford. 49 percent could not name three countries in Africa. and in Baltimore 45 percent could not correctly outline the boundaries of the United States. The need for a revitalization of geography education in our Nations schools is critical. In this age of instant. worldwide communication via satellite. it is ironic that many Americans are so ignorant of simple geography. This general lack of knowledge could place the United States at a disadvantage with other countries in business and political affairs and even environmental awareness. I strongly support the resolution to declare a "Geography Awareness Week." and I commend Senator BRADLEY for all of his fine efforts in this area. I was pleased when he contacted me to be the principal cosponsor on this important piece of legislation. and I look forward to working with him further to improve the teaching and learning of geography in our Nations schools.
Date: 1987-06-10
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman of the committee. and the subcommittee. and the rankIng Members for their cooperation in this .endeavor. Mr. Speaker. I rise today -in support of House Joint Resolution 17. to designate the third week in June 1987 as "National Dairy Goat Awareness Week." .On January 6. 1987. I introduced House Joint Resolution 17. to -generate greater public awareness of the importance of dairy goats and the dairy goat industry in America. -For more than 5.000 years. dairy goats have benefited man. The first settlers brought dairy goats with them to supply .food as they struggled to establish a foothold in America. As the pioneers marched across the continent dairy goats went with them. In -act. these dairy animals have always been a part of the typical American farm. Today. there are over 250.000 dairy goats in the United States. The American Dairy Goat Association. which represents the dairy goat industry and enthusiasts. includes 12.000 members in every State. Puerto Rico. Guam. and the Virgin Islands. Goat milk. ice cream. and yogurt are sold in various -parts of the United States. However. probably the best known goat milk product is goat cheese or "Chevre." Goat cheeses produced in the United States have grown in popularity both here and abroad. In recent years. Americanmade Chevres have begun to compete with other worldclass cheeses -in Europe. In fact. stores in France are beginning to stock Americanmade goat cheese. The popularity of American goat cheese has grown to the -point that it has become the "Brie of the 80s" according to a recent New York Times article by Marian Burros. "National Dairy Goat Week" is intended to generate greaterpublicawareness of the high nutritional value of the products made from goats milk. The sponsors of House JointResolution 17 hope that this nationwide effort to promote dairy goats will do much to enhance the efforts of dairy goat -breeders to educate the American people to the potential of dairy goats and their products for both the American and world economies. Dairy .goat breeders will promote their .industry through .various means during the "Week." including public presentation at shopping malls. All -of this will be of no cost to the -public. but will .simp!y provide needed recognition ifor -this important segment (of :U.S. -agriculture. Mr. Speaker. -the -American dairy goat is an important -part of U.S. agriculture and -deservesthe recognition that House JointResolution 17 would provide. .1 urge my colleagues to support its passage. -[Fromthe New York Times. June 6. 1984]
Date: 1987-06-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to concur in what the gentleman is stating. The UDAG section has been very carefully crafted as a result of participation by a great many parties. We did discuss this amendment in the full committee markup. At that time I asked the gentleman to withdraw the amendment. because I feel very strongly that it would indeed upset the apple cart. For that reason I. too. rise in opposition to the amendment and hope that it will not be accepted so we can go on with consideration of the legislation. I Just think we should have a vote up or down right now.
Date: 1987-06-11
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. pursuant to clause 1 of rule XX and bythe direction of the Committee on Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs. I move to take from the Speakers table the bill . to facilitate the provision of additional financial resources to the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation and. for purposes of strengthening the reserves of the Corporation. to establish a forbearance program for thrift institutions and to provide additional congressional oversight of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Federal home loan bank system. with the Senate amendments thereto. disagree to the Senate amendments. and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.
Date: 1987-06-15
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I announce that the Senator from California . the Senator from Washington and the Senator from Massachusetts are necessarily absent. I further announce that If present and voting. the Senator from Washington . would vote "yea." I further announce that if present and voting. the Senator from Massachusetts would vote "nay."
Date: 1987-06-18
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it Is my honor and privilege to welcome the Reverend Buddy Owens and members of the choir of the Rio Grande Childrens Home. from Mission. TX. Mr. Speaker. those of us who serve in public office know full well the responsibilities that we share. but the good Lord blesses us with people that He puts in special places to do special things in our society. One of these is the Reverend Buddy Owens. whom the good Lord has blessed with an interest and has placed his ministry in giving a helping hand to youngsters in need. We are very happy that he has come along and that so many youngsters have been helped along the way through his ministry. We are honored that he would share the prayer this morning with us here In the House of Representatives.
Date: 1987-06-18
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. next week we will be. sitting down with conferees from the Senate in an attempt to work out the difficult issues involved in the recapitalization of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. It is essential that we restore confidence In the savings and loan industry and place FSLIC on a firm footing for.the long recovery process. Mr. Speaker. the recovery will take moneybillions of dollarsand it has been our hopewhich I believe is shared fully by our Senate counterpartsthat this can be financed by the industry and not by. the taxpayers. Both the House and Senate bills are structured so that the industry bears the costs of raising the new funds in the marketplace. How well this plan worksand how successful we are in protecting the American taxpayer--depends on the ultimate structure of the FSLIC recapitalization plan and the adequacy of its financing. Mr. Speaker. the General Accounting Office tells us that the FSLIC fund was $6.3 billion in deficit at the end of 1986. The Federal Home Loan Bank Board says as of April 30 thedeficit figure had risen to $9.3 billion. Through the months there has been disagreement about the level of financing needed for the recapitalization and how long the plan should remain in place. I doubt that there is a magical number. The recapitalization needs to be carried out at a level that will give FSLIC the ability to deal with hopelessly insolvent institutions that have no chance of recovery and with situations where fraud and gross mismanagement have crept into the industry.. Recapitalization must also be at a level that assures the marketplaceand the publicthat the recovery plan is viable and that the Congress is- serious about returning the industry and its regulatory arm to health. Many of us in the House supported a higher figure than the $5 billion. 2year plan Ultimately adopted. The last Congress. the House adopted a $15 billion 5year plan. as proposed by the administration. The Senate earlier this" year adopted a $7.5 billion plan. Many have been vocal about concerns that neither the House nor the Senate numbers deal adequately with the problem. Mr. Speaker. I sincerely hope that the conferees for both the Senate and House will think long and hard about the need for adequate financing of the recapitalization. Frankly. I dont think it would serve either House well or the industry well to adopt a plan that required us to return to these issues a few months down the road. We need to come out of the conference with legislation that we can hold up and tell the American people that we are serious about efforts to bring about recovery in this important financial industry. We need to come out of conference with legislation that provides some reasonable assurance that the plan is not just a way station enroute to tapping the U.S. Treasury and the American taxpayers for the recovery funds.-
Date: 1987-06-29
Speaker: SONNY M6NTGOMERY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Mississippi

for his leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker. I urge the House to pass ths important legislation.
Date: 1987-06-29
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2327 to ensure certain individuals eligibility for beneficiary travel benefits when traveling to Veterans Administration medical facilities. My district. the U.S. Virgin Islands. is a community consisting of three main islandsSt. Thomas. St. John. and St. Croix. The only Veterans Administration medical center in the entire region is in San Juan. Puerto Rico. The only means of transportation for those seeking medical attention there is by air. Recently. the Veterans Administration put in effect new travel regulations using mileage to determine eligibility for reimbursement. This had a discriminatory and inequitable effect on the veterans population of the Virgin Islands. For the lack of a a few miles. those who reside on St. Thomas and St. John found that they were no longer entitled for travel cost reimbursements. St. Croix residents. however. being outside of the required 100 mile radius. were unaffected. Yet the air fare for veterans in both islands to San Juan was virtually the same. I am told similar problems have also occurred in Hawaii and Alaska. Thus. this legislation which removes distance as the criteria is a step in the right direction to correcting a situation which could prevent many persons in need of medical care from receiving it. Therefore. I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2327 and I commend its sponsor. my colleague Mr. SOLOMON. from New York. and the honorable chairman of the Veterans Committee for proposing this bill and expediting its passage. I also wish to thank the chairman of the oversight subcommittee and his excellent staff for their assistance.
Date: 1987-06-29
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill to provide for the uniform disclosure of the rates of interest which are payable on savings accounts. and for other purposes. as amended.