macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1981-11-06
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. there has been a great debate for the last year. Politicians. Pundits. economists. and businessmen have asked. "Will the administrations economic plan work?" Some of them are beginning to wondcr now. some of us are beginning to wonder. whether or not we have asked the wrong question. Perhaps we should have asked. "When will the administration develop an economic plan?"lnot whether It will work. but when Will the administration develop one? They have plenty of theories. make no mistake about that. Even now. doctrinaire monetarists are busy fighting committed supplysidersthey are fighting each otherwhile they both quarrel with the budget balance. And while the theorists squabble. the economy burns. How much higher does unemployment have to climb before the adminit~ration begins to act to deal with that unemployment? It has reached 8 percent today. Iow many more businesses must close their doors in order to convince the administration that they. the admnistration. must develop a coherent plan? This year there have been 13.659 bankruptcies. an increase of more than 40 percent over last year. How much higher does Inflation have to surge before administration economists note that a problem exists? In September the Consumer Price Index jumped to 14.8 percent. The joint resolution developed by the Democratic emergency task force to reduce high Interest rates directs the administration to take action. We can no longer live with a steadily deteriorating economy while waiting for academic disputes to be settled. We cannot even act to bring ballooning budget deficits under control because administration economists cannot agree on a forecast for the economy. The administration continues to refuse to reveal which budget cuts and which tax increases It will support. The millions of Jobless Americans. bankrupt businessmen. and homeless young couples who have suffered through the last 9 months do not even care whether David Stockman or Donald Regan or Beryl Sprinkel is right In theory. As we might paraphrase Grover Cleveland. "It Is the recession that confronts us not a theory." One year and 2 days ago this Nation elected an administration which Promised to take forceful action against the economic Ills that confronted us. Yet. as we stand here today inflation and unemployment are both higher than they were last year. Does the administration yet have a plan? We have had little actionmostly excuses. and. Increasingly. a great deal of Infighting. If the administration cannot do more than watch helplessly as we slide deeper into a recession. then It is time that we do what we can to force them to act. and this joint resolution is the first step out of the recession. I congratulate the distinguished Senator from Michigan on the work he is doing. and I congratulate the other members of the Democratic emergency task force to reduce high interest rates. I thank him for yielding this time.
Date: 1981-11-09
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

There will be amendments on this side of the aisle. I know of oniy two or three. I understand that there is some concern on the premises that there might be some tax amenidments. I know of none on this side that will deal with taxes.
Date: 1981-11-09
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I think the prospeets might be pretty good. We on this side wish to proceed with the bill. I might say that I have an amendment that would provide that the President appoint a small businessman to the Federal Reserve Boards next vacancy. There are one or two other amendments I know of. I will be very happy to try to identify them for the majority leader. but I do not believe that there is going to be any effort on this side of the aisle to tack on any tax amendments.
Date: 1981-11-09
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I will be glad to do that. I hope that the Senate could proceed to at least begin action on that bill. and I also hope that before the week is out the Senate could proceed with the small business innovations legislation. I shall try to supply the majority leader with as much Information as I can ascertain as to amendmients on this side of the aisle. so he will be in a position to move ahead as rapidly as possible with the Small Business bill.
Date: 1981-11-09
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. next month will mark the end of the second year since 85.000 Soviet troops invaded the nonaligned. Moslem nation of Afghanistan. Yet. for all the modern military equipment at its disposal. the Soviet Union Is stalemated In Afghanistan. The illequipped rebels have fought Russias finest to a standstill. The October 5 Issue of U.S. News& World Report provided a fascinating account of the fighting inside Afghanistan. The article noted: The guerrillas are waging a successful war against Communist forces. and for Russia the comparison with Americas Vietnamn experience daily becomes more apt. Barring a drastic Increase In the number of Soviet troops In Afghanistan. the Kremlin faces the prospect of an endless stalemate. Rebels have no real chance of driving the Russians out of the country. but they are imposing a heavy toll on the alien occupiers and thwarting Moscows attempts to impose a puppet Communist government over all of Afghanistan. The rebels. called Mujeheddin. or Holy Warriors. have abandoned the clumsy and ineffectual sc~ ttergun tactics of earlier days. Now they attack In tightly knit Units with movements carefully planned and coordinated. They are as highly motivated as ever. but are better trained than those who first met the Russians in battle after Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in Decemher. 1979. The article further notes that while the Soviets still have the Capacity to take temporary control of rural districts. the rebels quickly return: once they have left. The Soviets travel the main roads only in welldefended convoys which come under attack. and are afraid to venture forth at night. even in the major cities. A largescale Soviet effort to capture control of the fertile Panjshir Valley northeast of Kabul failed. The Soviets massed 10.000 to 14.000 Russian and Afghan soldiers. 1.500 armored vehicles. and substantial air support. but could not even breach the valley due to rebel resistance. Mr. President. the tneacity of the rebels is most impressive. But it is also a tribute to their strong desire to recapture their status as a free and Independent nation. They just will not allow themselves to become another satellite of the Soviet Union. As the article pointed out: With the partisans becoming steadily more aggressive. Kremlin leaders must soon make a decision: Slug It out with the rebels in an expanded conflicta move that experts estimate could require up to 300.000 additional Soviet troopsor seek a diplomatic solution that might enable the Russian forces to withdraw gracefully. W hatever course it takes. Moscow is far from achieving its goal of turning Afghanistan Into another complaint satellite state. That is not likely to happen as long as the spirit of Afghan independence thrives In places like the Panjshir valley. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the RECORD.
Date: 1981-11-09
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. on behalf of Mr. Lzvr. I send a technical amendment to the desk and ask that It be stated.
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ST GERMAIN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. all over the weekend the Committee on rca Banking. Finance and Urban Affairs we released a document which will be let- used by the committee to examine in a Lye- comprehensive manner the multitude on- of issues and proposals involving therry financial services industry. The docurye ment represents the beginning of the .ion second tier of a twotiered approach to consideration of the major Issues Innor volving the financial services industry. .ad. The first tier is embodied in H.R. ieir 4603. the Deposit Insurance Flexibility )ms Act. which passed the House on Octoous ber 28. 1981. The second tier will In:on- clude a look at issues revolving around =a expanded clending powers. improved lail delivery of credit and other financial his services to consumers and the econoess my. interstate banking. the GlassI as Steagall Act.*usury and other statutes Vho affecting consumer lending. and quesif a tions concerning the competitive balIce. ances throughout the financial corn%te- munity.I Lble Ranking Republican member J. WiLto LIAM STANTON and I directed the staff to of. the committee to develop. a docuIng ment for use as a guide by witnesses. )re- by the committee and by the Congress USE. November 10. 1981 in discussing the subject of financial institution restructuring. To assure maximum exposure of the questions the committee Intends to explore. I Include the text of the document in the RECORD at this point:
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. Presidenit. Thomas Carlyle wrote. "Biography Is the. only true history." Many historians. indeed. contend that the central factor In creating history are the actions of great men and women. Be that as it may. next Sunday Is the 90th birthday of one great American who has more than once been central In creating modern history. For most of the last five of his nine decades. that man has served In public life. To an extraordinary extent. that man hasbeen an ad~viser and confidant of Presidents. kings. and prime ministers. That man is . Averell Harriman. Mr. Harriman embarked on his public career when he was in his early forties.Hie could have abstained from Government service and still enjoyed a life of exciting elegance. The heir to one of Americas great fortunes. Averell Harriman was the son of E. H. Harrdman. a brilliant railroad titan. But from his youth. Averell Harriman was nurtured In the philosophy that great wealth carned with it great responsibility. In response to that doctrine. in the 1930s. while still~ chairman of the Union Pacific Railroad. Averell. Harriman bega~n sharing his prodigious business and economic experience with the Federal Government. By the outbreak of World War IiIin Europe. Mr. Harriman had sufficiently won President Franklin Roosevelts confidence to be appointed first as a Presidential liaison to London. later as the American Ambassador to the Soviet UnIon. and finally as our Ambassador to the Court of St. James. After helping administer the historic Marshall plan and then serving as President Trumans national security adviser. Averell Harriman was In 1954 elected Governor or New York State. During the 1950s. Mr. Harriman was also twice considered for the Democratic Presidential nomination. In the 1960s. Averell Harrimab began a distinguished career as an exceptional traveling diplomat. serving usually under direct Presidential orders. Again and again. Presidents have since availed themselves of his talents and sought his counsel. W. Averell Harriman embodies an admirable American tradition. Like several gifted and selfless private citizens In our history. Mr. Harriman placed his considerable skills and abilities at Americas .disposal. His patriotism. maturity. and perception have consistently served Americas best Interests. Mr. President. I am sure that many of our colleagues share my appreciation for Averell Harrimans contributions to America and Join me in wishing. this great patriot. statesman. and fellow countryman our best wishes on his 90th birthday. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that a column by James Reston entitled "Harriman at 90." which appeared in the New York Times on Wednesday. November 41 1981. be printed In the RECORD.
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. reserving the right to object. may I inquire of the distinguished majority leader whether or not the amendment in the second degree which may be offered by either Senator DrxoN or Senator PERCY would be a grain embargo amendment or would it be germane to the PercyDixon amendment dealing with grain embargo?
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I thank the Senator. My second question is. would Senators be agreeable to allowing an upordown vote on my amendment rather than a possible tabling motion?
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Of course. that leaves open the possibility of a tabling motion. This agreement. if entered into. would provide that there certainly would be no upordown vote. very likely. on my amendment. It does not insure against an upordown vote on the amendment but it leaves open the right of Senators to move to table the motion. which certainly is the norm. I merely would like to bargain if I could. to get an upordown vote on my amendment. I am not adamant about that.
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Will there be objection to my laying down my amendment and having it printed and my makIng a hivef statement In support thereof? Mr. 13AKER. Mr. President. I would certainly have no objection to that.
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I think it should be said that the distinguished majority leader has been very fair and considerate In his schedulinig of this matter. It could have been scheduled many. many weeks ago and It was at the request of myself and Mr. WILLIAMS and Others that the scheduling of the matter was delayed. certainly that it would not come up In October and that it be delayed into Novomber. then further that it be delayed to November 30. and now that it be delayed into December. The request from our side was for the purpose of allowing Mr. WILLIAMS to have ample tUwe to prepare his defense and to allow any Senators who might wish to speak In his defense time to consider the matter and prepare themselves. I think the distinguished majority leader has been as considerate as one could be in this regard. . As far as I am concerned. Mr. President. the majority leader has stated the matter correctly. Mr. WILLIAMS IS aware of the majority leaders decision and I again thank the majority leader on behalf of the distinguished senior Senator from New Jersey for his consideration and understanding in. relation to the scheduling of the matter.
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I want to add my support to H.R. 4734. officially recognizing the Italian American War Veterans of the United States. No identifiable group of people have contributed more to America than have the Italians. Christopher Columbusan Italianlaunched the modern age by discovering our hemLphere. Another ItalianAmerigo Vespuccigave his name to our continent and to our country. And few people realize that even the English claims to Americas eastern seaboard rest on the discoveries of an Italian seaman residing in EnglandGiovanni Cabotothe John Cabot of our childhood history books. Since the founding of the United States. mllions of Italians have immigrated to these fhores. Those Italian immigrants contributed to *our country many of the strongest qualities of their backgrounddiscipline. artistry. religious faith. business acumen. warmth. and. perhaps above all. deep patriotism. Especially in the wars of the 20th century. thousands of ItalianAmericans have answered Americas calls for national defense. Today. more than 23 million Americans trace their ancestry* to Italy. Though they are admirably Involved In all areas of American life. those ItalianAmericans retain a healthy pride In and association with their rich heritage. The Italian American War Veterans will give many ItalianAmericansespecially those who have served in our Armed Forcesa welcome Influence In national affairs. Mr. President. I strongly support H.R. 4734. and I hope that my colleagues will Join me in passing this measure..
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I am glad to advise the distinguished majority leader that the item has been cleared on this side.
Date: 1981-11-10
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

I have Just listened to the Presidents news conference. In his conference the President indicated that none of the regular appropriation bills has yet reached his desk. To my knowledge. may I say. Mr. President. there has been no delay In action on the appropriation bills that has been necessitated because of actions on this side of the aisle. I want to state that for the RECORD. We on the minority side have cooperated in the committee deliberations with respect to appropriation bills. We certainly have not interposed any time delays with respect to actions on those bills on the floor. I would like to ask the distinguished majority leader if. to his knowledge. any delay In the floor action on these appropriations bills has been caused by the minority.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speakers desk the Senate bill . to designate the U.S. Department of Agriculture Boll Weevil Research Laboratory building. located adjacent to the campus of Mississippi State University. Starkville. Miss.. as the "Robey Wentworth Harned Laboratory". to extend the delay in making any adjustment in the price support level for milk. and to extend the time for conducting the iefprenda with respect to the national marketing quotas for wheat and upland cotton. and ask for Its Immediate consideration in the House.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we are assembled today. the day after Veterans Day. to give honor to those who served and sacrificed in our behalf In Vietnam. Veterans of Vietnam. who make up a third of all surviving war veterans. have not received the recognition they deserve. from the media. from the Government. or from the public at large. It is good to see that this situation is finally changing. No matter whether one agreed or disagreed with our Governments involvement in Vietnam. and however much we would like to put this period of our history behind us. we have been unfair to those who sacrificed for our country by serving in Vietnam. Close to 9 million persons served In Vietnam during the many years we were Involved there. Almost 57.700 died. Countless others were. injured. Many camne home with permanent disabilities. Returning after a year or more in Southeast Asia. they were met by a cold and stony silence. There were no parades. no public welcome home ceremonies for those who gave up a part of their lives in service to their country. Many. in fact. were told they should feel guilty for their activities. It should have come as no suirprise that many Vietnam veterans expressed resentment over the tumultuous welcome given the hostages. return from Iran earlier this year. The mediahas given much attention to the problems of the Vietnam veteran. whether it be the psychologial effects of "post traumatic delayed stress syndrome." chronic unemployment. or the physical effects of exposure to agent orange and other toxic chemcials. We in Congress have only begun to address ourselves to these problems. and must continue to use our resources to help the Vietnam veterans who suffer from them. Let us not forget. however. the millions of veterans who returned and were able to pick up their lives where they left off. for they are truly the forgotten ones. We rarely hear of the Vietnam veteran who returned home to finish school. or to a job. and maybe rejoin or start a family. They too deserve our recognition. One year from now. the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be dedicated here in Washington. The names of those who died there will be carved in stone to remind us of their ultimate sacrifice for their country. The building and dedication of this memorial provide an opportune time to give due recognition. honor. and respect to all who served in Vietnam. We must not continue to Ignore those who fought In Vietnam as a result of unpopular Government policy. for to do so is only to perpetuate the disservice we have done them.*
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. among the many traditions which occtir on Capitol Hill is the annual House versus Senate page football game. On Wednesday. November 11. 1981. Veterans Day. the Senate--now. get this: pay close attention. I say to all Senatorsthe Senate defeated the House by a score of. now. get this. 21 to 0a great big goose egg for the House. Twentyone to zero. Long live the Senate page football team. This was the second game of an ongoing struggle. I commend our Senate pages. both Republicans and Democrats. I ask unanimious consent that the names of our players be printed in the RECORD. Thle comnmendation of the day goes to our Senate page football team for plastering the page football team from the "~other body." Our Senate pages will show em.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I thank all Senators for the interest that they have demonstrated in this matter. I thank our pages. Excelsior. Ever upward.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: TIMOTHY R. KEENEY (democrat)
Chamber: S

Subcommittee on State. Justice. Commerce and the Judiciary. Senate Committee im Appropriations. Washington. D.C. DEAR M. KEENEY: Enclosed are fact she !ts concerning the farm finance survey and t ie census of agriculture services which are cotducted as part of the census of agriculture. As I Indicated to you. although funding for the 1982 Census of Agricultural Services was eliminated from the 1982 budget request. it would be helpful if the language could be deleted for future censuses. The appropriate form numbers are 78A40A. 78A40B. 78A40C. and 78A40D. We are much more concerned about the elimination of the language prohibiting the conduct of farm finance survey (Forms 70AOA and 79A9B). This survey provides data which are not available from any other source. It is conducted on a sample basis in the year following the basic census and covers only about 45.000 farms and about 35.000 farm landlords. Farm landlords are covered in no other census or survey. A measure of its importance is shown by the fact that the Department of Agriculture contributed approximately $600.000 to the 1979 survey in order to obtain data at the state level since our funding permitted only the collection of data at the national level. Our suggestion for the amendment language isOn page -. Line -. following "or 78A40D" add ":" and delete "or form 79A9A. or form 70A9B. or for the preparation of similar forms for any future agricultural census." If there are additional questions. please call me at 7638274. Sincerely.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that I may modifyN my amendment so as to make the second part of that amendment consistent with the first part. Tile second section of my amendment dealing With the Presidential certification should also include direct military Intervention in Poland by the Soviet Union or its allies. In the amendment as written it does not contain that language. and that was the intent of the language as was expressed In the first section.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Line 10 of the printed amendment. amendment No. 628. reads as follows: S..days of direct Soviet military inter.ention in Poland that the.. I would change It to read: .days of direct military Intervention in Poland by the Soviet union or Its allies that the. . In other words. the amendment as printed does not inal~e reference to the allies.
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. [ send the modification to the desk. The modified amendment is as follows: At the appropriate place add the following: SEC. . Notwithstanding any other provision of law. a suspenaion of or restriction on
Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that I have an additional 5 minutes and that the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania have a similar a. dItion of time.