macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-10-17
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. last spring many of us warned that unilateral military action against Iraq would open a Pandoras Box. that the President had not prepared the American people for the sacrifices that would be entailed by such an action. and that to act without the support of the international community would seriously jeopardize our ability to win the postwar peace in Iraq. Regretfully. I fear that we were right. And there is little satisfaction in that realizationbecause the implications for our Nation and the American people are very serious indeed. Our President and his advisors have backed this country into a corner from which there Is no easy escape. Now the President has asked this Congressasked the American peoplefor an additional $87 billion for the upcoming year to pay primarily for our efforts in Iraq. This request comes on top of the $79 billion already appropriated for these purposes this fiscal year and we can be sure that this will not be the Presidents last request for funtis for Iraq. Iraqs stabilization and reconstruction needs over the next five years have been estimated at over $50 billionwithout taking into the account the costs of continued troops deployment there. In deciding whether or not to support this request. I believe we must consider three fundamental questions: How did we get to the situation we are in today? In light of the current state of affairs in Iraq. is the kind of investment the President has requested necessary to enhance our security and prolect our national interests? and. If this investment is necessary. has the Administration presented us with a responsible plan that will achieve our key national objectives. both in Iraq and at home?
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 395. This bipartisan resolution was introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey and the gentleman from Michigan . They are both Ph.D. physicists who appreciate the importance of chemistry. I want to congratulate them for bringing this resolution forward. Chemistry and chemical engineering contributes to public health through such things as new biomaterials. drug design and drugdelivery technologies and gene therapy. These disciplines help develop new structural and electronic materials and advance technologies that improve energy utilization and transportation systems. In short. chemistry and chemical engineering contribute in critical ways to the economic strength. security and wellbeing of our Nation. National Chemistry Week was started as an annual event in 1987 by the American Chemical Society. It sponsos activities to make elementary and secondary school children. and the public in general. more aware of what chemistry is and its importance to their everyday lives. National Chemistry Week activities are carried out by the local sections of the American Chemical Society. which are found in all parts of the Nation. They work with local industries. schools and museums to design handson activities. provide chemical demonstrations and develop exhibits. By these means. the local organizations provide opportunities to stimulate the interests of young people in science and in pursuing scientific careers. And the activities of the National Chemistry Week help advance the important goal of increasing public understanding of science generally. For 2003. the theme of the National Chemistry Week is Earths Atmosphere and Beyond. This is very appropriate because it is in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight. I congratulate the American Chemical Society for their efforts to establish and sustain National Chemistry Week. I support this resolution. and recognize the value of chemistry and the goals of National Chemistry Week. I ask for its adoption by the House.
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 279. This. resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the Congressional Fellowship Program instituted by the American Association of Advancement of Science. I congratulate the gentleman from Michigan fOr taking the initiative to develop this resolution.
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I urge support for the resolution. Mr. Speaker. I have no further requests for time. and I yield back the balance of my time.
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Madam Speaker. I rise to strongly condemn the hateful antiSemitic slurs made by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad in his October 16 address to the Organization of the Islamic Conference. In his address. Prime Minister Mohammad called Israel. and I quote. "the enemy allied with the most powerful nations." He also said. and again I quote. that "the Jews rule the world by proxy" and that "the Muslims will forever be oppressed and dominated by the Europeans and the Jews." Madam Speaker. there is no place in international diplomacy for this baseless and hateful rhetoric. World leaders have a great responsibility to avoid the use of suchincendiary rhetoric that could incite further hatred or violence against any racial or ethnic minority. This kind of hatred and scapegoating. including the blaming of Jews for all the ills of the Muslim world. has no place in civilized society. especially by elected officials. Words and actions. especially at a conference such as this. have far reaching consequencesthey not only have the power to make policy. they have the power to change hearts and minds. To blame Israel and the Jewish people for problems and difficulties experienced by other cultures is wrong and has led to senseless bloodshed and violence. including the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime in the 1930s and 1940s. These words are especially damaging at a crucial time when the Palestinian people and Israel struggle to reach a lasting peace. Actions that inflame tensions between the Islamic and Jewish worlds serve only to make that struggle become complicated and the alltooelusive peace more difficult to achieve.
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition to The Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003 and urge all of my colleagues to vote against this bill. The Basic Pilot Program is a new. more reliable way for employers to verify that employees are legally eligible to work in the United States. I support the Basic Pilot Program and I support an extension of the program for an additional five years. However. I oppose the Basic Pilot Extension Act because this bill goes well beyond just extending the program for an additional five years. This bill makes the Basic Pilot Program a national employee verification system available in all 50 states. Currently. the Basic Pilot Program is being tested in only 6 states so that flaws In the program can be addressed. Those flaws were detailed in a report by the Institute for Survey Research at Temple University. The report concluded that the Basic Pilot Program is not ready for largerscale implementation at this time. and that the Program should remain available in only 6 states until the many problems with the program are addressed. The problems described in the report include inaccurate and outdated information in the INS databases used to verify employment eligibility. The report also describes problems with the reliability of the training and system software. hardware. and telephone systems used in the Basic Pilot Program. The report also described how employees had their privacy violated. were not fully informed of their rights under the Basic Pilot Program. and that employers failed to submit forms in the required time deadlines. Despite these problems and despite the explicit recommendation of the Institute for Survey Research for needed improvements. this bill expands the Basic Pilot nationwide and includes provisions that go well beyond merely verifying employment eligibility. This bill adds a new provision that allows federal. state. or local governments. not employers. to use the pilot program to access the databases to obtain citizenship and immigration status intormation on anyone for any reason they wish. This includes both citizens and noncitizens. and unlike other regulations that control the use of federal databases. there are no limitations that protect the employees against discrimination. privacy violations. or other misuse. This new provision is very close to the establishment ol a national register of all immigrants or a national identilication card program. Madam Speaker. the Basic Pilot Extension Act should be opposed for all of the reasons I have described. Another serious concern is that the Judiciary Committee did not hold any hearings on the changes to the information sharing provisions of this bill. and the Subcommittee on Immigration did not consider this bill at all. The Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003 will threaten the privacy of all Americans and is riddled with flaws. I urge all of my colleagues to oppose this bill.
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. today. the House of Representatives Is making a procedural vote on whether not to recommit the FAA Reauthorization bill to conference. What this is really is an attempt to circumvent the real legislative processan up or down vote on the merits of their proposal. Why Is the Republican leadership doing this? Because they are trying to sneak through provisions that are seriously flawed and pose a major risk to flight safety and national security. As a cochair of the newly created Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus. I find it appalling that Congress would consider privatizing air traffic controllers when our security is at a greater risk that ever. This and two other provisions In this bill would do lessnot moreto protect us from terrorism. and seriously undermine the airline Industry in our country and jeopardize the safety of our personal air travel. First. this bill opens the door for private companies to purchase air traffic control towers from the Government. This means our Government will no longer be in control of the safety of our airspace. Prlvatizing the Nations air traffic control system is a risky and dangerous experiment at a time when public safety is of the highest importance. Also. under this bill flight attendants are no longer required to receive antiterrorism training. Following the events of 9/11. flight attendants want to be properly trained. passengers want them to be trained. and as a frequent flyer I personally want them to be trained. Lastly. It would allow international airlines to carry cargo throughout the United States without it being properly screened or tracked. The proposed changes would affect national security as well as jeopardize the livelihood of our domestic Industry. Ironically. after 9/11. airport screeners were federalized because we realized that our safety depended on the Indlviduals working those posts to be under Federal supervision. It Is same with air traffic controllers. Look at It this way . . . the price of a plane ticket-$235. the price of airport parking for a week-$75. and the expertise and experience of air traffic controllers to land your airplane. priceless. There Is no price tag to our safety. For the safety for all Americans. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote "yes" to recommit the FAA Conference Report and take out these heinous provisions. Lets put safety first.
Date: 2003-10-28
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. subject to rule XXII. clause 7(c). I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to Instruct on H.R. 6. the Energy Policy Act of 2003. The form of the motion is as follows:
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: SUSAN DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1720. legislation to provide funding for a project crucial to the veterans community in the San Diego region. The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in La Jolla. California serves one of the largest veterans communities in the nation. Nearly 240.000 retired military personnel in the San Diego area receive treatment from at the La Jolla hospital and nearby VA medical facilities. I cant stress enough how important it Is to ensure these facilities can provide veterans with the treatment they need even at times of disaster. Just this week. the dedicated medical staff at area VA medical facilities worked hard to care for our veteransdespite the poor air quality and other dangers caused by the horrible wildfires burning in Southem California. It is crucial that they have the resources to continue their important work during such difficult times. H.R. 1720 will help the VA prepare in case another type of disaster strikes. This legislation provides 50 million dollars to make necessary seismic corrections to the La Jolla VA medical center. Mr. Speaker. this project will help ensure that both our veterans and the medical staff will be safe if a large earthquake strikes. And it will ensure that the hospital can continue treating our veterans in the aftermath. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation on behalf of our veterans community and dedicated VA medical personnel in San Diego.
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Speaker. today I ask for support of H.R. 1516. which will establish national cemeteries in parts of the country where they are needed the most. InSoutheastem Pennsylvania. Birmingham. Alabama. Bakersfield. Califomia. Greenville/Columbia. South Carolina. Sarasota County. Rorida. and my own Jacksonville. Florida. Florida has the second largest population of veterans in the Nationtotaling almost two million. There are more than 325.000 veterans In the Northeast Florida/Southeast Georgia area alone. One out of every ten deaths nationally Is a resident of Florida at the time of Interment. And. veterans deaths are increasing each year as World War II and Korean Warera veterans advance In age. Soon. we will be unable to meet the burial needs of our veterans. Northeast Florida Is in dire need of a new cemetery to accommodate veterans and their families. We owe it to our veterans to make certain that they have an appropriate final resting place. The nearest "open" cemetery serving Northeast Florida is In Bushnell. Florida. which is 150 miles from Jacksonvllea threehour drive. Floridas two smaller national cemeteries in Pensacola and St. Augustine are closed due to full capacity. The situation for Jacksonvillearea veterans Is almost desperate. The National Cemetery Administrations intent is to make veterans burial needs available in a state or national cemetery within 75 miles of the veterans home. Veterans In the Jacksonville area are twice the distance from an open national cemetery than the National Cemetery Administrations goal. This Is unacceptable. People need to be able to visit their loved ones final resting place without being burdened with a sixhour round trip from Jacksonville. We need to show veterans the respect that they have earned. I ask that my colleagues support this important legislation.
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. Republicans on the other side of the aisle keep saying it is not about the numbers. and then they want to argue the numbers. Let me agree with them: this is not about the numbers. This is simply a question of values and ethics. This is whether or not this President and this Republican Party that controls the Congress of the United States will keep their word to Americas children and to their parents and to the school districts and the teachers across this Nation. It is all interesting what you want to talk about before No Child Left Behind passed. But No Child Left Behind is the most significant reforms we have made to American education in 35 years. And we did it with full knowledge of how much money we were spending. and we did it with full negotiations with this President about the reforms and the significance of these reforms. and this President said. if you can get these reforms. I will get you the resources. We now find out he just simply was not telling the truth. He told the truth for 1 year. He just could not tell the truth for both years. because the resources are not there. We told schools that this Nation wants you to have 100 percent of our children proficient at grade level in 12 years. Schools are working hard to do this. And there are mixed results. But they are doing it. They are working at it. And now we have identified each and every child that is not meeting that standard. Those are called schools in need of improvement. What do we say in the Federal law for schools in need of improvement? We said we will give you additional money in the second and third year to turn those schools around. to reconfigure those schools to get different results. Those are the exact schools that need the money this year. and it is not there because this Congress and this President refuse to provide it. So what do those poor children do? They have been told that they need improvement. Later there could be sanctions against these schools at the State level. and we have pulled back the money that they were going to use to improve those schools. The Governors have taken the heat for identifying those schools. The school superintendents have taken the heat for identifying these schools. Parents are upset. But the whole idea was that we would help you turn those schools around because it is important to our country. it is important to these children. it is important to their families. But on the eve of the moment that that is supposed to happen. this President reneged on his promise. He got the reforms on a big bipartisan basis. and school districts all across the country are trying to make them work. and he walks out on them because he did not put the money in his budget. and he is encouraging the Congress not to go forward with these kinds of increases. This motion to instruct is not meaningless. It is important. It is about values. It is about truthfulness. It is about the ethics of our profession when we promise the American people we will do something and then we fail to do it.
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this really is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of clean air that people breathe. I am certain there are people on that side of the aisle that will stand with the gentlemen. who I consider both my good friends. But there will be some probably who will not because they want to breathe some clean air. That is all this is about. It has nothing to do with partisanship. It has nothing to do with the Clinton administration. They have been given time. That is all this indicates. They have already had time to clean the air.
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. what I need to ask is that at what point will these polluters be responsible for cleaning up? If we stand here and change the goal post one time after another. the time never comes. The Clinton administration. which you love to refer to on this. gave leeway. but it is time now to clean the air. People are dying from this dirty air.
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself the balance of my time. There are lots of areas in the country that have already implemented the controls that the gentleman from Texas speaks about and had worse transport problems and are not seeking extensions. It is a matter of whether these companies want to do it and have the encouragement to come into compliance rather than to help to stay out of compliance. I would also like to note that the gentleman from Michigan was here speaking. and I do not know about his application for an extension. but all the areas in Michigan have attained the 1hour standard. So I do not know why the EPA policy would even apply to Michigan. The only transport occurring in my area is from the gentleman from Texas
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Wherever we are dirtying this air. it is dangerous to the lungs. and it is dangerous to the health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency. 127 million Americans breathe air that violates Federal standards for smog and soot pollutions. EPAs own consultants found that each year almost 370 residents of the DallasFort Worth area died just because of pollution from the oldest and dirtiest unregulated power plants in the country. and 10.500 asthma attacks are triggered. During the past several years. EPA gave several metropolitan areas a free pass. extending air deadlines for dirty areas without bumping them up to the higher pollution categories that would require more protective standards. Four separate Federal appellate courts all ruled that EPAs extension policy violated the language and purpose of the Clean Air Act. Appropriately. that led the agency to abandon the policy. With so many Americans breathing in dirty air. it should be obvious that air quality standards are already not being enforced enough. Why would we make them weaker? But rather than accepting the judgment of the EPA and the courts. the gentlemanfrom Texas
Date: 2003-10-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this motion to instruct.
Date: 2003-10-30
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to voice my outrage over the government of Vietnams recent crackdown on the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam. I just concluded a telephone conversation with the Venerable Thich Tue Sy. a senior monk in that church. who was just sentenced to 2 years of administrative detention for exercising the basic right of freedom of religion. as were six of his colleagues. Earlier this month. the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam held a meeting to discuss church affairs. to elect new leadership. and to verify the Vietnamese Prime Ministers promise of a new era of respect and understanding for religious freedom. In stark contrast to the promise of respect and understanding. Vietnamese authorities disrupted the meeting. intimidated and ultimately arrested the UBCV leadership. The Venerable Thich Huyen Quang and Thich Quang Do. both of whom have been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize. are once again under house arrest. These actions are unconscionable. Today. I will introduce a resolution regarding the courageous leadership of the UBCV and the urgent need for religious reform in Vietnam.