macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair. the United States is a leader in the research and development of directed energy technologies. including high energy lasers. Now. this technology plays a significant role for our military on and off the battlefield. offering substantial advantages to our troops. Directed energy technology uses highly focused energy to minimize collateral damage. reduce civilian casualties. and then give our troops the advantage they need on the battlefield. Now. I have seen these systems being developed and tested when I visited the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico. I am very proud of the groundbreaking work being done there and New Mexicos contribution to developing and advancing this important technology. Now. I hope that as this technology develops. it could spur the development. then. of nondefense and civilianrelated applications. My amendment increases the funding for the HELJTO by $7 million. The HELJTO is the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office which oversees the high energy laser research for the Air Force. Navy. and Army. Now. this funding will support the development of beam directors. adaptive optics. deformable mirrors. and high energy diodes. These components. in fact. will help high energy laser technology to become smaller. more portable. and more efficient. which expands the possibilities for the military. Given that the Armys current work is focused on large ground systems that lack mobility. I was pleased that the House Appropriations Committee recognized the need for smaller and more portable directed energy technology and urged the Army to invest in directed energy capabilities for both combat vehicles and dismounted soldiers. The committee further encouraged the Secretary of the Army to reduce the size. weight. power. and cost for these directed energy systems and to focus on integrating them into our existing or future combat and tactical vehicles as well as individual soldier weapon systems. It is clear that the committee understands the importance of further development of this important technology through HELJTO. and I hope to continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that they have the funding that they need to fulfill their important mission. Mr. Chairman. it is my hope that you will continue to work with me as this process moves forward in order to ensure that we are. in fact. fully investing in these and other technologies that really can make the difference. frankly. on and off the battlefield. Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from New Mexico?
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: BRENDAN F. BOYLE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsyl

vania. Mr. Chair. I thank my colleague who also represents Montgomery County and parts near Philadelphia. Mr. MEEHAN. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with him on this issue on a bipartisan basis. as well as our colleague. Mr. FITZPATRICK. from Bucks County. Mr. Chair. PFOA and PFOS are chemical compounds. PFCs. that are found in the firefighting foams that have been used on military bases throughout the country. The EPA and other agencies are testing these chemicals for suspected links to cancer and other serious health impacts and recently lowered advisory levels for drinking water. This past March. the DOD released a list of 664 sites nationwide where these firefighting foams might have been used and similarly infiltrated local groundwater. Every State in the Union has at least one of these sites. The DOD is currently investigating. To date. 16 public wells and 140 private wells in our area have been taken offline because of the Navys contamination at and around the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove in my district. This list will likely grow. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: BRENDAN F. BOYLE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Pennsyl

vania. Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey showing that those from Philadelphia and those from across the Delaware River. in New Jersey. can get along. and I appreciate his support on this issue. Just to continue and conclude with what I was saying. the Navy and National Guard have taken responsibility for contamination and have agreed to pay approximately $19 million to provide replacement water. install filtration systems on affected public wells. and hook homes with affected public wells into public water systems. but the community is seeking information regarding their yearspossibly decadesof past exposure due to our militarys contamination. I think the amendment that Mr. MEEHAN and I are offering for $7 million in the context of a $32 billion operations. maintenance. and defensewide account for screenings is reasonable. I understand. though. the recent Defense Department concerns. I look forward to working with the chairman. as well as the ranking member. to ensure that we continue to fight for and advocate for our constituents in Montgomery County and Bucks County and all those potentially across the country who may be affected by this same issue. It is an issue that this body must pay closer attention to. Lets inform communities as the Defense Department investigates the potential scope of this issue.
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. I thank. again. both gentlemen. the ranking member and the chairman. I have come to the floor to emphasize these two amendments that are very important. I believe. to the work of the Defense Department and the many persons that they serve. I want to speak to the Jackson Lee amendment that addresses the question of posttraumatic stress disorder by emphasizing the numbers of individuals who are now coming back from service that have PTSD. PTSD has been discovered post the time of leaving the battlefield. Posttraumatic stress disorder is where one repeatedly relives the trauma of war in their thoughtsthe day in and day out nightmares. Texas. in particular. is a State that has a large number of returning veterans. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

In the name of a young boy who was killed by a former marine who indicated that he had posttraumatic stress disorder. this increase of $1 million is important. Finally. let me say. triple negative breast cancer kills more women. It is important that there be an emphasis of up to $10 million for added research to ensure that this deadly aspect of breast cancer does not continue to kill women not only in the United States military. but elsewhere. As a survivor. let me be very clear that this research has not yet been completed. Lives have not yet been saved. I hope these amendments will be passed because it provides $10 million for triple negative breast cancer and $1 million for posttraumatic stress disorder. I ask support for the Jackson Lee amendments.
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: MAXINE WATERS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

"I could not imagine my family having to read about this online. I kept reading. In the next paragraph. I read something that I will never forgive. I read that according to him. I liked it. I liked it. Again. I do not have words for these feelings. "Its like if you were to read an article where a car was hit. and found dented. in a ditch. But maybe the car enjoyed being hit. Maybe the other car didnt mean to hit it. just bump it up a little bit. Cars get in accidents all the time. people arent always paying attention. can we really say whos at fault. "And then. at the bottom of the article. after I learned about the graphic details of my own sexual assault. the article listed his swimming times. She was found breathing. unresponsive with her underwear six inches away from her bare stomach curled in fetal position. By the way. hes really good at swimming. Throw in my mile time if thats what were doing. Im good at cooking. put that in there. I think the end is where you list your extracurriculars to cancel out all the sickening things thatve happened. "The night the news came out I sat my parents down and told them that I had been assaulted. to not look at the news because its upsetting. just know that Im okay. Im right here. and Im okay. But halfway through telling them. my mom had to hold me because I could no longer stand up. "The night after it happened. he said he didnt know my name. said he wouldnt be able to identify my face in a lineup. didnt mention any dialogue between us. no words. only dancing and kissing. "Dancing is a cute term. was it snapping fingers and twirling dancing. or just bodies grinding up against each other in a crowded room? I wonder if kissing was just faces sloppily pressed up against each other? When the detective asked if he had planned on taking me back to his dorm. he said no. When the detective asked how we ended up behind the dumpster. he said he didnt know. He admitted to kissing other girls at that party. one of whom was my own sister who pushed him away. He admitted to wanting to hook up with someone. I was the wounded antelope of the herd. completely alone and vulnerable. physically unable to fend for myself. and he chose me."
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: WATSON COLEMAN (democrat)
Chamber: H

"Sometimes I think. if I hadnt gone. then this never would have happened. But then I realized. it would have happened. just to somebody else. You were about the enter four years of access to drunk girls and parties. and if this is the foot you started off on. then it is right you did not continue. The night after it happened. he said he thought I liked it because I rubbed his back. A back rub. Never mentioned me voicing consent. never mentioned us even speaking. a back rub. One more time. in public news. I learned that my ass and vagina were completely exposed outside. my breasts had been groped. fingers had been jabbed inside me along with pine needles and debris. my bare skin and head had been rubbing against the ground behind a dumpster. while an erect freshman was humping my half naked. unconscious body. But I dont remember. so how do I prove I didnt like it. "I thought theres no way this is going to trial. there were witnesses. there was dirt in my body. he ran but he was caught. Hes going to settle. formally apologize. and we will both move on. Instead. I was told he hired a powerful attorney. expert witnesses. private investigators who were going to try and find details about my personal life to use against me. find loopholes in my story to invalidate me and my sister. in order to show that this sexual assault was in fact a misunderstanding. That he was going to go to any length to convince the world he had simply been confused. "I was not only told that I was assaulted. I was told that because I couldnt remember. I technically could not prove it was unwanted. And that distorted me. damaged me. almost broke me. It is the saddest type of confusion to be told I was assaulted and nearly raped. blatantly out in the open. but we dont know if it counts as assault yet. I had to fight for an entire year to make it clear that there was something wrong with this situation. "When I was told to be prepared in case we didnt win. I said. I cant prepare for that."
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: JUDY CHU (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

"He was guilty the minute I woke up. No one can talk me out of the hurt he caused me. Worst of all. I was warned. because he now knows you dont remember. he is going to get to write the script. He can say whatever he wants and no one can contest it. I had no power. I had no voice. I was defenseless. My memory loss would be used against me. My testimony was weak. was incomplete. and I was made to believe that perhaps. I am not enough to win this. His attorney constantly reminded the jury. the only one we can believe is Brock. because she doesnt remember. That helplessness was traumatizing. "Instead of taking time to heal. I was taking time to recall the night in excruciating detail. in order to prepare for the attorneys questions that would be invasive. aggressive. and designed to steer me off course. to contradict myself. my sister. phrased in ways to manipulate my answers. Instead of his attorney saying. Did you notice any abrasions? He said. You didnt notice any abrasions. right? This was a game of strategy. as if I could be tricked out of my own worth. "The sexual assault had been so clear. but instead. here I was at the trial. answering questions like: "How old are you? How much do you weigh? What did you eat that day? Well what did you have for dinner? Who made dinner? Did you drink with dinner? No. not even water? When did you drink? How much did you drink? What container did you drink out of? Who gave you the drink? How much do you usually drink? Who dropped you off at this party? At what time? But where exactly? What were you wearing? Why were you going to this party? "Whatd you do when you got there? Are you sure you did that? But what time did you do that? What does this text mean? Who were you texting? When did you urinate? Where did you urinate? With whom did you urinate outside? Was your phone on silent when your sister called? Do you remember silencing it? Really? Because on page 53 Id like to point out that you said it was set to ring. Did you drink in college? You said you were a party animal? How many times did you black out? Did you party at frats?"
Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. "Now to address the sentencing. When I read the probation officers report. I was in disbelief. consumed by anger which eventually quieted down to profound sadness. My statements have been slimmed down to distortion and taken out of context. I fought hard during this trial and will not have the outcome minimized by a probation officer who attempted to evaluate my current state and my wishes in a fifteen minute conversation. the majority of which was spent answering questions I had about the legal system. The context is also important. Brock had yet to issue a statement. and I had not read his remarks. "My life has been on hold for over a year. a year of anger. anguish and uncertainty. until a jury of my peers rendered a judgment that validated the injustices I had endured. Had Brock admitted guilt and remorse and offered to settle early on. I would have considered a lighter sentence. respecting his honesty. grateful to be able to move our lives forward. Instead he took the risk of going to trial. added insult to injury and forced me to relive the hurt as details about my personal life and sexual assault were brutally dissected before the public. He pushed me and my family through a year of inexplicable. unnecessary suffering. and should face the consequences of challenging his crime. of putting my pain into question. and of making us wait so long for justice."
Date: 2016-06-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today. the President and Vice President of the United States. rightly so. have gone to Orlando. Florida. to be with the Senate delegation and Congresswoman CORRINE BROWN. our colleague whose district was impacted by this heinous terrorist act. I thank him for that. and I thank him for bringing this country together. recognizing that we are not here to blame Muslims. we are not here to blame people of different faith. we are here to draw together. I want the Muslim community to know that we stand with them in their outrage over this incident and their recognition of the values of their faith. Let me also say that we honor and mourn those from the Latino community who died in this tragic and heinous act. and we want to do something about it. Congresswoman BROWN and I have introduced H.R. 5470. which requires that before anyone gets an assault weapon. they must answer questions about evidence and recent contacts by Federal law enforcement authorities that they have been engaged in. It must be verified. Let me finally say. Mr. Speaker. that we want the Nation to be secure. but we also want justice in our criminal justice system. I am looking forward to moving that legislation forward because we must be balanced: security and justice and equality for people in the criminal justice system.
Date: 2016-06-16
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. this picture of these murdered children was from 3 years ago. but the mass murders continue. and the American people are saying. "Enough." and they are demanding that this Congress put an end to our epidemic on gun silence. but. for nearly two decades. there has been a gag order in place that has prevented scientific research into the causes and cures of gun violence. The 1997 omnibus budget bill contained language that was made for the gun lobby. It targeted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the intended effect of prohibiting any federally funded research on the serious public health issue of gun violence. Sadly. the progun lobby was successful in its efforts to censor sciencethis despite the fact that guns have taken more lives in this country since 1968 than were lost in all of the wars this Nation has ever fought. So I urge my colleagues to support my bill. H.R. 2612. to restore fundingto lift the gag rulefor research on gun violence and prevention. because. on this issue. the science is literally killing us.
Date: 2016-06-20
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to condemn the senseless murder of Jo Cox. Member of the British House of Commons who was tragically taken from us on Jo Cox was murdered in the street. while fulfilling her duties as a representative of the people. I join in adding my voice to that of the civilized world in condemning this act of political violence. I mourn Jo Coxs death and offer my deepest condolences to her familyparticularly her husband and two childrenas well as her friends and constituents. Today. and far into the future. I will remember Ms. Cox. and honor her dedication to womens empowerment in the United Kingdom and across the globe. Jo Cox was a tireless advocate for gender equity and human rights. even in one of the worlds most challenging environments. She carried this passion through at Oxfam. and later in Parliament. Jo Cox chaired the Labour Womens Network. which works to engage and encourage women to run for political office. She also founded UK Women. a research institute dedicated to better understanding the views and needs of women in the United Kingdom. In what is a perfect testament to her spirit. one of Jo Coxs last acts in Parliament was to sign a motion recognizing and celebrating the early campaigners for womens suffrage. Mr. Speaker. tragically. the loss of Jo Cox mirrors the experiences of women and girls all over the world. who are more likely than their male counterparts to be targets of violence in politics and elections. This violence and intimidation has a real impact on womens participation as voters. candidates. election officials. activists and political party leaders. and therefore threatens the integrity of global political processes. as well as the commitment of governments to a credible democratic process. This senseless act of violence perpetrated upon Jo Cox must strengthen our collective resolve to champion an authoritative effort to reduce and prevent violence against women in elections. When public and private violence and intimidation does occur. resources must be available to help women access formal justice mechanisms as well as support informal efforts to resolve conflict. especially in local communities. The fear of participation for all people must be taken out of politics. Today. in honor and in memory of Jo Cox. I reaffirm my commitment to empowering women and girls all over the world to participate safely in political and public life. I hope my colleagues will stand with me today to fight violence against women and girls. this month and for all the months to come. I request that the House observe a moment of silence in honor of Jo Cox.
Date: 2016-06-21
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R 4369. "A bill that authorizes the use of passenger facility charges at an airport previously associated with the airport at which the charges are collected." As a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on Crime. Terrorism. Homeland Security. and Investigations. I strongly support this commonsense measure to improve and sustain airport security. Since its inception. Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) have been used to improve safety. enhance security. and increase the capacity of airports to serve the traveling public. A Passenger Facility Charge is a service fee and is also an additional fee charged to departing and connecting passengers at an airport. H.R. 4369 clarifies and streamlines opportunities that will help ease travel through our nations airports while improving our national security. For example this bill will enable: The preservation and protection of the nations air transportation system. Enhanced competition between and among air carriers. Funding projects that benefit local communities. and Meeting airline and passenger demands to accommodate future growth for our nations economy. In 2015. more than 700 million passengers and 400 million checked bags were screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Each day. TSA processes an average of 1.7 million passengers at more than 450 airports across the nation. In 2012. TSA screened 637.582.122 passengers. The Bush International and the William P. Hobby Airports are essential hubs for domestic and international air travel for Houston and the region. Nearly 40 million passengers traveled through Bush International Airport (IAH) and an additional 10 million traveled through William P. Hobby (HOU). More than 650 daily departures occur at IAH. IAH is the 11th busiest airport in the U.S. for total passenger traffic. IAH has 12 allcargo airlines and handled more than 419.205 metric tons of cargo in Airlines and airports are expected to experience a significant increase in passenger traffic coming into the 2016 summer peak travel months across the nations largest airports. As a result of the Passenger Facility Charges airports will continue to receive the needed funds to modernize and keep up with the growing traffic demands and safety and security challenges of our nations airports. For this reason. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.