macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 18. beginning on line 24. strike "Director of National Intelligence and" and insert "Director of National Intelligence.". Page 19. line 1. insert "and the Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland." after "Justice.". The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 164. the gentlewoman from California and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman. the challenge of defending our Nation on a constantly expanding cyber front continues to grow. I believe that Im one of those Members of the Congress that sits both on the House Armed Services Committee and on the Homeland Security Committee and I see it from both angles. both from the civilian side and the military side. Ive constantly tried to improve how we address the need for the nextgeneration technology. publicprivate cooperation. and ensuring that we have the right personnel to counter this 21stcentury cyber threat. However. I am uncompromising in safeguarding the rights of our citizens. and I will never sacrifice our civil liberties for unneeded intrusion. To this end. the amendment I am offering today would strengthen existing provisions in the bill to include the Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security as key stakeholders in the report that would assess the impact activity caused by this legislation. This report would assess how this legislation affected our civil liberties and privacy throughout our Federal Government. The Department of Homeland Security is "the" key civil Department in our Federal Government that develops and implements cybersecurity protocols for the rest of the Federal Government. Its crucial that they be part of any civil liberty and privacy assessment. I have worked closely with both the Privacy Office and the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The individuals in these offices are experts in their fields and they should have a say. they should be in the room as we take a look at this. Much work needs to be done. but I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to continue improving this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I thank the kind chairman for his remarks and his support. Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be modified with the modification that is at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the modification.
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: LORETTA SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment. as modified. offered by the gentlewoman from California
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of the bill. add the following new section:
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I am in support of the amendment offered by Intelligence Committee Chairman ROGERS. Congressman MCCAUL and Homeland Security Ranking Member THOMPSON to H.R. 624. the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2013. This is very similar to the amendment I offered before the Rules Committee. but was not made in order. I am pleased that the focus of my amendment is addressed by this amendment that was made in order. This amendment just as I outlined in my amendment offered to the Rules Committee would establish a lead role for the Department of Homeland Securitya civilian agency in matters related to cyber security threats. DHS would be the agency to receive all cyber threat information. This amendment designates the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the civilian entity to receive cyber threat information related to cybersecurity crimes. These changes make clear that DHS and the DOJ will serve as points of entry for those seeking to share cybersecurity threat information with the federal government. The amendment also requires the Secretary of DHS. the Attorney General. the Director of National Intelligence. and the Secretary of Defense to establish procedures to eliminate any personal information from cyber threat information shared with the federal government. Cyber threat information shared with the government from any source will be scrubbed of any personally identifiable information and deletedthis is also known as "minimization." Every agency receiving cyber threat information must notify these four agencies. and Congress of significant violations of the procedures required by the bill. These agencies must also establish a program to oversee compliance with the minimization procedures. The importance of a civil agency in a central role regarding the establishment and functions of domestic cyber protection programs is critical to building in the transparency. accountability and oversight the American public expects. I am in strong support of this amendment and thank my colleagues for their efforts to address the concerns of many of our constituents as we work to assure the Internet is as safe as it can be and that we maintain the level of oversight that is needed. This is an important amendment. and I urge my colleagues to support it. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas .
Date: 2013-04-18
Speaker: SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. no one should fight for their country. only to return home and have to fight their government. But thats exactly whats happening with over a million disabled veterans today who are waiting far too long to have their claims processed by the VA. There are. right now. thousands of folks in my home State of New York and in the Hudson Valley who are waiting. on average. over 400 days to have their claims processed. Thats a year and a half. Thats wrong. and we can do better by our veterans. I met one veteran recently named Edward Kackos. Ed served his country in Vietnam. He came home. He filed a disability claim just in February 2011. But that was 800 days ago. and Eds still waiting for an answer. He said to me recently. "Sean. I just need an answer so I can decide whether Im going to have to sell my house. because I dont want to have it foreclosed." Think about how disgraceful that is. We need to give him an answer sooner. and theres a solution. I recently introduced the Disabled Veterans Red Tape Reduction Act. This is a simple idea that would allow veterans to go to doctors outside the VA system to get their claims processed. and it would speed it up. But this program is at risk right now. a program that 20 percent of all veterans use. because the last Congress failed to reauthorize it. I urge my colleagues to support this measure for another 5 years.
Date: 2013-04-23
Speaker: BEN RAY LUJAN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New Mexico

Mr. Speaker. at a time when our communities are dealing with the impact of climate change. cuts from the sequester will negatively impact our longterm efforts to combat this challenge. Energy conservation is a vital component of reducing carbon emissions. Weatherization programs and the Energy Star program have been instrumental in reducing consumption. In 2011. Energy Star helped Americans reduce emissions by the equivalent of 41 million vehicles. and. during these tough times. it cut utility bills by $23 billion. As a result of the sequester. further progress on these programs is at risk. Research and development in cleanenergy technologies are essential to reducing our dependence on oil and cutting emissions. Sequestrations funding reductions threaten to slow developments in solar and advanced battery technology. Sadly. my Republican colleagues have been reluctant to even debate further action to address climate change. That is one more reason why we cannot afford to sit by and do nothing while sequestration reduces the effectiveness of the programs we already have in place that are part of the climate change solution.
Date: 2013-04-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Reflecting on the events of last week. I want to speak about some very important homeland security issues. I want to publicly thank the outstanding law enforcement. FBI. and others who worked on the tragedy of 9/ 11. as we proceed as Members of Congress to further investigate how not to allow an incident like that to happen again. But the one point I want to make very clearly and that has been said over and over by Members and certainly by leaders of the administration: this does not and should not stop comprehensive immigration reform. We should proceed with regular order because you need to know whos in this country. Also. I offer my deepest sympathy to those in West. Texas. but make the point that we have to have a nexus between chemical plants and those who hold those kinds of hazardous materials. As well. we need a mechanism of reporting to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security a security plan and a process to avoid events such as the horrific tragedy that occurred. I will soon be introducing such legislation. and I certainly believe that it is our role to intervene and to secure the homeland.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. it has now been more than 7 weeks since the sequestration cuts were enacted. and we are in new and unprecedented territory. Furlough notices have already been sent to thousands of Federal employees and contractors. and many services are beginning to slow. While many of the worst consequences of the sequester have not yet been realized. the truth is that the wheels have been set in motion. and we are on a course that will have real impacts for millions of Americans. As a result of employee furloughs. more than 1.200 flights were delayed yesterday because 1.500 air traffic controllers were laid off the job. Because of the Republican majoritys refusal to address the effects of sequester sensibly. the FAA estimates that a third of the passengers will face delays during the furloughs. with up to 6.700 flights arriving late at more than a dozen major airports each day. Beyond crippling our governments ability to provide critical services. the Republican sequestration plan is slowing the economic growth that our country so desperately needs. In short. Republicans are putting the ability of our government to fully perform basic government functions that we need to keep us safe at risk. We need to work on an approach that will fix sequestration while reducing our deficit sensibly. We need to come to a compromise that will prevent these indiscriminate cuts. and keep our economy on track and growing.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. often we are taught in the Christian Baptist and African American tradition. which is paraphrasing the words of the Bible. give honor unto those upon whom honor is due. For that reason. I can give tribute to the two Members of Congress without reservation for recognizing the importance. both Congresswoman SEWELL and Congressman BACHUS. for giving honor to those families who languished for over 50 years and wondered did anybody care. We thank Congresswoman SEWELL for her great leadership and Congressman BACHUS for joining and exuding the kind of partnership. the spirit of his family tradition against all adversity. saying I want to join and to speak of nonviolence. I rise today with great enthusiasm for H.R. 360 and say to the family members. the sisters. the friends of Addie Mae Collins. Carole Robertson. Cynthia Wesley. and Denise McNair. it has been too long. And so we rise today to be able to make amends for justice that had not been served because of the callousness and indifference. sometimes of criminal collusion. and many times the lack of enforcement of devastation against coloreds. Blacks. Negroes. and African Americans. There was an era that we look sadly upon. but now today. in the spirit of Dr. Kings message of nonviolence. we are able to say yes. profoundly yes.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank the gentlelady for her kindness. We are able to now say profoundly to these girls relatives that we honor the children who lost their future. We honor them by saying to their families. We care for you. And in the words of John F. Kennedy: We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the Scriptures. and it is as clear as the American Constitution justice delayed is sometimes justice denied. But as Martin Luther King said in the Birmingham jail: "Go wherever injustice is." Today on the floor of the House. we will remedy injustice. Im delighted to be a supporter and cosponsor of this great resolution.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: DANNY K. DAVIS (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Illinois

Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Alabama for yielding me this time. I want to commend her for her leadership and commend the leadership of Representative BACHUS from Alabama. I remember that day vividly as a young activist at the time. We thought it was unbelievable that this kind of tragedy could take place. But I think it reminds all of us that yesterday is yesterday. We look forward to tomorrow. and I again commend the gentlewoman from Alabama and Mr. BACHUS for reminding us of that time and what can happen when we join hands together. And so I thank you both.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I think many times people wonder why so often we go back and give homage to our past. Its because we still suffer the damages of the past. And we dont forget the families that have given up so much just for us to be able to vote. And we still struggle for that vote. We still struggle for the right to vote. but we must continue. And I want to say to these families. and I know some of them personally. how much we appreciate the fact that they have been loyal to the cause. loyal to this country. loyal to our military. and stand strong today. And so I want to thank you very much for giving honor. I thank my colleague.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. I rise as a supporter of todays legislation that would award a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the lives of Addie Mae Collins. Denise McNair. Carole Robinson and Cynthia Wesley. This year we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the atrocious bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Alabama that killed these four little girls on their way to Sunday School. While nothing can bring these innocent victims back. today we honor their legacy with this bill to award them Congressional Gold Medals. Earlier this year I attended the anniversary of Freedom March in Selma. It was a moving experience. The stories of the struggle for civil rights remind us to continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of all Americans. Today we take another step forward by honoring these four innocent girls who lost their lives on that fateful day. 50 years ago.
Date: 2013-04-24
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the House will begin discussing in the next day the legislation called Helping Sick Americans Now Act. and I would only offer a counter to that that it seems a sick way to try and help those who are in need. This bill will deplete the healthy preventive care funding that impacts the Centers for Disease Control. that impacts the federally qualified health clinics that are all throughout our community. and it only provides funding for the sickest of Americans up until December 2013. Why dont we encourage the Governors. like Governor Perry of Texas. to accept expanded Medicaid to help heal 6 million and provide health care for 6 million uninsured in Texas. the highest number of uninsured in any State. This is a temporary fix that is not necessary. We have the Affordable Care Act that is being implemented. and. as we speak. millions of Americans are being covered. This is the wrong way. misdirected. and I might say it is a sick way of trying to help the sickest of Americans. I oppose the bill.
Date: 2013-04-25
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

The simple question is asked. why are we in such a dilemma of complexity and absolutely abandoning the American people? Thats what sequestration is all about. And I know its hard to tell a story again. but sequestration came about because a whole sizeable population of Members. Republican Members. did not want to pay Americas bills. But we can. as a bipartisan. collective body that responds to America. avoid the loss of 2 million jobs and a .6 percent drag on the economy and $67.8 million lost for primary and secondary education in Texas. $51 million lost for education of children with disabilities. and 4.800 Head Start seats lost. We can come together. We can pass H.R. 900. which gets rid of the sequestration. or we can call for the budget conferees to. once and for all. address the question of America. The reason why we have a slowdown of FAA. its because the people are furloughed. You can have 50.000 FAA air traffic controllers. but if theyre furloughed. they cant work. Lets work on behalf of the American peoplehave the budget conferees now pass H.R. 900. get rid of the sequestration.
Date: 2013-04-25
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. today I rise in opposition to the Full Faith and Credit Act. H.R. 807. This bill would allow the Secretary of the Treasury to take all necessary actions to ensure U.S. public debt obligations are paid when due and allows the Secretary to forego obligations not related to public debt. What this means. essentially. is all foreign debt will take precedence over repaying important domestic programs. such as Social Security. We should pass legislation that Social Security be paid for first. not the foreign debt. Social Security is not contributing one penny to our national debt. We must remember that its one of the most important commitments that America has made to its citizens. The U.S. Government has purchased credit known as "special obligations" from Social Security. The credits are backed by "the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government." with the promise to redeem these credits. I support repaying the Social Security trust fund before any other debt is paid. Pay Social Security first before we pay other countries.
Date: 2013-04-25
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chair. I rise in support of the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act. a bipartisan bill that will prevent a global helium shortage that could limit hightech manufacturing and critical scientific research. Recognizing the value of our helium resources. the government established a Federal Helium Reserve in the 1960s. In 1996. Congress enacted legislation to privatize the Reserve and sell off its supply. Unfortunately. that sale has been conducted at belowmarket rates even as demand for helium. which is critical for hospitals. manufacturing. and research. has increased. Moreover. under that 1996 law. the Reserve will have to stop operations this October. cutting our domestic supply by nearly half and causing a worldwide shortage. Todays legislation creates a new. auctionbased program for selling helium from the Reserve. preventing the shortage and ensuring that taxpayers get fair value for this resource. Its a common sense solution to a serious problem and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Date: 2013-04-26
Speaker: CAROLYN B. MALONEY (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: New York

Mr. Speaker. in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Boston Marathon and in learning that their next target was Times Square in New York City. I hope my colleagues who oppose gun safety laws will reconsider. We have learned that Tamerlan. the terrorist. was on the terror watch list for 18 months. Many of our colleagues say that someone should have done something to prevent the terrorist from killing. but strangely. making the next Tamerlan undergo a background check on the Internet or at a gun show to buy a gun is not one of them. The progun lobby insists that the next terrorists should still be able to buy all of the assault weapons they want and all of the 100round magazines they needno problem. no background check necessary. The next terrorist. or the next Tamerlan. thinks they are absolutely right. but 90 percent of Americans disagree. and I hope my colleagues will reconsider gun safety legislation.
Date: 2013-04-26
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. after the vote on this today. Members of this House are going to run for the airports. Theyre all going to be flying home on airplanes. And. yes. they will make it easier for Members of Congress to get through those lines. and theyll pat themselves on the back and say. "Job well done." Well. obviously we should address the issue at the airports. but we need to address the other issues right now and not make it easier for Members of Congress to fly home for a week away when it should be a week right here making sure we do not see the negative impact of the sequester grind on for those kids in Head Start. for the seniors on Meals on Wheels. for folks who are doing important lifesaving research. Look. Mr. Speaker. four times this year we have offered a proposal to replace the entire sequester. to achieve the same deficit reduction without the kind of damage thats been done. and four times we havent even had a chance to vote on the floor of this House. Now were simply asking to go to conference. Our Republican colleagues complain that the Senate didnt pass the budget. but theyve got one. Lets go to conference rather than go home.
Date: 2013-04-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

This is a hostagetaking. and I know that the American people are watching the blame game. But the blame game falls clearly on this side of the aisle. My Republican friends held this place hostage: we wont pay the debt ceiling. we wont pay our debts. Now were losing 2 million jobs. 4.800 Head Start programs. And I believe in air traffic controllers. but were holding them hostage. What about the person who cannot afford an airline ticket? And so Im saying today that it is important that we stand for the millions of dollars that we are losing for homeland security. Is it time to take millions from military families? Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 900. a onesentence bill. that would repeal the section of the Budget Control Act of 2011 to get rid of the sequester. go to budget conference. have conferees. have a budget. get rid of the sequester. Bring it up now. Mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 900.
Date: 2013-04-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. let me just say this. We have to save the traveling public. but I ask the question about 5.000 children in Texas that will lose Head Start. or the millions of seniors. or our military families that will lose support because weve got the sequester. all on the shoulders of those that believe that the way we run the Federal Government is by slash and burn. Where are our hearts? Help the American people.