macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1995-12-19
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the reason we are here today is to talk about the comparisons between what the Republicans want to have in their budget and what the President wants. The President has agreed to a 7year budget using CBO numbers. but the reason we cannot come to an agreement is because of the tax cuts that the Republicans want to have before they really get to the 7year balanced budget. The Republican budget not only wants to provide tax cuts but they want to slow growth in. their terminology. Medicare by forcing seniors into managed care that they opposed last year in President Clintons health care plan. raise the premiums. cut doctor and hospital reimbursements. and cut senior citizen health care. I have a letter I received today from a senior citizen in my district who may very well decide to use managed health care right now. but that is her choice. Under the Republican budget. she will be forced to do it because she cannot afford the $100 extra that it is going to cost her on her supplemental policy. The other difference is the education cuts. The Republican budget over the 7 years will cut Federal funding for education just like the rescissions bill earlier this year cut schools in my district. It is wrong to cut Medicare and education to provide tax cuts.
Date: 1995-12-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this legislation and commend the gentleman from Illinois and those that have joined him in introducing it. I had the great privilege to know Ed Madigan as a friend. as a fellow colleague. and then we had the responsibility of the Committee on Agriculture. I as chairman and he as ranking member. We worked together as a team. We left the imprints from the Committee on Agriculture on the future of thousands. not only in the United States but throughout the world. Ed Madigan was certainly a person that I enjoyed working With. We had many opportunities to have legislation on the floor. Finally. I would like to say on a lighter note that we went to Spain. I to look for m Spanish roots. and then we went to Ireland. he to look for his Irish roots. When we went to Spain. to northern Spain to Galicia. I went there to find out that they say they are Celtic. that they are not Spanish. So I came back a Celt. We went to Ireland looking for Mr. Madigans roots and found out that there was no Madigan name in the Irish genealogy chart. that it had been formerly a Spanish name. Madegano. So. Madigan came back a Spaniard. and I came back a Celt. but we continued our relationship on the committee. I think it is very appropriate that a Federal building will bear his name for all to see and hopefully to remember the major contribution that he made to this country. to his district. and to the world.
Date: 1995-12-19
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2029. and a statement on behalf of the gentleman from South Dakota will be submitted to appear at the appropriate place in the RECORD. Mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman for moving this bill through the Committee on Agriculture in an expeditious manner. and I also would like to commend the subcommittee chairman. the gentleman from Colorado . and the ranking member. the gentleman from South Dakota . for their hard work in guiding the regulatory relief through their subcommittee. Mr. Speaker I rise today in support of H.R. 2029. I would like to thank Chairman ROBERTS for moving this bill through the Committee on Agriculture in an expeditious manner. I would also like to commend Subcommittee Chairman ALLARD and the ranking member. Mr. JOHNSON. for their hard work in guiding the regulatory relief bill through their subcommittee. The bill before the House today reflects the hard work of Members from both sides of the aisle. It is the product of a careful review of current regulations. and it targets those regulations that have become outdated. For example. the legislation removes an outdated certification procedure for certain Banks for Cooperatives lending activities. without changing eligibility requirements in current law. Other changes will give the system more flexibility. and provide farmers and ranchers with better loan rates. Seetion 4 will give the Farm Credit Administration more flexibility in carrying out its examinations of Farm Credit System instituiens. Seotion 5 of the bill authorizes the Insurance Corporation to reduce premiums it receives fem System banks and to distribute to System lnstitwtiens amounts in the insurance and IFundJ that are in excess of the secure base amourt. Section 10 authorizes associations to jointly form administrative service entities. which will reduce operating expenses. These changes will result in lower costs to the System and lower interest rates for farmers. ranchers. and rural homeowners. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the bill. H.R. 2029. as amended. and I look forward to continuing work with Chairman ROBERTS toward enactment of this legislation.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the rule and the bill. H.R. 558. the Texas lowlevel radioactive waste disposal compact. Lowlevel waste is a byproduct of many industrial and medical activities that contribute to our economy in Texas and also enhance our lives. For example. it is not in my district but it serves my community. our hospitals in the city of Houston and around the State are national leaders in health care and medical research. and we have this lowlevel waste now literally on the property of the hospitals because they have to have someplace to put it. We have an agreement now with two other States. and that is why H.R. 558 is so important. Responsible management of this waste that the hospitals produce include clothing. the laboratory supplies. and paper requiring permanent disposal in a site specifically designed for that purpose. The States of Texas. Maine. and Vermont have all agreed to proceed with this compact which. by law. Congress must approve. however. the implementation and site selection is a State matter. And I believe the States who sign this compact should be allowed to proceed with it. I know in Texas. Mr. Speaker. we have done that. Governor McKernan of Maine signed the compact in 1993 and the Maine voters approved it by referendum later that year. Governor Dean in Vermont in April 1994. In Texas. both the previous Governor. Governor Anne Richards. and current Governor Bush also strongly supported this compact. In fact. in 1991. as the State senator representing part of the Harris County area in Houston. I supported the compact as a State senator. This law allows us to maintain control over this issue for the States and just simply allows the process to go forward. We cannot continue to stick our head in the sand and say we do not have a place for this. By allowing this compact it would allow the State of Texas. a large geographic State with a great deal of urban area that produces this lowlevel waste. a place to store it other than the urban areas that is close to all of our homes. Again. Mr. Speaker. we need this because our hospitals and our medical centers are contributing to it and they need to have someplace that is the least affected environment for it. That is why. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the rule and also in support of H.R.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I yield to the gentleman from Texas. who. frankly. he and I served in the State legislature together. but not in the 1990s. because he was in Congress then.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I would say to the gentleman that that was the intent when we voted for it in the State of Texas in the legislature. and as a Member of Congress. I would agree to that. I am glad my colleague brought this up. If that would get my colleague from El Paso on board. I would be more than happy to support that amendment that would limit it to only those three States.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Again. I do not know. I would think the rule would allow that amendment to be considered. but the State legislature and the State of Texas would be the one that would actually vote on that. Again. I do not have any fear about the State legislature dealing with this issue because I worked on it then.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I keep hearing about CBO and OMB. and they are all projections. No one for a certainty can say what the accurate final result would be. But I. would like to inject into the discussion the name of Sister Rosa. He tells the future by reading cards. I think she could do better than OMB and CBO.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding briefly to me. The previous speaker. I guess. inadvertently mentioned that the President said that 29 years ago. and he meant 29 days. But the one that introduced a balanced budget amendment 31 years ago was this gentleman from Texas. So it is not new. Everyone is climbing on board now. I did it 31 years ago.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I think we ought to bring Sister Rosa into the picture. She has got better figures than OMB and CBO.
Date: 1995-12-20
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am glad to follow the last speaker. because I hope we would put our cards on the table. and if the other side would do it and say. OK. let us take that tax cut off the table. $245 billion. $200 billion. we would not have to be worried about keeping the checks going to our veterans or veterans widows. I had the opportunity tonight to talk to a widow of a veteran. She said she could not pay for her food. she could not pay for her utilities unless her check is there. and I am glad we are at least dealing with that. The reason we are here though is because this bill. the VAHUD bill. was rejected by this Congress I do not know how many times because of the 20percent cut in HUD. cuts in veterans programs. cuts in lots of. programs. and that is why we are here tonight on a stopgap measure. I hope we pass this. but let us remember the reason we are here is because the majority could not pass these bills by October 1. not because the President vetoed it. because they could not pass them. and now they are having to take care of it on this. I would hope we would take care of our veterans. but I hope we would also be able to take care of those who need housing.
Date: 1995-12-21
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this chart shows the headlines in the Wall Street Journal. the New York Times. and the Washington Post this morning. They cut straight to the chase. One reads "GOP rebellion scuttles accord on the budget talks." Another reads "House Republicans derail budget talks." The other one from the Wall Street Journal says "The Republicans are revolting." They should read that Republicans keep government closed to give tax cuts for the few. It appears a%.%hough there is a group that will not compromise and insists on holding not only government workers. but Social Security applicants hostage in keeping the Government shut down until they accept their harmful budget cuts and illadvised budgetbusting tax cuts for the few. I am committed to balancing the budget. and I am also here to say I am committed to senior citizens. children. police officers. veterans. teachers. and students. and I will not sacrifice them to balance our budget. We should remain committed to balancing the budget over 7 years. and doing so in a way that protects the priorities of Medicare. Medicaid. crime fighting. and education. Balancing the budget is not an agreement to do on Christmas eve. It is something you have to do all year.
Date: 1996-01-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Reserving the right to object. Mr. Speaker. on the bill and amendments thereto. I yield to my distinguished colleague. the gentleman from Missouri . for an explanation.
Date: 1996-01-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. continuing to reserve the right to object. I rise in support of the legislation. Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2029 because it will provide mechanisms for ensuring affordable credit in rural America. Our farmers and ranchers have been and will continue to experience in the next several years. great uncertainty with roller coaster market prices and impending changes in Federal agricultural policy. It will be more important than ever that there be reliable credit sources available to them. Passage into law of regulatory relief for the Farm Credit System will hopefully provide for a reduction in operating costs that can be passed on to System borrowers. The legislative changes that are being proposed to Farmer Mac will provide both commercial banks and Farm Credit System institutions with the means to lower the cost of borrowing money as well. Previous reforms of Farmer Mac have not been as successful as we had hoped. which is why additional authority is currently needed. Lending is inherently risky. however. I am hopeful that these reforms will allow Farmer Mac to become a viable entity and to develop a secondary market for longterm agricultural real estate loans. It is as balanced an approach as could be achieved. Again. I support this legislation and look forward to prompt action by the other body.
Date: 1996-01-04
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. enough is enough. I have sat here and listened to my Republican colleagues from Georgia and from the panhandle of Florida talk about what they really want in a budget. Maybe they need to call home and ask how many of their seniors are not being able to apply for Social Security or how many of their veterans are not getting the health care they need or being able to apply for veterans pensions. The Federal employees are not the only ones that are hurting. In Houston we have thousands of people who are hurting. The passport office. we have 10.000 applications for passports. and they expect to grow by a thousand a week. that are not being issued. That is hurting business people who want to go overseas and sell our products. The Meals on Wheels program in Houston. I was interested to hear my colleague from Missouri talk about they are delivering them today. and they are in Houston. They say they only have enough money for another week or the 3.500 meals in Houston will not be delivered for seniors. The VA medical center. as of today. is only supplying. the contractor is only supplying for the VA medical center on an asneeded basis. so veterans are not getting the health care they have earned in supporting our country. There is absolutely no reason to keep the Federal Government closed because they cannot get what they want in negotiations. Let us continue the negotiations. Let us also continue for the folks who are paying the bill.
Date: 1996-01-05
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I think it is appropriate I follow my colleague. the gentleman from New Mexico . when he talks about the President not submitting this CBO 7year. and I have heard that now for a month. But the Republican side has not submitted a 7year CBO budget that protects Medicare. protects Medicaid. and protects education. Now negotiations are a twoway street. We have heard for a month that the President has not done something. Well. neither have they. I am going to support this CR today. and this rule. but it only recognizes part of the problem. Federal employees go back to work to process passports. pay for senior citizen nutrition. open the national parks. and veterans compensation. I am glad they finally recognized the need to do that. but we still do not havethe EPA will not be able to clean up Superfund. Medicaid grants to our States. since they want to block grant to the States. but yet they are not even giving what money is supposed to be there now. and also law enforcement functions. They continue to talk about the need to have a balanced budget. but they are not willing to pay Government contractors. people who are now contracting with the Government tothis resolution does not help those Government contractors. We need to go much further. but this is better than nothing.
Date: 1996-01-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. my colleagues. I am concerned that we are again dealing in a vacuum with numbers only. We are not attaching faces and places. The debate and the obsession about what the President did or did not do is leaving out what we should be discussing. I am going to attach one name to this discussion. Her name is Elisa Izquierdo. a little girl that died in New York for lack of attention. that what we do here could take away from other children. and I quote from an article that I am putting at this point in the RECORD. "How Cold Is America Prepared To be? How much can you take from children who have so little?" We should attach names. faces and places and get over this obsession of what the President did or did not do. Mr. Speaker. concerning the debate on what we do as a Congress to protect the children of our country we share with you an article by Jonathan Kozol. I would like to strongly recommend the last paragraph which reads as follows: Like most Americans. I do not tend to think of a society that has been good to me and to my parents as "evil." But when he said that "somebody has power." it was difficult to disagree. It is possible that icy equanimity and a selfpacifying form of moral abdication by the powerful will take more lives in the long run than any single drugaddicted and disordered parent. Elisa Izquirdos mother killed only one child. The seemingly anesthetized behavior of the U.S. Congress may kill thousands. Now we are told we must get tougher with the poor. How much tougher can we get with children who already have so little? How cold is America prepared to be? Mr. Speaker. I am enclosing the article at this point. as follows: [From the Time magazine. Dec. 11. 1995]
Date: 1996-01-05
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. this participation may well seem out of order for all that we have done today and all the fingerpointing and accusations. I rise to speak about a little girl who was killed by her own mother in New York City. Her name is Elisa Izquierdo. The fact is that the system failed and that we failed. There is a paper that I would share with Members later. but it finally ends. Elisa Izquierdos mother killed only one child. The seemingly anesthetized behavior of the U.S. Congress may kill thousands. Now we are told we must get tougher with the poor. How much tougher can we get with children who already have so little? How cold is America prepared to be? The paper referred to follows: [From Time. Dec. 11. 1995]
Date: 1996-01-23
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. welcome back. I am glad to welcome our folks back to the kinder and gentler Congress after that first 1minute. Mr. Speaker. if you think you remember hearing congressional Republicans saying all they wanted was a CBOscored 7year balanced budget. your memory is not failing you. Here is what they said: Our House budget chairman. "Frankly. we dont ask for a lot. We ask for nothing more than a commitment to do this in a 7year period." Our colleague from Idaho. "We have no hidden agenda. The only thing we are asking for is a 7year balanced budget using CBO numbers." A colleague from New York. "All we have asked the President of the United States with all his tremendous resources at his hands to do likewise. to come up with those numbers reflecting his own priorities to balance the budget in 7 years using real numbers. That is all we have asked for." Now they want more. They want their balanced budget bill. They want to include deep cuts in Medicare needs. education needs. and the environment in order to fund a massive tax break. or no bill at all. The President sent a 7year balanced budget 2 weeks ago with CBO numbers. But that is not good enough because that is not what their priorities are. They want to hurt seniors and hurt education funding.
Date: 1996-01-23
Speaker: PETE GEREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 2567. the Constructed Water Conveyances Reform Act of 1995. This legislation. introduced by my colleague. the gentleman from California . corrects the improper application of the Clean Water Act to constructed water systems. Constructed water systems are otherwise known as ditches and canals. It clearly is the intent of Congress to cover a wide array of natural waters or water bodies in establishing water quality standards. However. it was not Congress intent to subject constructed water systems to the acts very strict requirements. Earlier this session. the body passed H.R. 961. the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1995. to provide greater flexibility to the States in setting water quality standards. This legislation contains similar provisions allowing the States to recognize the special features and purposes of agricultural water conveyances. Under this bill. the State will be allowed to make distinction between a manmade water transport system and a constructed water body used for recreation. aquatic life or fish consumption. and establish appropriate standards. This legislation is critical for arid States such as California and Arizona. where farmers must construct manmade waterways and irrigation canals in order to support agricultural industry. Mr. Speaker. lastly. I would like to note that this is the first piece of legislation that would fall into the new unfunded mandate law passed and signed into law last year. a bill also authored by the gentleman from California . The supporters of this legislation are proud to point out CBO has certified H.R. 2567 would actually reduce costs to States because it would give States greater flexibility when establishing water quality standards for constructed water conveyances. This is a win for the States. This. is an effort to inject commonsense reform into the application of a very important act. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Date: 1996-01-24
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. you can tell how big Texas is. My colleague is from Dallas and Plano. and I am from Houston. and we do have a difference of opinion once in a while. Mr. Speaker. the President last night reminded us that we are all Americans and Americans are the best when we work together. On the balanced budget. both parties have put forth plans that achieve a balanced budget by the year 2002. Right now we have enough cuts that we agree on to give the public the balanced budget they want. We can make meaningful reforrhs in health care. so that our citizens can change jobs and not lose their insurance. and we can also protect Medicare and education funding without tax cuts to have that balanced budget. The President was right on mark when he warned us not to play politics with the full faith and credit of the United States. The public wants us to address the issues of lost jobs. conditions in our schools and the kind of country we leave for our children. and as the President said. we have to do it together. It is time we find that common ground for all of us Americans.